Children's views on reading

[athomeontheprairie]

First, I'd like to share some random thing... My dd9 and I were watching Dr. Who. In the episode they are trapped in a room with the bad guys trying to break in. The doctor tells them they need to fight, to which the humans remark they have no weapons. "We're in a library! We have the greatest weapons in all the world." Then they proceed to read until they find the solution to the problem.

I loved this scene. I loved how they portrayed reading. Loved the quest for knowledge.

 

Second, I feel I need a disclaimer. I fear that some will read this as a brag. This is certainly not my intent. As I look at the numbers in our community and see the numbers of our local kids, it really is my JOB to compare and to try to motivate them. Also, I am not seeking to bash these kids, or kids of those on the boards that don't read. If you don't require your kids to read, I would particularly like to hear your view point!

 

Anyway, on to the point of this post. I used to work at a small, local library. I left at the birth of baby number 4. I fill in as needed and I've worked every week this summer to help with the summer reading program. This week we had a very cool prize and several of the kids lamented they didn't get one (you have to read SOMETHING during the week to earn the prize) I reminded them they could come in later in the week with their records and get the prize. So many of them took home books with promises of reading.

 

As I look at the number of books (and time, for the older kids) that have been read this summer I'm so discouraged! Many brag that they don't ever pick up a book. Several argue with their parents (in front of everyone at the library) that they are NOT going to read and "you can't make me"

 

I realize that not all kids LOVE reading. But when/why do so many DESPISE it? I don't see it portrayed as a positive characteristic by the media (excepting the Doctor). And peer pressure and awesome prizes can't seem to motivate some of these kids. To give you a break down of our community: Out of 30 kids, 15 BRAG they haven't read anything this summer, 7 have read fewer than 10 (15 minute) blocks, 5 have under 30. Only three have read more than 100. 2 of which are mine.

 

We value reading. I make sure that my kids have time to read the books that interest them, and make sure they have access to good books. We have an amazingly fun time at our library. We have loads of GREAT books here and we point out good books and try to get kids hooked. But obviously, we are failing. And really (IMO) so are the parents of this town. Why does reading get such a bad rap from kids? Why aren't they enjoying it more?

 

 

[Arcadia]

Are the school kids seeing reading as a chore with the AR program or similar program? My public schooled older had to take a book home everyday and he has to log it as well as submit a book report a week.

[Elfknitter.#]

My personal opinion? Because reading in schools is a chore and not shown to be a source of enjoyment. Here, children read to satisfy others- accelerated reading quizzes, sustained silent reading, reading for x personal prize or as part of a class. They learn they can satisfy school requirements but aren't shown why or how a book speaks to someone.

 

Also for me, (and this is not true of all communities), the communities I have lives in or worked with do not have a large amount of parents reading at home to model reading for enjoyment. In many cases, the parents are just too busy working to help keep the family afloat, so reading is the last thing on their minds. I'm sure there are also a few parents for whom reading is not an enjoyment. Oftentimes, children in these homes own 5 or less personal books and are not brought to the local library on a regular basis.

[AimeeM]

Slow your trolly there, darlin'.

If the kids were arguing with their parents over reading, obviously the parents WANT them to read.

Newsflash: children are not mass produced. Some children enjoy reading, others do not. I am a complete bibliophile. I love reading. Always have. I used to thoroughly resent my mother for banishing me out of doors to "play", and would sneak books outside to find a shady spot, rather than play in the creeks and muck with my sister.

Our home is filled to capacity with books - all kinds of books. We have quality classic literature, beautiful picture books, and complete twaddle; each child has an overflowing bookcase in their bedroom, we have two overflowing bookcases in the living room, one in the dining room, and boxes and totes full of books in the basement (which we can't fit into our lovely, but small, cottage style home).

Guess what? My 12 year old, who has been read to since she was a tiny tot, who has spent her life surrounded by books, doesn't care much for reading. I learned the hard way that trying to force "pleasure reading" did the opposite with her - the harder I pushed, the more she pushed away from reading. So I backed off. It was hard to do so, but I did. Eventually she found a series that she enjoyed, and then another. It still isn't her first choice of leisure activity (by a long shot), but it's better.

She's dyslexic. It's painful for her to read. It took a very long time before she could see pictures in her head, of the content she was reading, as opposed to the "hard words" running amok in her brain, that she had to work four times harder than other children just to sound out. Logically, WHY would ANYBODY put themselves through that for "leisure"?

