Editorial
Encourage love of reading in children
Reading preferences are changing, particularly among youth as there is a rising trend to consume information fast through digital means, which can lessen the time spent on traditional kinds of reading.
As a result of the growth of digital platforms, reading habits among children have become shallower with a focus on keyword scanning rather than in-depth comprehension.
Children are mostly using phones and tablets to watch videos instead of reading books, and if we do not adapt to the trends, we will lose our young readers.
In the past, schoolchildren would frequently visit the library to borrow books to read, and they would compete to read story books. Today, however, very few people read story books.
Since videos offer a quicker, easier, and more visually engaging way to ingest information and entertainment, the majority of children choose to watch them.
Although videos are a fast and effective way to convey information, particularly when time is of the essence, reading fosters creativity and the brain’s capacity for active information processing.
Of course, there are many mental, emotional, and intellectual benefits to developing a reading habit, such as expanded vocabulary and knowledge, better concentration and critical thinking therefore fostering a strong reading culture from an early age is important.
In reality, the low reading culture is being negatively impacted by the publishing sector, yet a successful book industry can be established.
In order to effectively encourage pupils to develop reading as a regular habit, The Spectator advises them to set reasonable daily reading objectives for themselves. They should be encouraged by both parents and teachers to read since it is an important way to acquire both general and specialised knowledge.
Reading aloud every day and encouraging a love of books are two ways to teach reading to children at a young age and make it engaging and enjoyable.
Giving children story books as birthday presents and asking them questions after they have finished reading them is one approach for parents to encourage a love of reading in their children.
It will help them to focus longer, engage more deeply intellectually, and develop critical thinking skills as a result.
Additionally, parents should take their children to book exhibitions and buy them books that will help them grasp and envision scenes because books provide a better comprehension of characters’ ideas and feelings.
Even though the reading culture and library visits have declined in modern times children should be encouraged to join libraries and subscribe to one or two books making sure that they select books that correspond with their interests and increase involvement and enjoyment.
We encourage stakeholders to collaborate in order to cultivate children’s passion for reading.
Dear Editor,
I AM writing to draw your attention to the inadequate street lights in some parts of Wawase, a situation that continues to pose serious concerns for residents.
Street lights play a crucial role in ensuring safety and security within a community. Unfortunately, several areas in Wawase are completely without functioning street lights.
This has made movement at night very difficult and dangerous, especially for workers, students, and traders who return home late.
The lack of proper lighting has also created an enabling environment for criminal activities such as theft and harassment. Residents often live in fear, and some are forced to limit their movements after dark. Additionally, poor visibility increases the risk of road accidents, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.
It is concerning that despite the growing population and development in Wawase, this basic infrastructure issue remains unresolved.
I would like to appeal to the relevant authorities, including the local assembly and electricity providers, to urgently address this problem by installing new street lights and repairing faulty ones.
Ensuring adequate street lights will not only improve security but also enhance the overall quality of life for residents in the area.
Gwen Mensah, Agona Swedru
Dear Editor,
FOR some time now, I have been deeply concerned about the state of the Kaneshie footbridge, which has over the years developed cracks, exposing some rusted metal parts and raising safety concerns.
It is, therefore, welcome news for daily users of the facility like myself that a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility and announced a temporary closure to allow for maintenance work to be carried out.
While I wish to commend the Assembly for the move, I believe it has been long overdue.
I often find it difficult to understand why, as a country, we sit, wait, and watch for preventable incidents or tragedies to happen before we react. I say this because the issue of the bad state of the Kaneshie footbridge has been one that has been re-echoed by many who use it on a daily basis.
I believe that as the Assembly looks to start the maintenance works on the footbridge, it is also important for it and other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to pay attention to other footbridges across the country that are in a similar state.
The time has come for Ghana, as a country, to be more proactive than reactive.
I will also urge the assemblies to deploy their respective teams to always check on footbridges across the country to ensure that they are in good shape to avoid any tragedy that could lead to the loss of human lives.
From Fafa, Kaneshie
