The “Children and Literature” seminar, organized in cooperation with the Near East University Cyprus Research Center and Turkish Language Teaching Department, in order to draw attention to the importance of literature on the development of children, was held with intense participation.

The critical role of children’s literature in shaping their world of thought, beyond being a story tool, was emphasized at the seminar held for teachers and prospective teachers at the Near East University Grand Library, . Writer Akile Ruh, known as the fairy tale sister of children, writer and poet Dervişe Güneyyeli Kutlu and Near East University Turkish Language Teaching Department lecturer Dr. Tülay Kaya Tekman spoke at the seminar.

After the seminar, plaques and certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants.

Instill the habit of reading books in children by having fun!
Educator and writer Akile Ruh stated that fairy tales play a very important role, especially in the development of preschool children, and therefore they are one of the most important genres of children’s literature. Akile Ruh said, “Families and teachers can entertain children by using fairy tales. At the same time, they can prepare them for life thanks to the cultural elements, advice and traces from real life contained in fairy tales.”

Writer and poet Dervişe Güneyyeli Kutlu drew attention to the horizons that reading books open in children’s minds and said, “The biggest share in gaining this skill falls on families and teachers.” Dervişe Güneyyeli Kutlu said, “One of the cornerstones of education is to instill the culture of reading. Reading skills are of critical importance not only for academic success, but also for the individual’s self-realization process.”

One of the speakers of the panel, Near East University Turkish Language Teaching Department Specialist Dr. Tülay Kaya Tekman stated that games enriched with stories provide significant educational gains to children. Dr. Tekman said, “Educational games played with students for certain purposes in the classroom environment play an important role, especially in consolidating previously learned knowledge and in the development of mental abilities in children.”