Leaving a legacy: Cullen Mackenzie writes for his children and generations to come
Cullen Mackenzie wrote Impi yeHlathi because he wanted other children to experience the stories he had told his own children and isiZulu students. Mabhengwane of
You know that reading with preschoolers enhances your relationship with them. You also know that reading aloud to your 3-5 year old child helps them learn to read. You know that reading aloud to your kids encourages them to read for pleasure, and that reading for pleasure is the key to reading for meaning, academic success, and emotional wellbeing.
You might also know that low literacy levels cost South Africa hundreds of billions of rands and inhibits our collective social progress.
But maybe you could use a little help with how to make reading with your kids an enjoyable part of your day?
Just before bed or any quiet time during the day. Talk about the book and ask questions to encourage your child to think about the story and its meaning.
Kids acquire language mainly through listening. Reading aloud to them builds vocabulary and the connections between the spoken and written word, and provides a safe way to explore strong emotions.
A child who enjoys what they read will read more. It’s great to expose kids to a wide variety of stories, but letting them follow their interests will ultimately increase their enthusiasm for reading. This includes books with film or TV characters, comics, and nonfiction.
Our cultural and emotional connection to books and hearing stories impacts our love of reading. Build your child’s emotional connection to reading by reading in a cosy environment. Take advantage of the physical closeness that reading aloud together creates to help your kid associate books with security and affection.
Talking with your preschooler about what you’re reading together will improve their language development and cognitive abilities, increase their empathy, and help you bond with your child. Chat about the book’s cover, what your child thinks will happen next in the story, and how they feel about events in the story.
Bonus tips for making reading with preschoolers a delightful part of your day are: Always have a book in your bag, get a library card, and ask for books as gifts.
When your kids are a little older and reading independently, they will love the stories we publish at Zazi Books. Immersive, indigenous-language South African stories for tweens aged 8-12 that are relatable and fun.
Kids who enjoy reading will read more. Taking time out of your day to connect and be present with your kids while exploring stories together will set them up for a lifelong love of reading, improve their literacy skills, and solidify your relationship with them. The beautiful memories of reading with you, in addition to reading books that are fun and engaging, will help your kids learn to read and keep reading, creating a positive ripple effect for them and your family.
Cullen Mackenzie wrote Impi yeHlathi because he wanted other children to experience the stories he had told his own children and isiZulu students. Mabhengwane of
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