According to the statistics in 2017, Singapore has a 97.2 percent literacy rate among residents aged 15 years and older. That doesn't mean, though, that our reading culture looks as promising. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information, highlighted that more can be done to encourage locals to pick up reading.

In my family, we strongly believe that good reading habits will bring our kids far, so we encouraged reading when each kid was between 1 to 3 months old. You can certainly start earlier, but for us, the mad routine of breastfeeding and changing diapers took more of our attention. As things got calmer at home, the reading journey also began.

When we were rookies in the parenting world, we picked up books based on instincts - colourful pictures, big words, interesting and simple storyline etc. We didn't know if the books were "good" books and if they were at a suitable reading level. We also only relied on the choices available at bookstores like Borders and Kinokuniya. Sometimes, we would ask our friends for recommendations of good titles to get.

OWL READERS CLUB

OTHER GOOD STUFF FROM OWL READERS CLUB

There are many more great features of Owl Readers Club which I'll leave you to uncover. Here's highlighting a few which I'm keen to explore further!

4. Be an Owl Star member (paid membership) for as low as $8.17 a month to get double the points and be included in the exclusive club events and benefits!

5. Join the Owl Readers Club events and meet with other families. In this way, we can encourage one another in this journey to cultivate the love for reading in our families.

Our present for K's birthday

As Hal Elrod said, "The quality of our life is impacted by the quality of our habits." so why not raise an avid reader in your child from young? For a peace of mind that the books you get for your child are of high quality, carefully curated by a team of parents who love books and wants to inculcate the same love to every child, it is worth visiting the Owl Readers Club and see the good stuff for yourself.

 SPECIAL GIVEAWAY! (15 Mar - 20 Mar) 

In conjunction with World Down Syndrome Day 2018 on March 21st, Owl Readers Club is spreading the love for books by giving a $50 store credit to ONE lucky reader!

In the earlier days, children with Down syndrome were assumed to be incapable of learning to read at all by most professionals and there was very little research to find out reasons for their spoken language difficulties. Now, we know that this can be achieved with appropriate strategies, patience and with the family's support.

Melissa, a founding member of Owl Readers Club, shared her take on inculcating reading habits for children with me, "We wholeheartedly believe that all children will benefit from being read to starting from a young age, and it is important to help them nurture a love for reading from young!

Some may sit still earlier than others, some may learn to communicate earlier than others, but one thing for sure, all children love sitting on their parents’ laps and love being read to.

It shouldn’t, therefore, come across as a surprise that children with Down Syndrome will enjoy this wonderful family bonding activity that can be carried out at any of their waking moments and anywhere!. As they say, reading (or being read to) calms the mind!"

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY