Where young imagination runs wild
SCG Foundation's 'Tales in the Park' helps youngsters develop a love for reading
Now a firm cool season Saturday date for many Bangkok families, the popular storytelling festival “Tales in the Garden” has done much to fire up young imaginations during the last eight years.
Organised by the SCG Foundation with the cooperation of the Books for Children Foundation and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), this year’s event – the ninth – continues until the end of next month in Bangkok and runs through March in Chiang Mai.
SCG Foundation director Suranuch Thongsila says that mainly picture books are used to encourage the development of the children, who range in age from babes-in-arms up to six year olds.
“Reading is essential to early childhood development and the best, easiest and yet least expensive way to stimulate very young brains is to use good picture books and read to the children for about 10-15 minutes a day,” Suranuch says.
Exposing children to a good reading culture, especially in an easy-going and friendly ambience, also encourages them to grow up with a love for reading.
Research about reading in Thailand over the years has shown that despite the efforts put organising activities, Thai children hardly read. Dr Udom Petchsangharn, vice president of Rakluke Family Group, says that in many western countries, literature is considered a medical tool to cultivate morals in young people, meaning that good children’s books can in fact help in creating good children. Morals aside, Udom explains that reading to your children is a great developmental tool for their language and communication skills. “Reading helps children to communicate clearly with other people.
They will not just be able to talk right, but listen right and communicate right. This whole communication skill is developed through the books that they read. They learn how characters communicate and convey their messages.”
Cheewan Wisasa, one of Thailand’s best known children book and picture book authors, says that “Tales in the Garden” is a good social example and should be replicated around the
country.
“Tales in the Garden” runs from 4 to 5.30pm every cool season for 10 consecutive weeks. The activity continues on January 19, 26 and February 2 at Watchirabenjathat Park (Railway Park) at the Youth Centre then will be held on February 9 and 16 at the Palm Garden in the Queen Sirikit Park.
For those living in the North, the fourth “Tales in the Garden” is taking place on February 9 and 16 and March 2 and 9, at the Culture Promoting Office of Chiang Mai University, opposite Ton Payom Market on Liebklongchonlaprathan Road.
