Many of us remember those hot, languid summer days spent reading the latest novel by our favorite author or immersing ourselves in a fascinating new obsession. Today, as we observe the students in our lives, we might feel lucky if their screen time dips below the national average (4-6 hours for children aged 8-12; up to 9 hours for children aged 13-18). So, how can we ensure that kids find time to read in their chaotic, content-saturated days? Don’t despair, fostering a love for reading is still possible and remains essential for their development and well-being.
It’s important to remember what a healthy reading habit can yield for children. Researchers consistently show that reading improves vocabulary, critical thinking, empathy, and overall academic performance. More specifically, this 2023 study, published by Cambridge University, reviewed data from more than 10,000 adolescents in the US and showed that reading for pleasure had a “significant” impact on their brain development. A co-author of the study, Professor Barbara Sahakian said: “Reading isn’t just a pleasurable experience – it’s widely accepted that it inspires thinking and creativity, increases empathy and reduces stress. But on top of this, we found significant evidence that it’s linked to important developmental factors in children, improving their cognition, mental health, and brain structure, which are cornerstones for future learning and well-being.”
Choice is key for students who crave autonomy, especially as they age into adolescence. Allowing a child to explore genres that you, the adult, might not personally enjoy can lead to a newfound passion. Harvesting recommendations from the local library, social media communities like ‘BookTok’ on TikTik, and asking other parents and co-workers are great ways to keep fresh reading material on hand so that the child can choose what they fancy. An “unplugged hour” every day, including participation by the adults in the house, is a great way to ensure there is reading getting done. A cozy corner where you store and rotate all of the books does wonders for getting the child’s nose into a book. Children will want to read if their environment is inviting, comfortable, and, most importantly, fun!
As with the “unplugged hour,” an adult modeling the behavior will do wonders. Even the simple act of carrying a book in your bag everywhere you go can inspire the student to follow suit—from the car seat to college and beyond. Bring the discussion about the books you’re enjoying to the dinner table, and pass interesting articles about ideas or current events to the child and anyone else in the household. By connecting reading and intellectual conversation to your family’s life, the child will have a hard time disengaging.
Even though screens often feel like the enemy to developing healthy intellectual habits in children, technology can actually be deployed to get children reading. E-readers and audiobooks mean the child doesn’t always have to lug heavy books, bringing their reading with them everywhere. Reading apps like Libby and Overdrive allow free borrowing from local libraries, opening up a world of possibilities. Grabbing a Kindle as opposed to a hardcover book can steer a child in the direction of reading. They can even personalize their Kindle with their own stickers that speak to their individual personalities, making it more exciting.
Online social media communities like BookTok or Goodreads can provide a social context for your teen’s reading habit, which might lead them to a book club—in person or online.
With all of these tools at your disposal, reading can be presented as just another fun thing to do! The important thing to avoid is pressuring children to read, as the goal is to develop a lifelong love of reading, not just meeting a reading quota. Stocking your house with an exciting, ever-changing variety of reading materials and crafting a comfortable space to read will go a long way towards achieving exactly that.
In the words of author Neil Gaiman, “A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.” Considering the sheer volume of dreams students can hold in the palm of one hand, let’s empower our teens to dream, explore, and discover the magic that lies between the pages of a good book—digital or physical.