If we have to name one person from the Hindi film industry who loves reading, that would be none other than Twinkle Khanna, the former actress and now a bestselling author. She frequently engages with her social media followers, sharing book recommendations, updates from her book club, and insightful tips on cultivating a reading habit. Recently, on World Book Day, she once again demonstrated her passion by offering unconventional yet invaluable advice on encouraging her daughter Nitara to read. Twinkle Khanna detailed how parents can similarly instill a love for books in their children.
On Instagram, Twinkle Khanna shared a video explaining the process she used with her daughter. In the caption of the post, she wrote, “Raise your hand if getting your kid to read a book feels tougher than getting them to eat parwal. Here is a reading ritual that may help you tackle even the trickiest of tots. This World Book Day, bond with your mini-me by breaking some bookworm rules.”
“P.S. I thought it was common sense but seeing a few comments, I think I do need to underline this:) Pick a book that you think is appropriate for your child,” she added.
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In the video, she highlights the importance of instilling this passion in children in today’s digital age in a world where screens dominate our lives. She acknowledges that encouraging children to read can be challenging.
“So, how can you encourage your child to read more? If you want your kids to be smarter than their friends, classmates, and even their gadgets, the best way, according to Twinkle, is still quite old-fashioned: by reading books. “But in a whirling world of blinking screens, how do you get a child to sit in one place and turn one page after another?” she asks.
Answering her own question, she reveals that she has transformed this endeavour into a project with her daughter. They began with a visit to a local bookstore, where they sought recommendations suitable for both herself and her 11-year-old daughter. Among the suggestions they received was Lord of the Flies, a book they decided to explore together.
“We made a deal and we decided that we were going to read this book and we were going to underline the words we didn’t understand, passages we found interesting if we spotted similes,” she further explains.
While some may argue that scribbling in books is disrespectful, Twinkle believes it’s important to remember that the Goddess of Wisdom doesn’t visit those who worship books, but those who read them.
She adds that it is possible that in 7-8 years, her daughter may forget about their reading project, but she may still have the book with all their notes, serving as a reminder of the bond they share and the books they read together.
What do you think of her tip to make kids read?