Since we're playing the blame game, let's start with the schools. In particular my local schools. We haven't any resources for children who can't read well; no OG tutors, no reading specialists. OG/reading tutoring runs $50/hour. While we are blessed to live comfortably, the average income for our area is 35K a year. Do you think those parents, both working full time, scraping by to put food on the table, can afford $800/monthly on a reading tutor?

Regardless, I'm NOT going to place blame. Instead I'm going to say that all children are different and enjoy different things. I do, however, resent the assumption that the parents aren't doing enough, simply because based on your observation of parents bringing their children to this program, and arguing with them, it's obvious the parents ARE trying.

[athomeontheprairie]

I'm certain that AR plays into it. (I had one boy who requested the wizard of OZ series. He loved them! Was so excited about them. We are a small library with only the first couple. We were ordering them for him until one day he came in dejected. He told us not to order anymore as they weren't AR books and he didn't have enough time to read them and AR books) However, I also talk to parents. Many have said that their kids "won't" read any AR books until the final two weeks of a 9 week quarter, then they cram to get in the required points. And there some of the most vocal "I'm not reading" kids are homeschooled, so AR can't be their excuse.

[athomeontheprairie]

 Also, I am not seeking to bash these kids, or kids of those on the boards that don't read. If you don't require your kids to read, I would particularly like to hear your view point!

Slow your trolly there, darlin'.

If the kids were arguing with their parents over reading, obviously the parents WANT them to read.

YES. Some do.

Our home is filled to capacity with books - all kinds of books. We have quality classic literature, beautiful picture books, and complete twaddle; each child has an overflowing bookcase in their bedroom, we have two overflowing bookcases in the living room, one in the dining room, and boxes and totes full of books in the basement (which we can't fit into our lovely, but small, cottage style home).

Guess what? My 12 year old, who has been read to since she was a tiny tot, who has spent her life surrounded by books, doesn't care much for reading. I learned the hard way that trying to force "pleasure reading" did the opposite with her - the harder I pushed, the more she pushed away from reading. So I backed off. It was hard to do so, but I did. Eventually she found a series that she enjoyed, and then another. It still isn't her first choice of leisure activity (by a long shot), but it's better.

She's dyslexic. It's painful for her to read. It took a very long time before she could see pictures in her head, of the content she was reading, as opposed to the "hard words" running amok in her brain, that she had to work four times harder than other children just to sound out. Logically, WHY would ANYBODY put themselves through that for "leisure"?

And this is why I particularly asked for other viewpoints. For children that struggle with the physical aspect of reading, how can we help them learn to enjoyBut surely being dyslexic is not a majority? Is it? of 30 kids, I seriously doubt 25 have dyslexia.

Since we're playing the blame game

I'm not blaming anyone. Trying to understand.

 let's start with the schools. In particular my local schools. We haven't any resources for children who can't read well; no OG tutors, no reading specialists. OG/reading tutoring runs $50/hour. While we are blessed to live comfortably, the average income for our area is 35K a year. Do you think those parents, both working full time, scraping by to put food on the table, can afford $800/monthly on a reading tutor?

Our community is similar. The school cut 4 positions this year. We don't have OG tutors at all in the area. So, iyo, how can we as a library with limited funds (but funds, nonetheless) help students that are struggling to read?

Regardless, I'm NOT going to place blame. Instead I'm going to say that all children are different and enjoy different things. I do, however, resent the assumption that the parents aren't doing enough, simply because based on your observation of parents bringing their children to this program, and arguing with them, it's obvious the parents ARE trying. 

I talk to parents NOT at the library (with the exception of one family). Small town, EVERY child walks here without their parents. Every one. Parents aren't bringing them. They come, in part, because there is nothing else to do here. (Those of you in a city may not understand this. Small town under 400 people. Nearest ANYTHING is 10 miles away on the highway. NO stores in town. NO anything really....)

