Page 87 - Reading Nest - The Supportive Literacy Environment Handbook

Enjoyment, recharging ‘batteries’

Self-actualisation, a desire to feel competent comes as an important need in young
children too. An ability to read and write is enjoyable, it is fun to recognise your own or

a friend’s name, come up with rhymes and make new funny words. When adults

acknowledge children’s activities, it helps to improve self-confidence and motivation to
work with the written word.

Reading enjoyment follows hearing enjoyment, very young children are able to enjoy

listening to reading. This enables becoming acquainted with the more complex structure
of written text and enriching vocabulary. Reading aloud, browsing and imitating reading

and also independent reading are pleasant in suitable surroundings. Many like reading in

bed, a comfortable armchair or on a bench in the park. Children prefer working with the
written word in a comfortable setting in school and kindergarten alike. A safe and

attractive environment may entice a child who has not learnt to value reading at home yet
since it is easy to become attracted to reading when sitting on a soft cushion and browsing

a book with beautiful pictures..