Regrettably, a sad truth that pains me – children are no longer reading!
From our events, you know we have a motto of “Encouraging Reading” and we bring many interesting books to the table to attract children to browse through them.
This year, we participated in the 3rd edition of a superb festival organized in sector 6, and what I will share will be strictly compared to previous editions where children interacted with the books.
During the first edition, we had many children who came directly to the table where the books were displayed, with big, curious eyes and the desire to discover new titles on the table. This was happening while the neighboring table, also ours, was full of IQ games. They would ask me, “What is book x about?” or “Who is Ivan?”, “But do you have books with robots?”, “Do you have book y?”. I always bring titles from various publishers, hoping they will develop a liking for them.
The picture below reminds me of a lesson I learned – not to judge by appearances. The event is somewhere near Giulesti, and a Romani ethnicity girl approached the table, looking shy. I encouraged her and told her she could touch the books, and I vividly remember how her green eyes lit up and she asked me, “Can I touch them?” I said, “YES! That’s why we are here, for children to love books, to read.” She stayed with me for a long time, carefully picking up each book, reading the back covers, flipping through them, and setting some aside. “I would like these at home, can I buy them?” I told her that we don’t sell books, but for a donation, she could take them home, but I needed a parent. She left, but to my surprise, nearly an hour later, she returned with her mother, a beautiful blonde lady with braided hair, green eyes, traditional skirts, and a necklace. “Smaranda told me to come!” She left with an armful of books and a generous donation. “Smaranda doesn’t go to school, but she reads a lot.”
2025 – same setup, new books on the table, 3 days of the event. Only 4 children came directly to the books, one of the girls had known us for a long time and sought us out. There were a few older children, nostalgic, who recognized the titles and talked about what they liked in the book. There were also some parents who picked out books for children engrossed in IQ games or metal puzzle links.
But the rest didn’t even want to hear and proudly stated they don’t read. Moreover, they said the lady gives them too much to read at school anyway – one book per module. 5 books in a school year.
Where are our children, , who used to read a book per week or even more, stacking books as tall as themselves in a year?
I miss Smaranda… and I really wish I knew where she is now and if she is well.
Source: https://www.kidibot.ro/blog/copiii-nu-mai-citesc/