An article in the Wall Street Journal made me want to jump up in my kitchen and cheer. But that would be slightly embarrassing and also not very useful, so I’m blogging about it instead.
Thomas Spence, father of six boys and founder of Spence Publishing, opined that boys would read more if they were less distracted by video games and that the gap in reading between girls and boys can be traced to the rise of boys-who-game and girls-who-don’t.
AND or OR ?
You really need to read the whole article, but the underlying premise is that there is no magic involved in making sure boys read beyond putting books in their hands and limiting screen time*. This is an idea that Ink Spells has as an article of faith – that putting the right book at the right time in the right little hands can make all the difference in the world.
*This also validates my desire to keep a bonafide gaming system out of the house. Full disclosure: we play computer games.
But like any good parenting technique, it doesn’t happen just once on Tuesday, July 2nd, and all of a sudden a reader is born. As any parent knows, if you want it to stick you’ll have to repeat it. Again and again and . . . you get the idea. My 12 Tips for Reluctant Readers talks about different ways to keep doing the same thing over and over – reinforcing literacy in your home.
Spence also rails against gross-out books as pandering to the lowest common denominator of boys and leans toward homeschooling and a virtual ban on gaming in the home.
I don’t believe you need to go that far to make a huge difference in boy literacy. I do believe that you need to “meet boys where they are,” but mostly in terms of reading level and attention span. This is as true for reluctant readers as it is for advanced readers. And an occasional dalliance with graphic novels (or gross-out books) is not the end of literacy in a young man’s mind. Likewise a few hours of Lego Indiana Jones or Civilization IV is not going to eliminate any desire to read. But books have to pervade your home as much as the electronic delights.
As I mentioned in an interview recently, stories are like air for children: they need them to survive and to grow. If you put stories in their hands, children will become just as addicted to Artemis Fowl as they are to the World Tour of Crazy Machines II.
And once they get started, those grossology books will never be enough (witness my fav new tween bloggers, and their lament that their favorite books were too short). Their minds will crave more, and if you keep feeding it to them, they will grow up to be the civilized men that Spence refers to.
I can’t think of a loftier goal.
I love your commitment to boys and reading.
This is a great post.
Can't agree more! Boys and books – just kept it consistent, interesting and nurture them. I've read to my little one since before he was born and I have to say, he loves books and reading. I'm hoping that will carry on but at least the seed is sown, yes?
@Caroline Thanks! Yes, I have a bit of a bias, having 3 boys. π
@Lauren Thanks!
@Talei Sowing and nurturing – that's about all you can do! And I think once a reader, always a reader – even if they lapse for a while.
Excellent post! I truly believe it's up to parents to enforce reading time. The TV must go off and a book must be set in the boys hands. Once forced, they start to appreciate it later.
Huzzah for well-rounded parenting! Great post.
I had read that article and was thinking about all weekend! So very true about planting seeds and providing a literature-rich environment at home. That's why it is so important that children/teens see the adults in their lives model a passion for reading, too.
I believe meeting the boys where they are should be the focus. Despite any faithful attempts to ban gaming systems,it's not going to happen globally. Some kid in your neighborhood is going to have one,two, or more. I think the real deal is teaching the kids, in this case boys, how to balance all they want to do–reading included.
I love how you're all over this topic, Susan. Thank you.
I think your post is great and makes the point a lot better than the original article, which I find rather condescending and snotty. I think railing against gross-out or scary books like Goosebumps really detracts from the point. And implying that boys who enjoy them will grow up to be 'barbarians and morons' that you wouldn't want marrying your daughter is taking it a little far…
I spend a lot of time filling my house with great books for my kids, but I don't think it's a problem when my first grader (who reads at a middle-grade level and has worked through many a classic) wants to giggle through Captain Underpants.
I guess I just don't like that guy's attitude. You made the point in a much more reasonable fashion.
Shelagh @ KinderScares
@PK It's true that kids do come around. Eventually. Only takes a zillion or so tries. π
@Kai Thanks! π
@Darby …like reading the Wall Street Journal in front of them! π Go you!
@Sheri Balance is key (I'm feeling a Yoda vibe coming on…) – in all things, right? So you are right that teaching balance is also a life skill they will always carry with them.
This is why we have family reading time on the weekends and during holidays at my house. Okay, it's really "Mommy wants to read and this is the only way I'm going to get some quiet around it" time. π
But it works. We all pile on my bed (me and three kids) and read for at least 30 minutes (or until I finish chapter). π
@Kinderscares I think he was trying to make the point that we should raise expectations (to more literary fare) rather than lower them (to what we think appeals to boys). And while I agree with the idea of raising expectations, I take the more positive approach of not denigrating reading that's "just for fun." It's not pandering to make learning fun – it's using all the tools in your toolbox to reach children and grow them. As long as you don't lower expectations and say "they'll only ever be interested in Captain Underpants," which can happen. But not if you're taking an open minded, well rounded approach, like you have in your household! π
@Stina That sounds awesome! Also cozy. π
My boys love to read, despite playing computer games. I read to them each night before bed, even now when they are 12 and 10. I also make sure I let them see me read for pleasure all the time (and my wife does this, too). I love it when I see all of us sitting close by and reading.
@Ted You are lucky to have Mom and Dad both as readers in your household! Go you, for making reading snuggle time as well! My husband isn't a reader, but he makes a great effort to read to the boys anyway.
Oh, I got his point. I even agree with it for the most part. I just didn't like the attitude of superiority, I suppose.
I have a 7 yr-old GIRL who would rather play w/her DSi than read. Then I discovered Junie B. Jones and we're working on some Fudge books… I agree it's about finding the right book for the right kid.
In other news, got YOUR book while I was away–can't wait to get started! :o)
@Kinderscares Yes, superiority is not a good way to make an argument! π
@LTM I probably should have made my usual disclaimer – all boys are no more alike than all girls are! But I'm glad you're working on finding the right books for your daughter too! π (p.s. I hope you like LLP!)
Great post, Susan! I am passionate about boys and reading. π
We have gaming systems in our house, and Neal also has *gasp* a TV with DirecTv in his own bedroom. Nonetheless, he reads like crazy (and as I mentioned a few days ago, just spent all of his own money on a Nook). I personally think that has much to do with me reading out loud to him from the beginning. I can't think of any better tool for parents than books. Also, from birth I gave both of my kids books as toys. I even let them chew on them and destroy them because I wanted them to see books as fun things, not "special" things to be kept high up on a shelf. That might sound a bit crazy of me, but at worst, my kids ate a little paper, and at best, they learned to love books π
Well I should probably read the article before commenting, but right away I will agree with you. Video games can tell great stories too and banning them outright seems ridiculous to me. I think the problem lies in the fact that very little is written with young men in mind.
I just so happen to be trying to remedy that with my current WIP, but I'll have to get it published first, of course.
Great post, thanks Susan!
@Shannon Yes, I'm a bit biased when it comes to the young men.
@Rhonda My kids nommed their way through whole sets of books, too! π
@Matthew Yes, getting published is the key, no? It seems circular sometimes – can't publish a SF book because no one's reading them; no one's reading them because they're not published. But I remain convinced that a great book will find it's way onto the shelves. Good luck!!
I would agree with Ted. It is important to read to children before bed to establish that routine and to let them see you reading as well. Although my husband does not read much more than the weekly newspaper and magazines, he loves to read to our children. Both of my children (daughter – 7 and son – 2) have the habit of taking books into the bathroom with them as well. π
@Jessica Books in the bathroom! I'm going to have to add that to my bag of tricks… π
When I was a boy I read a great deal and truly enjoyed it. I also spent much time outside playing and doing outdoor activities. That was the late 50s and early 60s. If we'd had video games I don't think that would have been as much the case. I did watch a fair amount of television, but with 3 channels and a 19" black and white TV there weren't always that many choices to lure me. Now with hundreds of stations it might be difficult to stay away. I'm pleased to have been an enthusiastic reader in my youth. I also attribute this to some excellent teachers (or curricula) that encouraged reading. Hopefully young boys today are going to get more encouragement to read in the future.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Great post! Bear in mind I only have one child and she's a girl, but I did teach for 17 years…I think how a family reads is a huge component of if a boy or girl will enjoy reading for pleasure or see it as work. If a family treasures books and spends time relaxing reading I think it has to trickle down to the kids no matter what sex they are….If the parents don't have books around, dosn't show an appreciation for them, the kids aren't going to be exposed to them, so of course they aren't going to enjoy them…I don't like water skiing…I didn't try to do it until I was about 35…I can't get the knack of it…I'm too old to….
Great post!
I think part of the problem is that a lot of books for tweens/teens are set up for a girl to read them. Most stories out right now in the YA world are about forbidden romances/romances in general. Most guys don't want to read about a mortal girl falling for the hot vampire guy. There are sci-fi and fantasy for guys/men but normally those are super thick books with small print that are better for adults to read not young boys.
I read that article too. We have no video game systems, and TV/computer time is severely limited (has to be for what we do). Consequently, everyone in our house reads EVEN THOUGH THE LITTLE BOYS CAN'T READ and EVEN THOUGH THE OLDER GIRLS CAN'T READ ENGLISH (though they're learning). They just love pulling out books and remembering the stories.
The other interesting part about that article is at the end: "There is no literacy gap between home-schooled boys and girls."
If nothing else, that proves this reading gap thing is not inherent. It's learned. Let's learn 'em the right way, aye?
@arlee What does it mean that with 100's of stations, I still can't find something to watch?? π But my TBR list is 150 books long. I think seeing adults (such as yourself) reading seeps in eventually.
@Sharon As a teacher, I think you get a wider perspective on the families that are out there. You are exactly right – we have to grow them early. Also: I'm never going to water ski either.
@Alexa You are spot on with the boy/girl appeal of books, something we've talked about here at Ink Spells before.
@Adam It's amazing what kids pick up, just being around books. Your many little ones are surely learning up the right way! π
Like Stina, we have a designated reading time on the weekends, where each child sits quietly and reads a book while mommy reads hers. I also read to the kids for about half an hour before bed each night. I totally agree that screen time cuts into reading time, but I'm okay with grossout books as much as more "edifying" fare π
I came late to this party (was too busy to look at blogs yesterday),so I just wanted to say, "Keep spreading the word about boy reading! And thanks!"
Girls may not be quite as prone to video games, but I have had to seriously limit movies & TV cartoons. The best tool for getting my reluctant nine year old reader going, – so far – is letting her choose the really easy books below her reading level. And the grossology books, too. But this gives me hope! I strive for this: "I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.β Anna Quindlen
@Sherrie I need to try out the designated "everyone reads" time! Maybe I would get some of my OWN reading done!!
@Carl I'm always happy to see your icon! Keep up the good work YOU do! π
@Margo I love that quote! And it sounds like you're on the right track. π
Great post. I have three boys and they all enjoy reading books, but would rather be playing video games most of the time. So, of course, I simply limit their video game time. They need to ask before playing any sort of video game and I always know how long they've spent playing. I'd always sworn I would never bring in a DS to my home, or a console, but I eventually gave in. It hasn't been easy, but over the past few years I've managed to balance their online activities with more wholesome activities. It's a brave new world, and I only feel it's fair to let the kids in on all that new technology (as long as they're still appreciating the oldies, but goodies.)