EXPERTS in education have advised parents to read books to their children, irrespective of how young the latter may be. The experts, who spoke in Lagos recently during a spelling competition organised for students in Lagos State public primary schools, as part of activities to mark the 10th anniversary of Educational Aid Global Initiative (Edu-Aid)EXPERTS in education have advised parents to read books to their children, irrespective of how young the latter may be.

The experts, who spoke in Lagos recently during a spelling competition organised for students in Lagos State public primary schools, as part of activities to mark the 10th anniversary of Educational Aid Global Initiative (Edu-Aid), stated that such excercises, especially for children below the age of six months, would enhance the academic performance of the affected children later in life.

Edu-Aid is a non-government organisation (NGO) registered by Covenant Christian Centre with the aim of improving the falling standard of education in public primary schools in Nigeria. Guest speaker and lecturer in the Department of English Language, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Yewande Ntekim-Rex, who spoke on the need to read to children, urged parents to introduce their children to language spoken in their communities as early as possible, noting that children’s ability to recognise objects and symbols in spoken language would bring out the best in them.

Ntekim-Rex stressed that children’s ability to read would keep them away from danger, make them worthy members of their communities and encourage them towards early functional education. Although some parents do not see the usefulness of reading to children as young as two months old, various experts have agreed that reading it enhances their wellbeing.

For instance, the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), in one of its reports, stated that “early childhood care and education is now viewed by scientific and educational research as the first and essential stage of the basic education process.”

Ntekim-Rex said: “When a child can read and communicate effectively before the child goes to primary school, the child will excel. That is based on researches that have been carried out, both in Europe and America about children who have excelled.

And the only thing their parents did differently was to introduce them to reading as early as two months, so that by the time the child is six years old, as he is about to go to primary school, the child has a knowledge of the language (spoken in his environment) ; the child can express himself and read anything, think and process information in the language, so that when the child goes to school ,the child has the kind of confidence that is absent from a child who does not possess any prowess, any skill in the language.

Chairman of Edu-Aid and Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, Poju Oyemade, who was represented by Dr. Omolara Williams, stated that he was delighted to see the vision of Edu-Aid being achieved, adding that, “I remain committed to ensuring that the vision of Edu-Aid is nurtured, sustained and continually made to contribute to national development.”

Coordinator of Edu-Aid, Dr Olufemi Orawusi, who was represented by Mrs. Yemisi Odelola, added that the philosophy of Edu-Aid was necessitated by the need to meet the yearnings of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Edu-Aid, she said has made far-reaching impacts over the years. , stated that such excercises, especially for children below the age of six months, would enhance the academic performance of the affected children later in life.

Edu-Aid is a non-government organisation (NGO) registered by Covenant Christian Centre with the aim of improving the falling standard of education in public primary schools in Nigeria.

Guest speaker and lecturer in the Department of English Language, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr. Yewande Ntekim-Rex, who spoke on the need to read to children, urged parents to introduce their children to language spoken in their communities as early as possible, noting that children’s ability to recognise objects and symbols in spoken language would bring out the best in them.

Ntekim-Rex stressed that children’s ability to read would keep them away from danger, make them worthy members of their communities and encourage them towards early functional education.

Although some parents do not see the usefulness of reading to children as young as two months old, various experts have agreed that reading it enhances their wellbeing.

For instance, the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), in one of its reports, stated that “early childhood care and education is now viewed by scientific and educational research as the first and essential stage of the basic education process.” Ntekim-Rex said: “When a child can read and communicate effectively before the child goes to primary school, the child will excel.

That is based on researches that have been carried out, both in Europe and America about children who have excelled.

And the only thing their parents did differently was to introduce them to reading as early as two months, so that by the time the child is six years old, as he is about to go to primary school, the child has a knowledge of the language (spoken in his environment) ; the child can express himself and read anything, think and process information in the language, so that when the child goes to school ,the child has the kind of confidence that is absent from a child who does not possess any prowess, any skill in the language.

Chairman of Edu-Aid and Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Centre, Poju Oyemade, who was represented by Dr. Omolara Williams, stated that he was delighted to see the vision of Edu-Aid being achieved, adding that, “I remain committed to ensuring that the vision of Edu-Aid is nurtured, sustained and continually made to contribute to national development.”

Coordinator of Edu-Aid, Dr Olufemi Orawusi, who was represented by Mrs. Yemisi Odelola, added that the philosophy of Edu-Aid was necessitated by the need to meet the yearnings of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Edu-Aid, she said has made far-reaching impacts over the years.