I agree with you Yoyo, I think however much we encourage children to read there will always be some who take to books and the love of reading but many (probably more) who don't.

Of course they are still 'reading' via their screens, ipads and what-not but not in the traditional way and not necessarily the the sort of comfortable books we might associate with our own childhoods.

Your article mentions 'book bans' . . . is this a serious thing in the US? I don't know if it is a problem over here . . . yet!

Vee.........

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/06/29/banned-books-explained/7772046001/

yoyo, an interesting article. I don't think 'book banning' has become a 'thing' here yet. Your school boards seem to have a great deal of parent-power, whereas our state schools are run from the various county councils answerable to the Dept of Education and while they all have groups of school Governors, made up of the school Head, some parents, local 'worthies' (especially if a Church school) etc. These people don't have many powers and certainly cannot alter the school curriculum or decide what may or may not be read.

Of course it is to be expected that schools have books that are 'age-appropriate' and that kids are not bombarded with whatever is the latest socio-psycho babble going the rounds.

I am surprised that no-one else has wadded in here as all of us must have been to school, had children at school or, indeed taught in a school!

I have not commented because I don't know what children do these days! My eldest GD has two girls aged 11 and 14. I often used to give them books when they were younger.

I asked my GD about them now so that I could write something pertinent here. They are always on devices or playing outside when they call in these days!

She came alone for once yesterday as we had some serious family business to discuss and they are a distraction. I was able to enquire about their reading habits and apparently the youngest one still loves to read books but the older is autistic and can't visualise what she reads but loves to draw.

I am more concerned about the ability to spell and have long thought that crosswords could be a help there. Also that the poor examples of spoken grammar from people on TV does not help!

Hi all -

As a mom and English teacher (by education, not current profession), I have strong opinions about this topic. Kids need to have access to reading, they need to know that as long as they are reading, they are supported (as opposed to only reading what we tell them to read), to make reading fun! Ninth grade should read Harry Potter, not Julius Caesar. If you teach them to love reading, they will get to the "hard" stuff later. And lastly, build reading time into their schedules. And then do it together - read to them, and when they are older, read with them. I think parents need to step up their game in a lot of ways, and making the time to read to/with their children needs to be a commitment, not a special occassion. I'll get off of my soapbox now.

PAM

Yes, Pam! My niece wrote in a school paper once that she and her mother read together in different rooms. My daughter liked TV so much that I was afraid she wouldn't be a reader, but she is. I read to her at night until she was 10 or 11 years old, and she always had books available. Now we pass books back and forth, although she still watches TV more than I do. Both our favorite programs, though, are the PBS Sunday night shows--Masterpiece Theater, et al.

I read to both my son and daughter when they were growing up . I also had books and magazines in the home and had a delightful assortment of children's literature to enjoy.

My daughter was always a voracious reader and continues to be as an adult.

Her three children also grew up as enthusiastic readers, always having a book on hand to enjoy.

On the other hand, my son hated to read and preferred sports and creative projects .

As an adult he reads to gain information on any topic as opposed to reading fiction for enjoyment.

His son ( my grandson ) detests reading and avoids having to crack open a book if at all possible. Like his father, he reads for information not enjoyment.

He's now a freshman in high school and I wonder if he will finally be required to read ?!

It's a different world...everything is high speed and instant gratification.

Reading, for many, feels like a waste of time.