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May 25, 2015

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Dedicated dad spreads word about readingYang Meiping

Source: Shanghai Daily | May 25, 2015, Monday | Print Edition

For local father Yu Lihui, story-time is much more than just a pleasant diversion — it’s a cornerstone of early-childhood development.

Affectionately known as Mickey Papa, Yu spends a considerable amount of his time promoting reading among preschoolers and their parents — particularly other fathers. As Yu sees it, having parents read with their children is essential to fostering familial bonds and personal growth in young people.

Yu, an education reporter and a former middle school teacher, began his reading crusade back in 2008 when he quit his busy job to spend more time with his then 3-year-old son, nicknamed Mickey.

One day, Yu says he took his boy to a story-time event at a local children’s center and was surprised to find that he was the only father present. Even more surprising to him though was the way in which a teacher enraptured the assembled tots with a simple story book entitled “Little Mouse.”

The teacher explained that by reading together, parents and children can unite in the shared emotional space of a story. This notion struck a deep chord with Yu, who later told his friends of the virtues and benefits of parent-child reading. He even sent books to his friends with new babies.

It was in June 2013 though that well-known children’s writer Fang Suzhen encouraged Yu — who, by that point, had returned to work as a reporter — to share his love of reading with more than just his friends and acquaintances.

Soon after hearing Fang’s message, Yu opened a public WeChat account called Picture Book School with the intention of promoting children’s books and instructing parents on ways to read with their kids. The account proved popular and now boasts more than 50,000 members. Yu also cooperates with publishers, libraries, education authorities and schools on a program to share free reading books.

“Books should be part of children’s lives, just like reading should be part of adult life,” Yu said. “The aesthetic value, the language, the imagery and the knowledge contained in these books can help children grow and learn about the world.”

Yu is also careful to remind China’s often serious-minded parents that reading to their children should be a delight rather than a test or a way to drill home lessons.

“We have to pay attention to the feelings of children. Why not listen to their ideas about which books to read and how to read them? When reading, just go along with the story. Don’t stop to ask tough questions. It will ruin the whole experience.”

Being a father, Yu noted that story-time is a task normally allocated to the mothers in most Chinese families. But dads, according to Yu, need to do their part.

“No matter how busy they may be, fathers should spend time with their children after work or on weekends. They can read with their children alone or join their spouses by acting out different roles in stories. This will make reading really interesting and strengthen the emotional connections between children and parents!”

Children's Day


 

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