Let's meet the kids who prefer books to movies

Dubai - Reading is more than just spending three hours curled up on a couch with a book, and is definitely not just another hobby,

Eleven-year-old Henry Patrick O'shea, a student of Uptown School in Mirdiff, has read several books in the series 'Biggles, the World War 2 Collection'. Reading is his favourite past time.
"I read at least twice a day ... and I enjoy reading because I can imagine the story in my head the way I want to." Henry is only one among many children interviewed for this story who said reading books - and not watching movies - is what fuels their imagination.Ali Hassan, 10, also a student of Uptown School, said: "When I read a book, I can imagine the characters in my head the way I want to."
Since the launch of the announcement of 2016 as the year of reading by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, there has been a flurry of activities and initiatives encouraging children to take up reading as a habit.
Government departments, schools, universities, and other educational institutions have announced several public reading initiatives. Schools in Dubai have always encouraged children to read.
According to officials at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, the national framework for the initiative include visiting public libraries, development of school libraries, literacy competitions and reading challenges, among other activities.
Fatma Al Marri, CEO of Dubai Schools Agency, said, "KHDA is working closely with schools in Dubai to build on the positive results of earlier initiatives which helped in the development of a reading culture in schools. The Living Arabic initiative helps educators to implement reading programmes while making better use of technology."School officials stated that reading can help the overall development of a child much better than any other classroom activity, making the child socially enlightened and empathetic towards human suffering.Amanda J Holt, public relations officer of the Dubai British School in Springs, Emirates Hills, said: "Reading enables students to understand how tone can be used in language and how style can be used to reflect key concepts/ ideas.
"Many literature texts reflect or comment upon a time in history/political movement/culture and therefore are a record of that period in time and what was happening socially. Novels can allow an individual's story to be told in a way that a factual history book cannot.
"It assists in building students' knowledge and understanding of the world and those around them. Additionally, reading encourages students to understand and empathise with others."Khaleej Times caught up with some of the major schools in Dubai to understand their reading initiatives.
Tips to boost reading :
Be a role model: If we expect our children to see reading as an enjoyable activity, we must find a few minutes each day to simply sit down and read.
Make time for reading: Children imitate our good habits. If you take the time to put down the phone, tablet, etc. and reach for a book, your child will notice.
The power of older siblings:This is especially effective if an older sibling is modeling reading behaviour.
Embrace the graphic novel: Graphic novels, or comic books, may not have always been accepted in education but they can be a very effective tool in encouraging reluctant readers to start reading.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com