Joyce Nyatika is high school principal who is encouraging parents to go an extra mile to provide creative writings for their children, written and audio – for them to realize an amazing, vast and holistic educational development.
Indeed, recent research on the role of literature in child development reveals that children who are read to at tender year and exposed to a wide range of literature from early years, their world view and understanding expands several fold than those who are not accorded this privileged.
“When children read creative writing (poetry, fiction, biographies) they identify themselves with and often assume the role of one of the characters,” says Ruth Makotsi author of children literature, adding that, “through the characters, words and actions, the child begins to appraise his or her own character and values.”
Makotsi explains that through frequent engagement with literature, the child's principle's or values, behavior and mannerism, yes, their whole character is developed and shaped. However, literature can play a build or break role in child development.
Since children see themselves in some of the characters in the books, they also see other people in the rest of the characters. “They begin to evaluate, judge and understand different characteristics in human beings and how to relate with them,” the children author says.
She challenges her colleagues and aspiring children writes to carefully decide the kind of charactors their audience ought to be exposed to and how such characters will influence their perception with those they interact with in real life.
James Wafula a lecture at the university of Nairobi says that writers have a challenge to take their calling with great care – the future generation rests in their hands – since what the young mind partakes stretches their mind never to return to where it was before. He says that writers should live a high moral ground worthy the role model of children.
Mary Wamboi a retired teacher cum parent says that notwithstanding that a home without books for children reading is like a house without windows – parents must be careful which books they bring home for their children just like they are supposed to be careful whom they befriend.
“Literature has the ability to figuratively transport readers across time and space... children become exposed to the world beyond the confines of their environments,” says Makotsi. “The writer therefore needs to undertake to invite children to discover. This exploration enables children to better understand the world in which they live and to expand their horizons.”
Arwings Otieno a literature don at the University of Eastern Africa Baraton cum children author says before writing he usually has an end theme of the story in the mind, yes he takes every effort to ensure that every word has an impact to the end objective as he lives though the world of the children.
Nevertheless, Prof Henry Indangasi, a veteran literature don at the University of Nairobi concurs with Otieno that every writer, must spare no ounce to evaluate every word written for its impact and weed out any kind of ambiguity that can lead to untold confusion, planting a distorted picture in the young mind.
In times when the media and film, yes even (unchecked) Internet explorations are commanding the attention of children in our homes and without, children authors have a huge challenge to salvage children from drowning in this sweeping flood, save reading.
The late Dr. Ezekiel Alembi,once warned other children authors should assume the thinking of children; whose world swings between reality and dreamland in a blink of an eye.
Anchoring children in the love of reading makes a lasting impact in their lives. “By reading songs, prose and poetry children are able to explore the versatility of written word and learn to master its depth of meaning,” says Makotsi. “Masterly of written word is the key to acquisition of knowledge in any sphere.”
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