Why Reading Still Matters: Insights from a Grandmother’s Experience
This article is part of our Sister Stories series, where we share personal experiences and insights from women across generations. In this piece, we hear from a grandmother who offers a unique perspective on the importance of reading, drawing from her own lifelong journey with literacy as well as her observations volunteering with young children. Her heartfelt reflections highlight the challenges and joys of learning to read, and why nurturing a love of books is so vital for our children’s future.
“Learning to read is a complex process that requires a variety of skills. These skills don’t simply appear—they must be learned and practised from an early age” AMBER sister contributor.
As a child, I always struggled at school and never understood why. I was constantly trying to catch up and often resorted to copying my friends' work because I couldn’t make sense of what the teacher was saying. I thought I was just “thick” or “dumb”—labels that, sadly, were often directed at me.
It wasn’t until I became an adult and decided to continue my education that I discovered I learn better on my own, at my own pace. This gave me the space to organise my thoughts and process information without the pressure of others. Slowly but surely, I began to understand more complex language and literature, while also developing my basic arithmetic skills. I always believed I could achieve, but I didn’t understand my learning style—or how it could be supported—until much later in life.
Today, I volunteer at my local primary school, listening to children aged 6 to 8 as they learn to read. I’m often shocked at the wide disparity of reading abilities within a single classroom. Although these children are of a similar age, their ability to build and pronounce words varies greatly. Some are skilled readers who can instantly recognise words and use phonics to sound out unfamiliar ones. Others, however, struggle even with the simplest words, relying instead on visual cues from pictures or guessing based on context.
At this school, all the teachers use a phonics-based approach to teach reading. As children become more skilled in phonics and begin to read more fluently, their brains can shift focus toward understanding the meaning of the words. This method has been scientifically proven to accelerate reading development compared to relying solely on context or pictures.
As I’ve got to know the children, I’ve asked them whether they read at home. Some of their responses include:
“My parents work and are really busy.”
“Yes, I do read at home.”
“My parents don’t understand English, so they can’t read with me.”
“I don’t have any books I like at home.”
“I don’t have any books at home.”
“My auntie teaches me when I go to her house or when she visits.”
As a grandparent, I’ve observed how children's interest in books has changed over time. I recall:
I loved reading passionately and could easily read a book of over 100 pages in a single day as a child.
My own children enjoyed reading, though only two were regular book readers—my youngest preferred shorter articles. Still, none of them seemed to share the same love for books I had growing up.
With my three younger grandsons, it's a challenge to get them to pick up a book voluntarily without significant persuasion. In contrast, my older grandson has read many novels—often gifted to him—and continues to cherish them.
My two granddaughters, on the other hand, enjoy reading both with their parents and independently.
Reading opens up a world of possibilities and helps children understand the world around them. Strong reading skills are foundational for future learning and development. They enable children to communicate effectively, express their needs, and build meaningful connections with others.
Sadly, books often can’t compete with the allure of electronic devices and games, which many children spend hours engaging with. As a result, the number of children reading for pleasure—especially boys—is declining across the country.
It’s crucial that we continue to nurture a child’s love of reading from birth. We should read to babies, encourage toddlers to listen to stories, and make reading as animated and interactive as possible so that it remains fun and enjoyable. Age-appropriate books help build vocabulary and comprehension. Incorporating actions, songs, and repetition helps children remember words, phrases, and numbers. Picture books also support imagination and reinforce the connection between spoken and written language.
We live in a diverse and rapidly changing world where the demands of future employers are growing, even for the most well-educated. For children whose first language isn’t English, the challenge is even greater. We must be proactive in supporting children’s literacy development, or they risk falling behind in reading comprehension and language use.
In today’s digital world, strong communication skills are more vital than ever. Teaching a child to read is not easy and takes time, but it cannot be left solely to schools. If we want our children to succeed, we all need to take responsibility. I understand life is busy, but so too will be the lives of the children we raise. Let’s equip them to be confident, resilient, and independent—because their future depends on it.
Ways to make reading fun and engaging with our children:
🌟 1. Make It Interactive
Use voices and sound effects for different characters.
Let your child act out scenes or pretend to be the characters.
Ask questions during the story: "What do you think happens next?" or "How would you feel if you were them?"
📚 2. Let Them Choose the Books
Give your child the freedom to pick books that interest them—even if it’s comics, joke books, or graphic novels.
Kids are more likely to engage when they feel in control.
🎭 3. Bring Stories to Life
Turn storytime into a mini puppet show or drama session.
Create a reading nook or blanket fort where you read together—make it feel special and cozy.
📆 4. Make It a Routine (But Never a Chore)
Build reading into your daily rhythm, like bedtime or after dinner.
Keep it short and sweet if needed—quality over quantity.
✂️ 5. Connect Books to Real Life
After reading about animals, go to the zoo.
Read about cooking, then make a recipe from the book.
Reading becomes exciting when it's tied to action.
🧒 6. Be a Reading Role Model
Let them see you reading and enjoying it.
Talk about your favorite stories or what you're reading.
🎲 7. Turn Reading into a Game
Use reading bingo cards, reward charts, or scavenger hunts for words or characters.
Try apps or eBooks that have interactive elements, especially for reluctant readers.
🎵 8. Incorporate Music and Rhythm
Read rhyming books, poems, or songs aloud together.
Add clapping or dancing to the rhythm.
💡 Tip: Keep It Positive
Never force it. If your child is tired or disinterested one day, it’s okay to pause. Reading should be associated with joy, connection, and curiosity, not pressure.
Links to help your child get into reading: