“The more that you read, the more you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.” - Dr Seuss
There is no healthier habit for a child to develop than reading. Studies show there are numerous benefits to reading. These include enhancing a child’s imagination, increasing their vocabulary and concentration, instilling empathy and understanding, learning new things and even making them better conversationalists.
Reading can also spark curiosity in a child to nurture that natural inclination to learn and explore and parents will be happy about the reduced screen time when a child is immersed in a book.
At The Ridge School, a leading preparatory school in Johannesburg, we encourage and facilitate reading in our boys throughout their time with us, and often this love for reading extends far beyond their schooling years.
Knowing & Growing Young Readers
We believe whole-heartedly in fostering a love of reading and this is done during classes by our lovely teachers, as well as during recreational times. The Ridge library is an inviting space, meant to stimulate our boys in the most imaginative ways. We encourage genre exploration as well as the sharing of favourite books, authors or series amongst the boys.
Both junior and senior boys are given time during the week to stroll through the library to find something that piques their interest. We are proud to have an impressive selection of titles, from classic children’s literature to non-fiction project books, reference books and more. Whether it’s delving into the magical world of Enid Blyton or reading up about the solar system, Ridge boys are grown to become inquiring individuals, eager to learn and be absorbed in the fascinating world of books.
Practical Benefits Of Reading At The Ridge
Parents often worry about boys not taking an interest in reading and preferring physical play or digital devices. But at The Ridge School, we gently introduce our boys to reading in a way that inspires them. We allow boys to choose their own books at the library, so this way they don’t feel like they are forced, but can rather peruse the pages about a subject they are genuinely curious about. We start this habit right from the get-go in Grade 0 and we encourage exciting conversations about what they have read in books to keep them motivated and interested.
Our keen readers take part in the annual international Kids’ Lit Quiz competition and we also compete in inter-school General Knowledge Quizzes. Through this beautiful blend of student-lead learning and a healthy culture of reading, we live by our motto which can be seen adorning the wall of our library in unique African tin artistry: “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” - Margaret Fuller.
The Ridge School truly is a place where little readers become pioneering young men. Contact our school in Westcliffe, Johannesburg at 011 481 5800 to book a tour so you can view our state-of-the-art library, among other top facilities available to our boys from Grade 0-7.