It is common knowledge that one of the most natural activities holiday makers will embark on is watching television. Naturally, watching the movie Harry Potter is interesting and time saving as compared to hours of reading the text. Nevertheless, putting down the remote and picking up a book may yield unique benefits.

To be fair, there is so much more to explore in the world of television that actually helps children. Today, most channels have very interesting programmes, some of which are very educating as well as entertaining. Besides, it brings news to reality and introduces one to multiple genres all in one package: music, movies, reality shows, politics, just to mention but a few.

However, we must also point to anecdotal evidence that shows how television is shallow. Most news programmes only skim the surface of issues, and often offer a skewed or biased view of events. Programmes are usually too short and too often interrupted by advertisements to delve very deeply into a topic. Instead of rich dialogues we get empty sound bites, slogans, and one-liners. Most reality shows depict deplorable characters doing silly things.

That having been said, let’s look at the bigger picture. Reading may be time consuming, boring and even confusing but, in the long run, it is the better option. This is because reading is highly thought-provoking. Television and film primarily dazzle the senses with stupendously stunning special effects, but this fails to engage your grey matter in any meaningful way. Books will leave you pondering and questioning, and may even encourage you to do some of your own further reading to augment your own knowledge and understanding. Books are pretty experimental at times, too, which can really roast your intellect. And that’s a good thing – promise!

Better yet, when children get "hooked on books”, they acquire, involuntarily and without conscious effort, nearly all of the so-called "language skills” many people are so concerned about. They will become adequate readers, acquire a large vocabulary, develop the ability to understand and use complex grammatical constructions, develop a good writing style, and even become good spellers.

Further still, reading for fun has social benefits and can improve our sense of connectedness to the wider community. It increases our understanding of our own identity, improves empathy and gives us an insight into the world view of others, things television barely does. Similarly, the stories and ideas contained in a book can open our minds and unite us with other cultures, helping us to gain a deeper understanding and respect for them.

It is upon this background that parents and guardians are encouraged to promote reading at home. You can begin as easy as sharing a story with your child or directing them to an interesting book. Identify your child’s areas of interest and provide reading materials that will keep them engaged. Get your child a library card to a public library or better yet, buy the books if you can.

In conclusion, reading for pleasure provides a wealth of benefits for kids as they go through school and into adulthood. Parents and other stakeholders should introduce the reading culture among the children for a literate nation.

The writer is a lecturer at The Adventist University of Central Africa