Again, Disclaimer at the top. I'm not bashing the kids or the parents or the schools. Just trying to understand why reading isn't valued more. Don't attack me :)

[Loowit]

DH and I are avid readers.  We have read to our kids since they were babies.  Our DD has our love of reading.  She reads a lot for pleasure, although she doesn't like reading for school.  My DS's are not readers.  My middle tries very hard to read.  He wants to be a reader, but he struggles with reading.  He worked for 6 months to read Ender's Game.  He had a great sense of satisfaction when he finished it.  But reading is not easy for him.  I think he may have dsylexia, but we haven't been able to get him tested.  My youngest just doesn't like to sit still long enough to read.  He would rather be up and doing things.  I backed off and now he will pick up books on his own and read them. I have found with him it has to be his idea.  I was shocked when we were in a waiting room a while back and he went and picked up a children's book and began to read it to himself.  But he will likely never be the avid reader his father and I are and I have to accept that he is himself and has his own likes and dislikes.  I am satisfied that if they can read at least at grade level and can navigate through life and are happy, even if I don't understand why they don't love to curl up with a good book.

[Rachel]

This isn't something I have witnessed.  I know some families that don't just love reading, but I don't know any that are vocal about hating reading.  Our library is very busy and I see all types of families there, I'm in there a lot and I have not witnessed families having to force their children to check out books.

 

I have volunteered with a program where I go to an inner city school and read with children who are attending a summer camp.  Many of these children do not have books in their homes and are not being read to outside of school.  Even there I have not witnessed an extreme hatred of reading, of course I've only worked with kids in the younger grades, it may be different with some of the older children.

[gardening momma]

But he will likely never be the avid reader his father and I are and I have to accept that he is himself and has his own likes and dislikes.

You never know. My younger sister didn't like to read, but at some point in her teen years started finding books that interested her and then took off.

 

My best friend from jr & sr high never really liked to read, and still doesn't, but now she homeschools her kids, does an excellent job, they listen to tons of audio books & talks, and she does read print books when she needs to.

[Critterfixer]

What is this AR thing?! I had someone ask me the other day if I could recommend books to help spark her son's interest in reading, and I happily did so. She said they had to be AR for him to read them. He wouldn't read for pleasure (non-AR books) because he hates reading and so there is only time for him to read AR books.  :crying:

[Arcadia]

What is this AR thing?! I had someone ask me the other day if I could recommend books to help spark her son's interest in reading, and I happily did so. She said they had to be AR for him to read them.

Link is to the AR program book finder page

http://www.renaissance.com/products/accelerated-reader-book-finder

 

Link to AR

http://www.renaissance.com/products/accelerated-reader

[Mama Geek]

My 9 yo niece reads tons of books for AR like the most out of her class, but she totally misses out on the classics and it is a lot of twaddle.  She passes books on to my dd and I end up picking out a few cute ones and passing the rest on.  I am all for reading.  I enjoy reading, I have been reading to dd since the beginning and I have a whole range of different books that we have read, that being said, I would much rather her read good books than just reading for quantity.  

[Critterfixer]

What do the points stand for? I checked the two books I recommended and they were both on the list, but the points for them were lower than points for a book I am reading to my boys for bedtime fun. It's a good book, but hardly in the class of the two I recommended, and yet the points for them were lower?

 

Not that it matters to me--but I'm curious.

 

Edit: We are also a small town, but I actually had to scramble to find a place to park at the library today. We have a pretty lively (she exhausts me!) children's librarian. Other workers there often look at what I check out for my kids and have recommendations for the next time. 

We also have a wonderful used bookstore that does their own program for summer reading, and that is wildly popular in town. The prizes aren't all that great, but kids like it anyway.

I don't know why that is, but it's nice to see lots of children of many ages enjoying the library in the summer.

[jenslp]

I know my son has a weird relationship with reading.  On one hand, he will rarely ever just go pick up a book and read for pleasure. If I suggest he go read something and he has already done his assigned reading, he never will do any extra reading on his own.  I honestly think it's simply because he's such an active kid.  We don't own a tv or video games and he loves being active and outdoors whenever he can.  I think he doesn't really want to have to just sit and read.  But, when he reads what I assign for school he seems to love and enjoy the books a lot...I mean a lot!  So I think for some kids like my son, it might just be the physical act of having to sit down and read isn't enticing to them when they might want to be doing something more physically active.  Not really sure but that's just what it seems like with my own son.  He loves reading when he's being told he has to read for school, but he won't ever read on his free time. 

[Tanaqui]

Reading leveling systems vary immensely, and if you do a little research you'll see they hardly ever align. One book might be "third grade" in one system and "fifth grade" in another, a different book, same two systems, might be "fourth grade" and "second grade".

 

The AR program levels books using the ATOS formula.Another link with more information. Then they use the levels to determine points, with more points going to higher level books that are outside the "zone of proximal development", that is, just slightly harder than easy reading for the kid.

