I am a librarian. I've been a librarian all my career life and most probably would remain one till I retire. But I do believe that once a librarian, you will stay a librarian through out your life - you can never retire. For knowledge is discovering and sharing what you know. And a librarian is like a 'key bearer'to the door of welath of knowledge, This is what it is all about. And the more you share, the more you learn, the greater wealth you get. This is what life is - a journey. And along the way, you find a lot of gems . But if you were to keep all the gems you found to yourself, you will be burdened by it. As it wil get heavier and heavier with every step you take.
So here I am, sharing the gems I found and discover as a father of eight children and as a children librarian. Hence, these blogs.
Make learning fun; Fun makes learning ...FUN! I was testing my son who is 7 years old on the new Arabic words he learnt from the Madrasah - a religious school he goes every Saturday. One of the words was 'Suk baa nun' which means snake. The letter 'k' in the first sylable is pronouce with a nasal sound. And I was emphasizing this sound. Somehow my son found it funny and he started to giggle.
After I went through the sound with him for several time, I too realized how funny it was and started laughing. My son can't help it and laughed whenever he said that particular sylable out loud.
Now his younger brother who is 5 years old was also there mimicking his articulation of the sylable 'suk'. He too found it funny and together we just laughed. From that day onwards, both my sons never forget the word "Suk baa nnun' and that it means snake.
The incident above explains how learning can be fun and yet very effective. Incorporating 'play' in anything we want children to learn will definitely make learning less a chore and furthermore, it may encourage and motivate the child to want to learn more.
Play.....Learn......Grow
Play is a generic term applied to a wide range of activities and behaviours that are satisfying to the child, creative for the child, and freely chosen by the child.
Children's play may and may not involve equipment or have an end product. Their play may be boisterous and energetic or quiet and contemplative, light-hearted or very serious.
Play is an essential part of every child's life and vital to their development. It is the way children explore the wrold around them and develop and practice skills.
Play is essential for physical, emotional and spiritual growth, for intellectual and educational development, and for acquiring social and behavorial skills.
