Method of education here, teaching a child, to have a strong sense of social responsibility, from checking out books for her at the library, translated…
My daughter, Huei, is six this year, at the age of getting her to learn to love reading, but because there’s only limited space in the house, so I couldn’t buy the books I want for her, I’d decided, to take her, to utilize the wide resources at the public libraries. The morning the next day, I’d told Huei, after her breakfast, I was going to take her to the library, and in it, there are, many stories she’d never heard before; Huei became very excited after my description of the library to her, wheezed through her breakfast.
allowing the child to decide, what books she want to read, not my photo…
Before we went in the library, I’d explained the rules she must follow inside, then, we’d, taken the steps up to the second floor, to the children’s sections. There were, the rows of children’s books, and the tables and chairs of children’s heights, Huei was so excited she’d started flipping through the books all around, she’d become intrigued with money lately, so I’d found the illustrated books on money, to teach her the basics about money.
Lunch time came, I’d selected four books to read with Huei, and she’d grabbed a book with her favorite kind of stories: princesses; before we reached the checkout counters, I’d handed the library card to Huei, so she can practice check out the books by herself. At first, she was, a bit timid, I’d encouraged her, that we’d read ALL the stories repeatedly in the house, that if she could manage to check out the books herself, then, there are, more stories available to her. She’d hesitated awhile, then, finally, worked up the courage, said in a barely audible voice, “Aunty, I want to check out these.” The librarian looked at Huei, then me, she’d smiled at Huei, said to her, “You’re so amazing, checking the books out by yourself!”, Huei smiled too.
helping children acquire that love for reading, not my photo…
After this initial trip, we’d made several more, and, Huei became familiarized with the process of checking out and returning the books. Once, the books are about to be due, Huei had reminded me and my husband about it, but I was busy on something else, and I couldn’t take her to return the checked out books; on the second day before it’s due, on the morning, Huei asked me, “Mom, the books are due the day after tomorrow, can you have dad pick me up, and you go return the books? Or have dad return the books, and you come and pick me up after school? Because I have abacus today, and it may be too late after the classes are over!” Looking at how stressful Huei became, I’d promised her I’ll take care of the returning of the books, my husband suggested, that he can return the books as he goes out at night, I’d told him, why not take Huei with him, feeling that Huei is slowly accumulating that sense of responsibility, I don’t want to let this chance slip by.
On the road of education, maybe, it’s a time when the adults get to accompany the children, and all parents need, is to offer help at the right time, and they can, instill that strong sense of responsibility in their own young, what an unexpected lesson I’d learned here!
So, because the child cared a lot about the library, and the books she’d checked out, that, is why she asked her parents to help her return the materials before it’s overdue, and this, is a great way of instilling that sense of responsibility in your young, to have something that they care a lot about, and just use the instances to teach your children about the values they should acquire in life.
Life, the Obstacle Course 