Plugged or Unplugged, Reading Is Key
RSSBy SLJ Staff
Want kids to read more? Try getting them an ereader. A new report says ebooks just may do the trick when it comes to attracting many reluctant readers. Scholastic's "2010 Kids & Family Reading Report" queried 1,045 children between the ages of 6 and 17, along with their parents, on their opinions and behavior when reading books for fun in our digital world. While many parents have concerns about the amount of time their kids spend on electronic or digital devices, "ebooks offer a way to get more kids reading and kids reading more," says Francie Alexander, Scholastic's chief academic officer. "If we can meet kids where they are and get a third of all kids, many of them struggling readers, to spend more time reading for fun on ebooks, that additional time spent building fluency and vocabulary will not only help them become more proficient at reading, but will help prepare them to tackle more complex texts that they will encounter in high school and college." Scholastic released the study to coincide with the launch of its Reading Bill of Rights, which outlines in eight points that children have a basic need and right to literacy- whether it's through a digital device or physical book. "When I was a kid-a very long time ago-you could read a book, watch TV, play or, if you were a boy, participate in a sport for entertainment," says Cassandra Barnett, past president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) and a school librarian at Fayetteville High School Library in Fayetteville, AR. "Now, our kids can read a book, play, watch TV, go to the movies, watch TV or a movie on the Internet or your smart phone, spend time on their social network of choice, or participate in a variety of sports. When you have a choice of that many activities, it makes sense that kids aren't going to read as much as they used to." While only 25 percent of kids surveyed have read a book on a digital device, 57 percent would like to try it, and one-third say they think it would make reading more fun, says the report. This includes kids who read five to seven days per week (34 percent), one to four days per week (36 percent), and even those who read less than one day per week (27 percent). But as many teachers and parents note, a child's interest in getting online, texting friends, and interacting on social networks and multi-player video games increases as they get older, which can detract from time devoted to books. Interestingly, the study also reveals that kids today have a broad view of what constitutes reading: 25 percent of kids ages 9-17 think texting back and forth with friends counts as reading, but only 8 percent of most parents agree. At the same time, 28 percent of kids think looking through postings or comments on social networking sites like Facebook counts as reading, but only 15 percent of parents agree. The report found that the power of choice is key to raising a reader. Nine out of ten children say they're more likely to finish a book they choose themselves. Parents don't try to overly influence that choice toward award winners or classic literature. Nine out of ten parents say, "As long as my child is reading, I just want my child to read books he/she likes." And while fluency with technology can be as crucial as understanding the symbolism in J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye (Little, Brown, 1951) for today's younger generation - librarians note that whether it's through an electronic hand-held, or the smooth pages of well-loved tome, reading is still crucial. "This is why I think reading fiction and nonfiction is so important," says Barnett. "It allows for deeper reading: looking at an issue in more depth, reflecting on and sharing thoughts about what is read. So, in that way, I don't think it matters if they are reading a print book or a digital book. If you can get a student to read because the book is on a digital device, then I'm all for it." This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping. Go here to subscribe.