 

AR isn't the only way to ruin reading for your kid, but it's a big one, right up there with having to write "reading reflections" every day.

 

[sdobis]

I hated to read when I was a child. It was a chore. I was a good student, but I saw reading as school work. Now as an adult, I realized that while I am very picky about the kind of books I enjoy, I love the worlds that have opened up to me. Reading is now a joy.

 

I have decided to try to expose my kids to all kinds of books. I will allow them to read almost anything. My 16yo son was much too active as a young boy to read much on his own. I would search for books that he would enjoy. I'd buy about 20 books and ask him to pick from my stack. I never required him to read any, but I would read along with him (he'd read during the day and I'd read at night). He liked that we could talk about the book. I still spend time finding books for him. I know what he likes and we still read many of the same books.

 

Now I am trying to help my dyslexic 10yo daughter. She is just starting to take off with her reading ability. She always claimed that she hated reading. It makes her feel stupid (her words), so I cannot blame her. I tried buying fun magazines, easy readers, chapter books. Finally, she discovered Adventure Time. She has read all of their books. I tried other graphic novel type books with no luck. Now she also reads My Little Pony, some fairy series, and a few other easy chapter book series. She liked Goosebumps for a while. We now go to the library once a week. I put on hold any book that I think she'll enjoy. It's a chore for me, but it is worth it. I will do what it takes to see her read for pleasure. Just a few days ago, we had family over. I couldn't find my daughter, and my hubby said she was in her bed reading. I had to see it to believe it. She was snuggled in her bed with 11 pages left before she would come down to visit. It made my heart melt.

 

All this to say that we need to encourage reading for reading's sake. Don't suck the joy out of it by making the child answer a ton of questions or give a book report. Ask questions because you're interested in the story. Steal their book and read it as well. They will think it's cool that mom wants to read what they like. Challenge their reading abilities, but also allow plenty of fluff. If you can only get them to read magazines, get as many magazines as you can. Eventually their tastes will mature. Be a good guide.

[Farrar]

I don't think there's one magic reason why.  I think it's a whole bunch of factors...

 

* Kids emulate their parents, so parents don't read, kids don't read.  It's a cycle of not reading.

 

* When there's no books in the house, when there's no room to build the habit of reading...  these are family barriers to reading - even if they can be overcome, they're there.

 

* Some kids don't read as fluently as they seem to read and lack the ability to read the books at their interest level.

 

* AR and other leveled, points heavy, everything you read must be analyzed and approved reading systems in schools is killing reading as something done for pleasure.

 

* Beyond AR systems, there are a lot of messages given to kids about which reading is valuable and what books are out there - sometimes kids would prefer nonfiction, but don't know what's out there, or would enjoy lighter books but are getting the message they're for "babies" or whatever.

 

But when you boil it down...  some kids just don't love to read.  And that's okay.  Some people don't love to do math or go to the theater or listen to stories or fix things or hand write things...  these are all important skills you need to varying extents, but in the end, not everyone will enjoy all of them.

[momacacia]

My mom had to pay me off to read, as a kid. I recall a big prize for getting to page 100 in Little House. I ended up in law school (where they teach you to read) and practicing law. Go figure. It backfired. Lol. The Bar was very stressful for her. ;)

 

Some of it was culture (the things my mom loved), some of it was my 11th/12th grade lit teacher who made me fall in love with lovely words (I asked for the complete works of Shakespeare as a high school grad gift), some of it was the mercy of God 'cause I sure couldn't do math.

[ElizabethB]

The early AR books are based on sight words and controlled vocabulary, they are mind numbing. For many children, the way reading is taught in school makes them dislike reading, my page "Why Johnny Doesn't like to Read" explains why:

 

http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Reading/aliterate.html

[Dory]

My kids saw reading as a chore when they were in the school here, because that's exactly what it was. They had to read. It wasn't made to look like this wonderful thing, it was simply something that was required and was on the schedule. They didn't even get to pick out their own books, which is a really good way to make a kid hate it. When they came home, I would give them parameters for their choices but then I would set them loose to find whatever they wanted inside those parameters. Books became the source of all information. We don't know something, we look it up! That might actually be another problem with kids now. Books no longer are where people go for info. Now they just type a question into the computer or ask Siri.

