{"id":56,"date":"2012-06-18T17:17:42","date_gmt":"2012-06-18T23:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.adrigomes.com\/literaryexchange\/?p=56"},"modified":"2012-06-18T17:21:35","modified_gmt":"2012-06-18T23:21:35","slug":"helping-our-kids-read-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adrigomes.com\/literaryexchange\/2012\/06\/18\/helping-our-kids-read-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping our kids read more"},"content":{"rendered":"

A lot has been said lately about boys not being as avid readers as girls in average, or about children \u2013 boys and girls – who used to read, loosing interest when they become teens. And although there are many things that can be done to make schools, especially high schools with their intense demand for classics, more reader friendly, as this article on post-gazette.com<\/a> shows. It\u2019s summer and I believe there is many things we as parents can do during this lazier of seasons to get our kids into the written word.<\/p>\n

Summer means free time, and in reading the freedom to choose your books, instead of the obligatory reading to fulfill curricular demands. And even though we aren\u2019t on vacation like our kids, we can set up the example.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the d\u00e9cor, spread magazines around the house. \"\"<\/a>I\u2019m not kidding; nothing makes my thirteen year old more interested in reading than finding a magazine opened, on a strategically chosen page with a cool photo, on top of the kitchen counter. And there are so many great choices, Ask, National Geographic Kids, Kids Discover, Click, Dig, Calliope, Cicada, Highlights, Odyssey, Muse, etc. Just choose a topic your kid might like, and make a couple of choices easily available. Check children magazines<\/a> for a great variety of subscriptions. I chose this link in particular because it tells you the scope of the magazines, as well as their age range.<\/p>\n

If your kid is already geared towards adult topics make sure to have not only general publication magazines available, but some literary ones as well. The journal newpages.com<\/a> maintain a fantastic updated list of literary magazines organized in alphabetical order.<\/p>\n

Nowadays many kids prefer to read on line, and the Internet offers amazing literary options, take a look at this post on the blog Chamber Four \u2013 Read More Books<\/a>. You can leave your unattended laptop on the kitchen table opened on one of these fun sites. Make sure to read the article or story in case your child makes a comment. Even better, let your teen see you reading them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>If you are going for big exposure, an excellent addition to your family room, living room, or, again, the kitchen counter is a somewhat order-less pile of books. It must be modest, and it has to grow organically. Start with two books piled up and one turned down opened on a certain page, preferably where you last stopped reading it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the most important factor in this equation. You have to read as well. Children, and especially teens, don\u2019t do as they\u2019re told, but they do as they see. So make a point in being seen reading. Get caught up on action. When they ask you something in the middle of your reading linger and say, \u201cJust a sec, I\u2019m about to finish a page, or paragraph, or chapter,\u201d and take your time. Then lower it with a disappointed look on your face, as if parting from reading bothers you, and say, \u201cMay you please be quick, Percy Jackson\u2019s mom just told him who his real father is,\u201d and stop, don\u2019t say he\u2019s Poseidon, no matter how tempted you are to share. Simply hear whatever they have to say and go back to reading. When you finish your reading time leave the opened book face down on the coffee table.<\/p>\n

I understand that sometimes it\u2019s hard to fit another activity in our busy schedules, but half an hour on weekends is quite squeezable.<\/p>\n

Another excellent idea is to mention something exciting you read at a mealtime. Make sure to sound unpretentious, \u201cThere\u2019s this kid on Unraveling that came from another dimension, that\u2019s just odd,\u201d and take another bite. Don\u2019t raise your eyes for a moment, keep eating and move on to another subject. If, and only if they ask you might answer their questions very lightly. Curiosity holds great power.<\/p>\n

If you are traveling with young readers, an e-reader takes up little space, just make sure to leave it unattended on top of your hotel bed when your\u2019re in the room, and don\u2019t leave the iPad filled with game apps by its side. When I travel I keep my husband\u2019s iPad hidden and my Kindle, which I use exclusively for reading and taking notes, easily available. Certainly my daughters will ask for the iPad, but I can\u2019t find it, silly me.<\/p>\n

A very important aspect of all these ideas is to have your partner involved, both parents must play their parts. If your husband isn\u2019t into books, maybe a sports magazine will interest him. If your wife doesn\u2019t like reading Business Week, she might enjoy a romantic novel. Just get caught reading. It would be optimum if you could also read a Young Adult novel every once in a while. They cover all possible genres and can be surprisingly fun; you\u2019ll certainly find one that will fit your taste.<\/p>\n

The reality is that the majority of teens don\u2019t read as they should. A study from The National Endowment for the Arts<\/a> shows sad statistics, among their key findings:<\/p>\n

Americans are reading less<\/strong> – teens and young adults read less often and for shorter amounts of time compared with other age groups and with Americans of previous years.<\/p>\n