Doing an enjoyable activity with a child can develop better skills and more creativity than reading. To what extent do you agree? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.

Parents throughout the world spend time reading with their offspring to prepare them for 1school, where their literacy skillsschool where their literacy skills are further developed; however, recent research suggests that focusing on reading at an early age can be detrimental, and participating in fun activities would be far more beneficial. I am a strong advocate of this approach, and the 2its benefitsbenefits of it will be covered in this essay.

A fundamental reason for this is that there is 3no single biologically appropriate age for learning to readno biological age for reading, and pushing infants to acquire this skill before they are ready could have repercussions. For example, in the UK, many boys are reluctant readers, possibly 4because they were forced to readbecause of being forced to read, 5which may have put them off readingand this turned them off reading. 6By focusing on other activities and developing other skills such as creativity and imagination, when they are ready to read, they usually acquire this skill rapidly.

In addition, the importance of encouraging creativity and developing a child’s imagination must be acknowledged. Through play, youngsters develop social and cognitive skills7; for example, they are more likely, for example, they are more likely to learn vocabulary through context rather than learning it from a book. Furthermore, play allows youngsters to mature 8emotionally and gain self-confidenceemotionally, and gain self-confidence.

There is no scientific research which suggests reading at a young age is essential for a child’s 9development; moreover, evidencedevelopment, moreover, evidence suggests the reverse is true. In Finland, early years’ education focuses on playing. Reading is only encouraged if a child shows an interest in developing this skill.

This self-directed approach certainly does not result in Finnish school leavers falling behind their foreign counterparts. In fact, Finland was ranked 10sixth in the world for readingthe sixth best in the world in terms of reading.

11Despite being a supporter of this non-reading approach, I am not vehemently opposed to it and I strongly recommend incorporating bedtime stories into a child’s daily routine. However, reading as a regular day time activity should be swapped for something which allows a child to develop other skills.