“Bend the tree when it is young, teach the child when they are young.” This proverb is deeply ingrained in the minds of many Vietnamese generations, reminding us of the importance of educating children from their earliest years. And literary appreciation is one of the indispensable spiritual “nutrients” for the comprehensive development of children. From a young age, children have their first feelings for the world of words, stories, and poems. Understanding the characteristics of literary appreciation in preschoolers will help parents and teachers have appropriate educational methods to inspire a love of literature in children. BeeBlue House Kindergarten is one of the places that effectively applies this method.
The World of Literature Through a Child’s Eyes
Preschool children perceive literature very naturally and innocently. They do not analyze or explain the deeper meaning but feel it intuitively, with empathy for the characters, through vivid images and sounds. For example, with the story “Diary of a Cricket,” a child will be interested in the image of a strong and brave Cricket, and sad when Choắt Cricket departs, without necessarily understanding the message about arrogance and conceit that Tô Hoài conveys.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong Giang, a preschool education expert with over 20 years of experience in Hanoi and the author of “Igniting Literary Emotions in Preschoolers,” believes: “At this age, children feel literature with their whole hearts. Therefore, choosing works that are appropriate and close to children’s psychology is extremely important.”
Factors Influencing Literary Appreciation in Children
Literary appreciation in preschool children is influenced by many factors, from the family and school environment to psychological and physiological elements. A child who grows up in a loving environment, whose parents and grandparents regularly read and tell stories, will have a better ability to appreciate literature. Conversely, a child who has little exposure to books and lives in an environment lacking care and sharing will find it difficult to develop literary appreciation skills.
A mother reading a storybook to her young child at home, illustrating the family environment's influence on literary appreciation in preschoolers.
According to Vietnamese spiritual beliefs, “children are a gift from heaven.” Raising children is not only the responsibility of parents but also a “predestined relationship” and a “debt.” Therefore, parents need to wholeheartedly love, care for, and educate their children to become good people. Organizing birthday parties in kindergarten is also a way to create a friendly and close environment for children.
Nurturing a Love for Literature in Children
To nurture a love of literature in preschool children, parents and teachers can apply many different methods. Reading and telling stories to children is one of the most effective methods. In addition, activities such as drama, drawing, singing, and dancing based on the story content can be organized. This not only helps children understand the story better but also helps them develop imagination, expressive ability, and confidence. When Ngoc Bich Goes to Kindergarten is a typical example of nurturing a love of literature for children through extracurricular activities.
Mr. Pham Van Tuan, a lecturer in the Preschool Education Department at Hanoi National University of Education, emphasized in his book “Educating Preschool Children Through Literature”: “Nurturing a love of literature for preschool children needs to be done gently and naturally, avoiding imposition and coercion.” The content of the 2009 preschool education program also mentioned this issue. In addition, the characteristics of musical ability in preschool children are also closely related to literary appreciation.
Conclusion
Literary appreciation is an important part of the development process for preschool children. Understanding the characteristics of literary appreciation in children will help parents and teachers have appropriate educational methods, helping children develop comprehensively in terms of intellect, emotions, and aesthetics. Let’s sow seeds of love and nurture literary talents for future generations. Please leave a comment, share the article, and explore more useful content on our website. You can also contact Phone Number: 0372999999, or visit the address: 234 Hao Nam, Hanoi. We have a 24/7 customer care team.