“Global studies show that children who read for 20 minutes a day are exposed to more than two million words a year and score 90 per cent or higher on standardized tests,” said His Excellency Amer Al Hammadi, Undersecretary of ADEK. “We continue our focus on instilling a culture of reading among our community in line with the objectives of UAE National Policy for Reading, especially considering its role in supporting children’s cognitive and social development.”
ADEK’s stand at ADIBF will also provide a variety of exciting challenges and competitions that can only be solved through reading, as well as unique interactive experiences that allow students in grades 7-10 (Year 8-11) to learn about book genres that best suit their personalities. Additionally, parents visiting the pavilion can learn about the stages of reading development for children, as well as their pivotal role in encouraging their children to read.
“Developing a ‘reader personality’ begins at birth,” added Al Hammadi. “Children whose parents read for them regularly show faster rates of language development and can communicate better with the world around them. Moreover, reading to children is an important opportunity to strengthen family bonds. In this context, we previously launched A Parent's Guide to Raising an Avid Reader, which provides parents with many tips and tools to encourage their children to read and adopt reading as a way of life.”
ADEK's participation at ADIBF comes in line with its strategy to foster a culture of reading among youth and build a generation of passionate readers. Throughout the Month of Reading last March, ADEK organized the ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ program, which included a series of pop-ups at key locations in Abu Dhabi and promoted a reading culture among more than 30,000 visitors.