It is a common refrain to hear from parents of both lower and middle school boys that they are alarmed at how little their boys read outside of school. There are several reasons why reading for fun has declined among adolescents. They include, but are not limited to: the increasing number of extracurricular activities in which kids participate after the school day is over, the greater amount of time that is required to complete their everyday homework, and the appeal of digital devices during their free time. As there is no sign that any of these factors will abate anytime soon, there are some things parents can do to combat these challenges.
First, children at any age benefit from being read to and seeing their parents read for pleasure. If you create a culture of literary curiosity, your children will often follow suit. Secondly, engage your sons in conversation about topics or books they have covered in class that they have enjoyed. Follow up by acquiring books on similar topics or are part of a series by that same author. If they are fascinated by an invention or theory they learn about in science class, find a biography about that scientist for them to explore. Thirdly, do not assume that the only kind of valuable free reading is when your boys read novels. Find other ways to engage them in reading. Encourage your son to read a newspaper, a magazine, or an academic study. Recently, many of the boys in Form II have taken an interest in reading books about achieving success and brain research. Lastly, engage your son’s teacher for reading recommendations.
Reading for enjoyment has tangible benefits for adolescents in all of their academic endeavors, providing them with a richer vocabulary and greater fluency in their writing in all of their disciplines.
Read this New York Times article for tips for encouraging the adolescent reader. (Hint: It requires finesse.)