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BUSY businessmen and women joined parents and students to ensure that children enjoyed a good story during the latest international ‘Read to Me’ range of activities.
A series of events aimed at improving literacy have been staged across the kingdom from an expat members club, to a homely compound and a major business hub.
One of this year’s local co-ordinators, author Sarah Clarke, who penned two books about her pet Labrador Baloo, said: “It’s really important to read to children at a very young age to help with their learning - even when they are unable to read themselves they will grasp a lot more than we realise.
“I have read Where’s Baloo? and This Way Baloo! to hundreds of children aged from two to 10 and it has been noticeable how the children have been captivated by the stories asking very thoughtful questions after each reading.”
British School of Bahrain pupil Hana Khadir, 11, couldn’t agree more. She held an event at her compound in Janabiya and said practicing out loud has helped her with her pronunciation and reading skills. “But my favourite time is when mum or dad reads to us, even though I’m old enough now to read books myself. I really like it when they do it as we get to spend time together!”
Other youngsters got involved in the action too. The 2nd Bahrain Brownies and 2nd Bahrain Rainbows met at the Dilmun Club. Sarah read excerpts from her books and introduced the star to them. “Meeting Baloo really motivated the children to bring their favourite books and read to each other too,” added Brown Owl Niamh Stenson.
Business people then delayed their busy schedules to read to children and were joined by senior students from Al Raja School who read aloud to younger pupils in the centre of Harbour Gate, the commercial and retail centre of the Bahrain Financial Harbour.
A number of RIA volunteers also took part including businesswomen Nadia Algosaibi and Beth Noble.
Baloo, although nearing retirement, made a surprise appearance too and students, who are amongst his biggest fans following a morning visit to their school, later wrote stories and created artwork themed around him.
International ‘Read To Me’ Day originated in Australia and gained support across the UK, Malaysia, South Africa and Bahrain. It marks increased efforts to encourage children to engage in reading activities and ask to be read to.
The idea of bringing IRTMD to Bahrain in 2016 came from Jill Boggiss, a former employee of Bahrain Polytechnic, who had connected with the Child Writes Foundation and decided to be an ambassador for the day in Bahrain. When it became apparent that she could not be present in Bahrain to co-ordinate events, Lisa Rial, an American special education teacher, stepped in, as reported in GulfWeekly. In 2017, a story time with international Read To Me ambassador Hana Khadir took place at Words Bookstore Café on Budaiya Highway.
The Ministry of Education’s ‘Read Bahrain’ event, launched 12 months ago, is another important and successful annual initiative. This year it will take place on April 22-26.
