OBJECTIVES
Bal Sahitya Mahotsav intends to provide an interactive and inclusive experience to help school communities appreciate the power and pleasure of reading by achieving the following:
- Encouraging children to enjoy reading and to read more extensively.
- Not only does reading provide an incredible way for children to explore new worlds and situations and develop an active imagination, but reading has also been proven to greatly aid in the cognitive development of children. In fact, reading everyday has a direct positive effect on language acquisition, literacy, numeracy, and emotional intelligence. Increasing these valuable skills also improves a nation’s economic, educational, health, and wellness outcomes and statistics. Therefore, we hope that the BSM not only instills a vibrant reading culture, but also produces a ripple effect that increases the quality of life for generations to come. See our Importance of Children’s Literature page for more detailed info of the science behind reading and early childhood development.
- Raising awareness and fostering commitment among teachers and parents so that reading is encouraged both in school and at home.
- While reading has been proven to aid in child development, these positive outcomes are only seen when parents and teachers are fully engaged with children. When books and reading are not actively promoted and properly utilized by adults and surrounding community members, children do not experience the same dramatic increases in language acquisition, literacy, and cognition. Therefore, we hope to teach our participants how to harness the power of reading and books to enact the most positive change in their communities as possible.
- Expanding the number of books available for children both at home and at school.
- We hope to expand not only the sheer number of books but the number of Nepali books available to children. The landscape of children’s literature is dominated by the US and UK. While these books are wonderful and engaging, we also need to provide books, characters, and stories that Nepali children can see themselves in and personally relate with. We hope to show the importance of children having wide access to books, and to do that we must not only expand the number of books, but the number of culturally relevant content for Nepali children as well.
- Bringing BSM to other districts in Nepal.
- One of the main focuses of our program is sustainability. Without a sustainable model we cannot hope to effect lasting change for Nepali youth. Therefore, we support bringing BSM to many districts of Nepal and giving teachers and community members the tools to continue to run BSMs on their own for years to come. Moreover, we hope to expand our impact by empowering communities to create programs specifically designed and tailored for the needs of children in their districts.
Organizers
Bal Sahitya Mahotsav (BSM) is organized by Rato Bangala School, Rato Bangala Foundation, and Rato Bangala Kitab in conjunction with other partners and sponsors.
Rato Bangala Kitab
Rato Bangala Kitab is a publishing house dedicated to developing a culture of reading by creating attractive, culturally relevant, and enjoyable books for children. RBK publishes a variety of books for all levels of readers in Nepali, English, and many other languages. Our books range from picture books for emergent readers, to chapter books for advanced readers, to chanda poetry collections and books in braille. By diversifying the reading options available to Nepali children, RBK strives to contribute to creating a vibrant reading culture here in Nepal.
Rato Bangala School
RBS opened in Lalitpur, Nepal, in 1992 with a commitment to groom Nepali students to be analytical independent thinkers aware of both the country's present situation and its potential. To make learning meaningful and relevant, the school works closely with parents and the wider community. It emphasizes cooperative action, community service and critical thinking. Along with being a co-educational day school, RBS also houses an teacher training institute. This institute strives to replicate its innovative teaching methods and quality instruction (called the Rato Bangala Method) in schools all across Nepal.
Rato Bangala Foundation
The UNESCO award winning Rato Bangala Foundation is dedicated to ensuring the right of all Nepali children to a good-quality education. Since its inception in 2002, RBF has worked as a training institute which provides various types of training to primary and secondary school teachers. More specifically, it collaborates closely with Bank Street College of Education in New York and Kathmandu University in Nepal to run an in-service Primary Teacher Training Programme. Through RBF’s programming, the foundation works to empower every member of the school community, so as to ensure that classrooms provide a safe and creative haven where students get a meaningful, age-appropriate and skill- based education, so that they grow to become responsible and pro-active citizens and life-long learners.
Together with other partnerships and sponsors, the three members of the Rato Bangala consortium each contribute unique and indispensable knowledge to the BSM. As organizers, we are excited to continue our work for Nepali children and society as a whole.
Rato Bangala Kitab
Rato Bangala Kitab is a publishing house dedicated to developing a culture of reading by creating attractive, culturally relevant, and enjoyable books for children. RBK publishes a variety of books for all levels of readers in Nepali, English, and many other languages. Our books range from picture books for emergent readers, to chapter books for advanced readers, to chanda poetry collections and books in braille. By diversifying the reading options available to Nepali children, RBK strives to contribute to creating a vibrant reading culture here in Nepal.
