How aware is your child? Is your child's general knowledge fairly good, or is it weak? Does your child have an opinion on currentaffairs?
Encourage your older, school-going child to read the newspaper everyday, as a matter of habit. A good age to start your child reading the newspaper would be between 10 to 12 years. Of course, your child can start reading it even earlier, even if he just begins with the cartoon section and looks at all the pictures. Your child can begin by reading the headlines everyday and then discussing them with you. Yes, make it a point to discuss currentaffairs with your child if you want your child
to develop an interest in world issues. Of course, all your discussions
need not center around news, but you can definitely make it a point to
discuss it for a short time everyday, in addition to discussing what
your children did at school and other things.
The more you discuss the news with your child,
the more interested he will be with what is going on in the world.
True, it is not essential for you to be involved in increasing his
knowledge of currentaffairs.
Many children develop the habit of reading the newspaper on their own
as they grow up and interact with friends who do the same, but then
there are so many others whose general knowledge is so poor that they have no idea with what's going on, and suddenly, one day they may find themselves in social company
where everyone is avidly discussing the latest happenings while they
stand there at a loss, unable to participate in the conversation.
26-year-old Lalitha had a great job with a small advertising company,
and had a small bunch of really close friends with who she would go out
and have a great time every weekend. One day, when she was on a holiday
and had to interact with new and different people, she suddenly
realized how inadequate her knowledge of world affairs was. She was so caught up in her own little world, that her lack of current
affair knowledge never seemed to be a big deal. And then, when these
new people who she had just met, turned to her and asked her for her
opinion on the ongoing elections, she gulped, looked blank, and wished
the floor would open up and swallow her.
She then went home and devoured the newspaper
for more information, so that she doesn't come across as so clueless
the next time she is at a social gathering. Of course, her interest was
only short lasting, and a few months later she had to endure the same
shame. Gradually, she pushed herself into being more regular and
worldly aware, and now is more confident about her abilities to hold a
conversation on a wide variety of topics.
A knowledge of currentaffairs makes your child
more socially confident as it makes her a better conversationalist -
and, consequently, a more confident person on the whole. In addition,
knowing what is going on in the world will make her more keen to be a
part of the action. Statistics show that people with a good knowledge
of currentaffairs
are more motivated than those who show no interest with what is going
on around them. So this evening instead of gossiping about the
neighbours, discuss Prince Charles's wedding to Lady Parker Bowles or
the VAT with your children.
Name:
I have indian Parents
Country: usa
this is ridiculous. i cannot believe that you are worrying about your child's "studies" when they are nascent. let the child be. this is unhealthy for you, the child, and everyone else concerned.
Name:
Kavita
Country: India
i think reading the newspaper is a habit which should be encouraged. parents tend to neglect this aspect of their child's development. it does not matter if your child tops his class if he does not even know who the prime minister of the country is.
Name:
Ajay Malhotra
Country: india
our child should definately know whats happening around. not locally but all over the world. if he starts reading the news paper then he will easliy know about the world. and other the other hand reading is a very good habit. it will be very helpfull for his future studies......
