My name is Aretha Jumia, and I’m from Ghana. I love to read, and my favorite genres are history and science fiction. When I was a child, my parents would read us stories from our childhoods in the hopes that we might one day grow up to be storytellers of our own. As such, as a child I had a lot of reading material at home — books on philosophy, literature, history, theology — but also plenty of other reading materials that reinforced what I already knew about life, death, friendship, love, family, and more. Parents always encouraged us to explore the world outside our walls; sometimes it involved literature or even a variety of different media. My favorite way to spend parents’ time outside was with an author friends group book club at home; they were a great way to connect with people who share my interest in diverse authors and stories while having some downtime from our busy day jobs. Looking back on it now though, there are many ways that this popular pastime has become something else! With so much choice when it comes to reading material (and how much choice do you have in who can read what in your family?!) it can be challenging for parents who are looking for something simple that won’t consume their time but will give their kids something they will enjoy. And this is where Afro-Kan Nansen Fortechcrunch comes in! It’s a book club app that combines
What is a book club?
A book club is a group of people who read and discuss books together. For instance, you may have a book club for your friends who all love the same author, or you may have a club for your school-aged kids who all love the same author. You are probably in business with one other for the purpose of hosting a book club, and the business is generally quite profitable.
Why do kids read at all?
Kids love books, and there is no single reason why they should. It is all different stages of development, and reading is not only a bonding experience for the readers; it is an important part of brain development. It is also a critical part of empathy, language, and thinking. It is recommended that all children at least spend a few hours a day reading, even if they are only an age group that likes to read. Reading is a bonding activity, and having a few hours a week dedicated to it can go a long way in providing your kid with the love they need to read.
How to become a book club member
Becoming a book club member is the logical next step after hosting one. You can join the club in your community or at a local library. Once you are a member, you can start participating in meetings and brainstorming topics for future meetings. You can also start providing feedback and suggestions on current meetings.
You don’t have to be an expert on literature to be a book club member
You don’t have to be an expert on certain topics to host a book club. For example, you don’t have to know anything about aesthetics, history, or language to host a book club. You just have to be interested in the topics, themes, and authors you will be discussing.
How to host your Afro-Kan Nansen Fortechcrunch book club
You don’t even have to be in the same room as your kids when you host your book club. You can use a smartphone app to keep you in the same room with your child, or you can haunt the library or community room where other members are. You can also set up a separate meeting room in the garage or other location where you can keep your family out of sight. For meetings, you can use the schedule on the app to plan what time of day and where you want to meet.
Best time of day for a book club: Night or morning
Books are read at night in many countries, and it is during this time that kids are most likely reading to themselves. If you have a group of friends who like to read at the same time, try to schedule a night time meeting. After a few drinks and some stories, your kids will be eager to get back to their screens. To schedule a night time meeting, look up the night time meeting time in your area and see if one of the book clubs you belong to is hosting it.
What will your kids’ reading level be like?
Depending on your child’s reading level, it could range from very basic (i.e. they don’t know how to read yet) to advanced (i.e. they know how to read but not how to write). Most kids will Reading level is determined by several factors, including your child’s age, the reading level of your other children, and how often they are reading.
Bottom line
Reading is a bonding activity, and having a few hours a week dedicated to it can go a long way in providing your kid with the love they need to read. Plus, it is a great way to connect with others who share your interest in diverse authors and stories while having some downtime from our busy day jobs.