 

My youngest has needed a little nudging to get going with reading. He read early, but he seemed stuck in that he was wanting more complex books, but he wasn't reading efficiently to read books at that level yet. He's finally there (thank goodness!).

[momofgmd]

My personal opinion? Because reading in schools is a chore and not shown to be a source of enjoyment. Here, children read to satisfy others- accelerated reading quizzes, sustained silent reading, reading for x personal prize or as part of a class. They learn they can satisfy school requirements but aren't shown why or how a book speaks to someone.

 

Also for me, (and this is not true of all communities), the communities I have lives in or worked with do not have a large amount of parents reading at home to model reading for enjoyment. In many cases, the parents are just too busy working to help keep the family afloat, so reading is the last thing on their minds. I'm sure there are also a few parents for whom reading is not an enjoyment. Oftentimes, children in these homes own 5 or less personal books and are not brought to the local library on a regular basis.

 

Amen! Also, a lot of what is read in schools comes from a textbook. Even literature textbooks have just a chapter pulled out of a longer book. There is no context and no time to get involved in the book.

[ThursdayNext]

I don't have a lot to add on kids not liking to read. But library reading logs are not necessarily representative of all the reading a kid is doing.

Ours are due soon. For the kid who is reading her own, about 2/3 of the books she reads are on there. For the kids we read aloud to, less than 5%. It's a pain to write everything down, or to time your reading. I'll make sure the kids get at least one prize though.

[Just Beachy]

I used to feel all sad for the parents - who obviously didn't value reading! - whose children didn't read, like mine, copiously and deeply.

 

Then my third child came along.

 

Excuse me while I laugh hysterically at the results of my hubris. I am reduced to happiness when ds asks me to buy him a Zelda anime book or two.  He almost never  darkens the library doors. I am an underground operative, trying to sneak in reading wherever I can. In fact, I just now handed him his book and he replied 'Reading ruins everything'

 

Same mother. Same environment. Same tuition. Am I ashamed to have a child who doesn't read for fun ? Sure.

 

I just don't feel sad for the other parents any more. I feel...a shameful solidarity. Who knows ? Maybe the parents of those kids are like me, sentenced to a lifetime of handing money over to Audible and reading aloud till our throats bleed, just so our non-leisure-readers don't miss out.

 

 

I could have written this post. I have 2. My oldest has always loved to read. In fact, we had to make a rule that she was not allowed to walk and read at the same time. She would get so caught up in the book that she'd walk right into the wall.

 

My youngest ...... the complete opposite. Her mantra is "Books rot the brain."

 

Same parents. Same environment. Same routine. One loves books and one simply doesn't.

 

:) Beachy

[Carrie12345]

I DO think there are many outside factors at play, but I still think individual personality comes into play.

 

I've raised 3 pretty voracious readers, though the 3rd one was a little slow to come around.  Fortunately, there was Harry Potter and the situation was remedied. :coolgleamA:

My 12yo often picks from our shelves herself, but still comes to me every week or two for recommendations.

 

Meanwhile, I can barely get my 7yo to read comic books on a good day.  I'm hoping he'll catch the bug at some point, but right now he doesn't want to read beyond game instructions and cookie packaging.  I'm pretty confident it's not my fault! :tongue_smilie:

[Critterfixer]

I have one who likes to read and likes to be read to. His twin brother has gear mechanisms for eyes and a circuit board for the brain. If it isn't non-fiction with diagrams it isn't going to go over well. He also HATES to be read too, and will hardly listen to audio books. He reads as well as his brother, but I doubt reading will ever be anything he does for pleasure. He does, however, read to learn things.

[Storygirl]

I have a master's degree in children's literature. I spent my working years in libraries and bookstores and publishing. I love reading, and my children see me read daily. We read to them daily multiple times. Our home is filled with books of all kinds.

 

Only one of my four children enjoys reading. The rest read only when I assign it. Sad but true.

 

It is not always the fault of the parents, the schools, or the environment (although I concede that it could be any or all of those factors). Some people do not enjoy reading and prefer to do other things. It boggles my mind, and makes me sad, frankly, because reading is one of the great pleasures of my life, and I also think that good readers make the best students. But we all have different skills and interests, and that's really what makes the world interesting. I'm encouraging my children to continue reading, and I have hope that one day they will get hooked into a book that they love. In the meantime, I take solace in the fact that the world is filled with many fulfilled, happy, educated, and successful people who do not love reading. And that's okay.