This article first appeared in KK Focus (September - November 2015).
Reproduced with permission.
Leong Kok Thye
Parents in Singapore tend to give unbalanced emphasis to intellectual capability. Academic excellence alone is not the panacea for a rich and fulfilling life. The Bible emphasizes wisdom rather than intellectual capability, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to chose understanding rather than silver (Prov.16:16). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Pro. 9:10). In my years as a volunteer pastoral care facilitator in ACS (Primary) and ACS (Barker), one fact we are always conscious of is that if we enrich the mind without nourishing the spirit, all we reap is a harvest of clever crooks.
Books that can shape the attitudes and character of children are freely available today. Some books merely entertain while others are harmful to unsuspecting minds. Besides books, there is also the problem of undesirable materials available in compact discs and on the internet. Censorship is not always effective. It can in fact arouse curiosity and temptation. A better approach is to encourage reading books that enrich the mind and nourish the spirit.
It is never too young to foster good reading habits in children. A good way to begin is to expose them to good books. You may need to read with them initially, but it is time well spent. Books can instill a spirit of adventure and expose children to possibilities they never dreamed possible. The excitement of discovery can create a thirst for knowledge. Discussion of knowledge gained from books can open opportunities for meaningful family bonding.
KKMC has an excellent library. So after your Sunday morning snack at the Joy Stall, take a walk with the kids to the library at the second level. Encourage them to browse through the books on the shelves and select one that you can read with them over the week. Our librarian Tze Hern and his team who are doing an excellent job will be glad to help you. The details of the library are as follows.
Give your children a solid foundation in their character formation. Encourage them to read good Christian books.
Reproduced with permission.
Leong Kok Thye
Parents in Singapore tend to give unbalanced emphasis to intellectual capability. Academic excellence alone is not the panacea for a rich and fulfilling life. The Bible emphasizes wisdom rather than intellectual capability, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to chose understanding rather than silver (Prov.16:16). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Pro. 9:10). In my years as a volunteer pastoral care facilitator in ACS (Primary) and ACS (Barker), one fact we are always conscious of is that if we enrich the mind without nourishing the spirit, all we reap is a harvest of clever crooks.
Books that can shape the attitudes and character of children are freely available today. Some books merely entertain while others are harmful to unsuspecting minds. Besides books, there is also the problem of undesirable materials available in compact discs and on the internet. Censorship is not always effective. It can in fact arouse curiosity and temptation. A better approach is to encourage reading books that enrich the mind and nourish the spirit.
It is never too young to foster good reading habits in children. A good way to begin is to expose them to good books. You may need to read with them initially, but it is time well spent. Books can instill a spirit of adventure and expose children to possibilities they never dreamed possible. The excitement of discovery can create a thirst for knowledge. Discussion of knowledge gained from books can open opportunities for meaningful family bonding.
KKMC has an excellent library. So after your Sunday morning snack at the Joy Stall, take a walk with the kids to the library at the second level. Encourage them to browse through the books on the shelves and select one that you can read with them over the week. Our librarian Tze Hern and his team who are doing an excellent job will be glad to help you. The details of the library are as follows.
Membership
Type
|
Books
|
Audiovisual
|
One-Time Membership
Fees
|
$2.00
|
$5.00
|
Subscription
|
nil
|
nil
|
Borrowing
allowance
|
2 books/
3weeks
|
2 items/
2weeks
|
Give your children a solid foundation in their character formation. Encourage them to read good Christian books.
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