Rato Bangala School
RBS opened in Lalitpur, Nepal, in 1992 with a commitment to groom Nepali students to be analytical independent thinkers aware of both the country's present situation and its potential. To make learning meaningful and relevant, the school works closely with parents and the wider community. It emphasizes cooperative action, community service and critical thinking. Along with being a co-educational day school, RBS also houses an teacher training institute. This institute strives to replicate its innovative teaching methods and quality instruction (called the Rato Bangala Method) in schools all across Nepal.
Rato Bangala Foundation
The UNESCO award winning Rato Bangala Foundation is dedicated to ensuring the right of all Nepali children to a good-quality education. Since its inception in 2002, RBF has worked as a training institute which provides various types of training to primary and secondary school teachers. More specifically, it collaborates closely with Bank Street College of Education in New York and Kathmandu University in Nepal to run an in-service Primary Teacher Training Programme. Through RBF’s programming, the foundation works to empower every member of the school community, so as to ensure that classrooms provide a safe and creative haven where students get a meaningful, age-appropriate and skill- based education, so that they grow to become responsible and pro-active citizens and life-long learners.
Together with other partnerships and sponsors, the three members of the Rato Bangala consortium each contribute unique and indispensable knowledge to the BSM. As organizers, we are excited to continue our work for Nepali children and society as a whole.
Reading Culture
Science of Children’s Literature
Often in discourse surrounding children’s literature, the conversation focuses on the importance of providing books to children. While this is an unbelievably important task, we vary rarely dig into the science surrounding the importance of children’s literature and its effect on the development of important cognitive and skills. In fact, regardless of home environment and family background, the presence of books in a child’s life has a direct causal effect on their language acquisition, literacy, numeracy, and emotional intelligence. These positive outcomes are further amplified by the presence of active and encouraging adults in a child’s life. Therefore, investment in providing not only reading materials but also active encouragement and engagement is imperative to the proper development and growth of children.
Cognitive Development
Studies have shown that reading is more than a fun activity for children to engage with—it is also a highly important tool for developing a wide range of cognitive skills. Children who read more have better language acquisition, literacy, and vocabulary skills. Additionally, students who read also excel more in concepts in topics like math, science, and history. These findings are all independent of home environment and socioeconomic background. Therefore, investment in the development of reading culture can aid in the cognitive development of future generations of Nepali children.
Emotional Intelligence
Along with increased vocabulary and math skills, reading can aid in the development of emotional intelligence. By allowing children to connect with a broader human experience and to place themselves in the shoes of other individuals, reading provides an incredible way for children to develop empathy. Empathy and emotional intelligence help us begin to understand what others are feeling and experiencing, and thus links us as individuals with the people and communities that surround us. Therefore, empathy is an essential trait for creating well-adjusted, community-oriented, and compassionate individuals and citizens. Empathetic individuals are less likely to bully, and are more invested and involved with the communities and organizations around them. With reading as one of the best ways to cultivate and develop empathy and emotional intelligence, we as community members and citizens must emphasize the importance of children reading.
Encouragement
While reading on its own has shown to improve cognitive development regardless of home environment and socioeconomic status, these improvements are dramatically increased when parents and teachers are actively involved in a child’s life. Infants and toddlers whose parents read to them every day have greater rates of language acquisition, literacy and numeracy than children with books in the home but parents who rarely read to them. Furthermore, adolescent children with parents who encourage them to read books read significantly more and are more likely to continue reading on their own in the following years. Additionally, teachers can also have a great deal of impact on the skills acquired during development. When teachers do not actively engage children with reading, and simply read to them, the benefits of reading are significantly diminished. However, when teachers actively encourage reading or get children actively involved with the material, the cognitive abilities of their student’s skyrocket. Therefore, providing books and reading to children are important, but educating adults on how to properly encourage and engage children with the material is imperative to their cognitive and emotional development.
We have always felt that reading is an important aspect of the human experience. However, the science behind the importance of children’s literature proves that cultivating and encouraging reading culture in Nepal is imperative to the cognitive and emotional development of Nepali children. When adults, children, and communities come together to support and encourage reading, children are able to exercise their minds and imaginations, develop important literacy and numeracy skills, and learn about new perspectives and a wide range of human experiences.
Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Program
The program Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) helps build a strong reading culture within a school. On DEAR days, members of a school community, no matter where they are or what they are doing, drop everything and read silently for a 20-30 minute session. Despite their relatively short length, these sessions offer an opportunity for students, teachers and staff to read purely for enjoyment, away from academic pressure. If integrated properly into the life of a school, DEAR can greatly strengthen the school's reading culture by showing that anyone, anytime, anywhere can read! Rato Bangala Kitab supports initiatives like DEAR, which help foster a love of books amongst students.
Members of Rato Bangala School (RBS) in Lalitpur, Nepal participated in their first DEAR session in 2015. Since then, the school has held DEAR sessions each term, and the program has garnered positive feedback from students, teachers and staff alike. RBS's sister organization, Rato Bangala Foundation (RBF), trains teachers in Nepal in how to implement DEAR programs in their own schools, with the hope that all Nepali students will learn to appreciate the power of reading.
Often in discourse surrounding children’s literature, the conversation focuses on the importance of providing books to children. While this is an unbelievably important task, we vary rarely dig into the science surrounding the importance of children’s literature and its effect on the development of important cognitive and skills. In fact, regardless of home environment and family background, the presence of books in a child’s life has a direct causal effect on their language acquisition, literacy, numeracy, and emotional intelligence. These positive outcomes are further amplified by the presence of active and encouraging adults in a child’s life. Therefore, investment in providing not only reading materials but also active encouragement and engagement is imperative to the proper development and growth of children.
Cognitive Development
Studies have shown that reading is more than a fun activity for children to engage with—it is also a highly important tool for developing a wide range of cognitive skills. Children who read more have better language acquisition, literacy, and vocabulary skills. Additionally, students who read also excel more in concepts in topics like math, science, and history. These findings are all independent of home environment and socioeconomic background. Therefore, investment in the development of reading culture can aid in the cognitive development of future generations of Nepali children.
Emotional Intelligence
Along with increased vocabulary and math skills, reading can aid in the development of emotional intelligence. By allowing children to connect with a broader human experience and to place themselves in the shoes of other individuals, reading provides an incredible way for children to develop empathy. Empathy and emotional intelligence help us begin to understand what others are feeling and experiencing, and thus links us as individuals with the people and communities that surround us. Therefore, empathy is an essential trait for creating well-adjusted, community-oriented, and compassionate individuals and citizens. Empathetic individuals are less likely to bully, and are more invested and involved with the communities and organizations around them. With reading as one of the best ways to cultivate and develop empathy and emotional intelligence, we as community members and citizens must emphasize the importance of children reading.
Encouragement
While reading on its own has shown to improve cognitive development regardless of home environment and socioeconomic status, these improvements are dramatically increased when parents and teachers are actively involved in a child’s life. Infants and toddlers whose parents read to them every day have greater rates of language acquisition, literacy and numeracy than children with books in the home but parents who rarely read to them. Furthermore, adolescent children with parents who encourage them to read books read significantly more and are more likely to continue reading on their own in the following years. Additionally, teachers can also have a great deal of impact on the skills acquired during development. When teachers do not actively engage children with reading, and simply read to them, the benefits of reading are significantly diminished. However, when teachers actively encourage reading or get children actively involved with the material, the cognitive abilities of their student’s skyrocket. Therefore, providing books and reading to children are important, but educating adults on how to properly encourage and engage children with the material is imperative to their cognitive and emotional development.
We have always felt that reading is an important aspect of the human experience. However, the science behind the importance of children’s literature proves that cultivating and encouraging reading culture in Nepal is imperative to the cognitive and emotional development of Nepali children. When adults, children, and communities come together to support and encourage reading, children are able to exercise their minds and imaginations, develop important literacy and numeracy skills, and learn about new perspectives and a wide range of human experiences.
Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Program
The program Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) helps build a strong reading culture within a school. On DEAR days, members of a school community, no matter where they are or what they are doing, drop everything and read silently for a 20-30 minute session. Despite their relatively short length, these sessions offer an opportunity for students, teachers and staff to read purely for enjoyment, away from academic pressure. If integrated properly into the life of a school, DEAR can greatly strengthen the school's reading culture by showing that anyone, anytime, anywhere can read! Rato Bangala Kitab supports initiatives like DEAR, which help foster a love of books amongst students.
Members of Rato Bangala School (RBS) in Lalitpur, Nepal participated in their first DEAR session in 2015. Since then, the school has held DEAR sessions each term, and the program has garnered positive feedback from students, teachers and staff alike. RBS's sister organization, Rato Bangala Foundation (RBF), trains teachers in Nepal in how to implement DEAR programs in their own schools, with the hope that all Nepali students will learn to appreciate the power of reading.