He emphasized that creativity tools should be developed for children

Faraj Al Dhafiri: Surprise invites young people to stick to the book

Al-Dhafiri: Writing for children carries many challenges.

Photography: Ashok Verma

Saudi writer Faraj Al-Dhafiri made the decision to enter the world of children's literature many years ago, since he was in school, when he was influenced by children's magazines, to also early adopting writing for young people, and choosing to specialize in this world after his love for it.

Al-Dhafiri confirmed to "Emirates Today" that the writer of children's stories often quotes from his life, and from the lives of others as well, as he hears children's questions and uses creative thinking methods to reach the result, but all this does not require that the story be representative of the writer or his life, the creator has his impressions. Childishness of the previous poses in the stories it presents.

Al Dhafiri, who participated in the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, which recently concluded its 12th edition, added that the writer should develop many of his tools to be able to attract this age group, especially that reading requires effort from the child that is not required by the means available to him in the current era.

He considered that writing for children carries many challenges, including keeping pace with young children and the changes that affect their world, pointing out that today's child does not resemble yesterday's generation and does not resemble tomorrow. Psychology, especially those related to the world of the child, which is in constant development, in addition to events that are related to reality, and the methods of writing are changing.

Al-Dhafiri continued: “The writer should be familiar with some of the terms that exist in reality and how they change, as he always needs new terms. In the past, for example, they used the word “disabled”, and the usage later changed to people with special needs, and then people of determination, as the evolution affects even phrases, The writer has to keep up with all these changes.”

intelligent respect

On respecting the intelligence of the contemporary child, whose life is dominated by all means of technology, Al-Dhafiri said that “reading itself requires effort, while other means do not require any effort, as the child with it acts as a passive recipient. The writer has to keep pace with the child by bringing what he loves and attracts, especially since there are other temptations for young people that are easier, so he must evoke what amazes them so that they stick to the book,” considering that the means of developing writing in the field of children’s stories start from providing content that amaze him, and makes him accompany the book.

Al-Dhafiri stressed the need to find attractive content first, and audio can be added to books for children who cannot read easily, so that the young child becomes a listener and reader at the same time, so that with time he becomes accustomed to reading, as well as offering development programs in reading, and there is visual reading that allows him to Reading speech quickly, which keeps him away from spelling, so he reads speech quickly, taking into account the growth characteristics of the child in the content and form of the book. The young child needs a short text and a lot of pictures. We can also offer him the fabric book, in addition to books that focus on texture.

Magazine Crisis

About children’s magazines and their challenges, Al-Dhafiri said that the problem of magazines is more difficult than books that enjoy a degree of stability and survival, pointing out that the magazines in the arena were unable to keep pace with the child who switched to another electronic medium, and therefore the child’s book is more durable than the magazine, because the latter needs In addition to adding other means to support its presence, even distribution companies have begun to reduce the number of distribution, and therefore a way must be found to keep pace with books.

He stressed that finding any development in contemporary means should not eliminate the old, but magazine workers should keep pace with the times by directly linking technology and their publications through some materials or competitions that link technology to paper, which makes the child associated with magazines.

An invitation to rapprochement

In light of “globalization” and its developments, writer Faraj Al-Dhafiri saw that in the beginning it is necessary to start with the child from the local environment, and the related identity and belonging, and globalization can be added to the stories through the general values ​​that all nationalities share, which are not subject to discussion. Belonging does not mean hostility to others, but rather carries a call to rapprochement, tolerance and cooperation, as they are cultures that must be strengthened.

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