Delhi's Reading Renaissance: From Screens to Stories

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## From Screens to Stories: Delhi's Gentle Nudge Towards Reading

Are your kids glued to their phones or tablets? If so, you're not alone. Many parents in Delhi-NCR are feeling the same way, and they're on a mission to help their children rediscover the magic of books. It's like "reintroducing a lost language," as one parent puts it, but it's a journey worth taking.

**Why the Shift?**

Experts like Dr. Bhavna Barmi, a child psychologist, explain that today's kids, especially in cities, grow up with screens everywhere. This means they often lose focus quickly, prefer short videos over long stories, and see reading as a chore, not fun. The result? Less imagination and sometimes even aggression.

**Parents Leading the Way**

Families are finding clever ways to make the switch. Mohammad Mati swapped his son Zain's YouTube car videos for glossy car magazines and books about Lightning McQueen – tapping into his existing interests. Shweta Arora signed her son up for cricket and swimming to curb gaming marathons. Jyoti Karakoti Bajetha is bringing back bedtime stories to break her children's "addiction" to short videos.

It's a slow process, but a gentle approach works. Salil Bhati, an avid reader himself, started his kids with simple picture books and mythological tales. He saw the change when his daughter breezed through an entire book, proving that curiosity, when nurtured, can win over digital distractions.

**Schools Stepping Up**

Schools across Delhi-NCR are also getting creative. Many have "Drop Everything and Read" (DEAR) sessions, where everyone pauses to read. Modern Public School even has a "Human Library," letting students "borrow" peers for conversations to learn about different experiences. Sardar Patel Vidyalaya uses audiobook links so kids can follow along with the words.

Libraries are being transformed into inviting spaces with colorful books, puppet nooks, and even books on feelings and self-esteem. Librarians are seeing kids eagerly pick up everything from fairy tales to self-help books. At Ramjas International, junior librarian Chandana Ghosh holds skits where students role-play story characters, bringing books to life.

**What Are Kids Reading?**

So, what's capturing young imaginations? Classics like Ruskin Bond's "The Cherry Tree" and Roald Dahl's "The Enormous Crocodile" are still popular. Kids also love series like Geronimo Stilton, Dog Man, and Cat Kid Comic Club, along with encyclopedias about animals and space. For first-time readers, short, engaging books like "Payal Kho Gayi" and "Gajapati Kulapati" are big hits.

**Community Support**

Beyond homes and schools, community efforts are making a difference. The Free Libraries Network (FLN) works to make reading free, informal, and inclusive, especially in villages where access to books might be limited. As FLN Director Purnima Rao says, "Children are curious. It's access that they lack."

The journey from screens to stories is a gradual one, but with parents, schools, and communities working together, Delhi's children are slowly but surely reclaiming their imagination, one page at a time.

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