A Study on Non-Academic Reading Preferences of Students

INDEX
 Introduction
 Preliminary Research Survey
 Objectives
 Methodological Discussion
 Beneficiaries
 Expected Results
 References

INTRODUCTION: Reading plays a very vital role in the life of children. It is not only necessary for studies in schools and colleges but it is also very important for the mental and emotional development of a child’s personality because reading stimulates the development of the brain through continuous exercise of the muscles of the mind. This helps a child to improve his imagination and creativity. A child who is exposed to continuous reading during the early days of his life is able to comprehend and analyze things in a better way than a child who is not involved in any kind of extra reading apart from his academic stuff. Reading helps the young children develop good language skills like a sound command over vocabulary and grammar. The mind becomes more rich due to valuable knowledge and information gained through reading. It also helps to develop good listening skills.
In spite of various advantages of reading for children, reading as a habit is on a downslide among the present generation of children. This is due to many reasons. One main reason is the impact of digital media like television, computers and internet, video games etc. on the minds of the children. Due to these electronic devices, the number of children visiting libraries in schools and outside is declining. Another reason for decline in the reading habits of the children is that even though the children show an interest towards reading, they do not get the reading material of their choice and hence they become reluctant to visit libraries and read. The absence of reading habits in childhood has been known to affect the psychological development of children severely. Therefore this study is an attempt to bring the children back to the libraries and to the world of reading by providing them with the books which they like to read.