Abstract

Language acquisition and memory models are created more quickly in the brain in early childhood. If reading habit is cultivated in children early, it will enhance their language skills and perception. This study aims to evaluate the conventional practices of reading habits in Indian children from lower, middle, and upper socio-economic backgrounds and to suggest some new methods based on the results of a survey using semi-structured questionnaires. Generally, reading habits comprise: ‘reading aloud' and ‘silent reading'. Surprisingly, parents do not know the minuscule details of these two categories of reading habits like the power of reading to build confidence in children or to improve their comprehension of books and many matters in life. This study reviews recent research work in this direction and recommends that there should be strong consciousness to develop children’s reading habits, and help them to know first and foremost the vocabulary of all subjects before dealing with the contents of the subjects. It also recommends ‘Intensive’ and ‘Extensive’ studies for children to develop reading habit and linguistic competency for comprehending English as Lingua Franca.  

Key words: Reading, perception, language, learning, vocabulary, libraries, visual Thesaurus, picture perception, parenting.