When I was writing about Michael Landon yesterday, I noted that my mom read Laura Ingalls Wilder's books to me before I was old enough to read myself. That wasn't the exception; it was the norm. She told me she began reading to me before I was born and did so almost every single day after I came into this world. My childhood was filled with trips to the library and the little local bookstore. No matter how little time or money they had, my parents never turned down my requests to get new books.
I've always felt like I was lucky in this regard, but it turns out I was in a much better position than I thought, especially compared to kids today.
While researching that article yesterday, I ran across a report from HarperCollins UK in collaboration with NielsenIQ BookData that came out a few weeks ago. The big headline was that parents have stopped reading to their kids, but the reason behind it is what really shocked me. Only 40% of parents with kids ages 13 and under enjoy reading to their children.
According to the report, 64% of parents read to their pre-school age children in 2012, but that number is now down to 41%, an all-time low. While Gen Z parents are least likely to read to their kids these days, millennial and Gen X parents are also doing so less and less.
Only 31% of Gen Z parents say that reading to their kids is fun. 35% say it's "equally a subject to learn and a fun thing to do," and 28% said "reading is more a subject to learn." Essentially, they see it as a skill or something that is only done for educational purposes, not something that can be fun and help with a child's development.
Maybe it's just me, but if I were fortunate enough to have a child, I can't imagine that I wouldn't enjoy reading to them. To me, it would be a privilege. But I have loved books throughout my entire life, and I'm always nostalgic for the time I shared with my mom when she read to me as a child. Even when I babysat as a high school and college student, some of the most fun I had was reading to the kids. Heck, I actually have all of my old childhood books saved, plus I've collected a box of kids' books over the years for my future child who may or may not exist. That's my go-to for baby shower gifts for friends, as well — a big bag of kids' books.
This news breaks my heart for the children who won't experience any of this.
Alison David, consumer insight director at HarperCollins, says, "It’s very concerning that many children are growing up without a happy reading culture at home. It means they are more likely to associate reading with schoolwork, something they are tested on and can do well or badly, not something they could enjoy."
But the fact that people are reading to their children less and less could have even more devastating effects beyond simply discouraging a passion for reading.
Educational Preparedness
According to Ohio State, a child who is not read to has only been exposed to 4,662 words by the time they reach kindergarten. A child who has had five books a day read to them is exposed to 1,483,300 words by age five. Those kids who have had more exposure to unique words are better prepared for their education and typically pick up on skills, like reading and language, faster than their peers. This impacts kids long beyond elementary school. The better a child reads, the more likely they are to graduate from high school.
It's something we've known for decades. A 1985 report called "Becoming a Nation of Readers" suggested that "the single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children."
Soft Skill Building
Not only does reading to your child help them pick up important hard skills like reading and language, but it also helps them build certain soft skills that they will carry through the rest of their lives. Most toddlers and preschoolers don't have the biggest attention spans, but sitting down for a story on a regular basis can help them grow. It can also improve critical thinking, memory retention, and self-discipline, and expand their imaginations and creativity skills.
Cognitive and Emotional Development
According to PBS, "brain scans show that hearing stories strengthens the part of the brain associated with visual imagery, story comprehension, and word meaning." A fairly recent study from the University of Cambridge that included 10,000 children in the United States, ages nine through thirteen, saw that children who learned that reading could be fun when they were very young had better cognition and mental health overall.
It's also important for emotional development and can help combat aggressive behavior and hyperactivity. A 2018 article from the New York Times suggests that, "When parents read with their children more… they learn to use words to describe feelings that are otherwise difficult and this enables them to better control their behavior when they have challenging feelings like anger or sadness."
Kids who enjoy reading from a young age also tend to be happier and more physically active.
Bonding and Trust
It probably goes without saying, but reading to your child is also a great way to bond with them. Here's more on the psychology behind that from the nonprofit All For Kids:
When it comes to children, one of the most important things you can do to positively influence their development is spend time with them. Reading to your children provides a great opportunity to set up a regular, shared event where you can look forward to spending time together. With shared reading, your child will trust and expect that you will be there for them. The importance of trust to small children cannot be overstated.
Reading a favorite book to your children not only helps you bond with them, but also gives your children a sense of intimacy and well-being. This feeling of intimacy helps your child feel close to you, and the feelings of love and attention encourage positive growth and development.
With babies specifically, although they may not be able to understand what you’re saying when you read to them, reading aloud provides a level of invaluable nurturing and reassurance. Very young babies love to hear familiar voices, and reading is the perfect outlet to create this connection.
At a broader, more scientific level, it’s the parent-child relationship, nurturing relationships between caregivers and children that set a positive life course. If you are able to read aloud with your child at a predictable, scheduled time that fits with the daily routines of home and school, you’ll be able to provide something constant that they can expect and likely even look forward to.
Some of the articles I read on this subject suggested that parents, especially Gen Z parents, just don't have time to read to their kids these days, but the study's authors pointed to something else: "As the first generation to grow up with technology, Gen Z parents may turn to digital entertainment for fun rather than books."
As a matter of fact, the University of Michigan says the best way to make time for reading to your children is to "turn off your screens."
Also for our VIPs: What Would Michael Landon Do?
While I can't speak for parents, I can say that I know turning off screens works for me. For the longest time, I realized I wasn't reading nearly as much as I used to. I was in the bad habit of spending my time just before bed doom-scrolling on social media or playing stupid games on my phone. When I traded that for a book, I found that I rediscovered my passion for reading, and I slept better, too.
Anyway, I hope more young parents take note and make more of an effort in the future. Those fifteen minutes a day could literally change your child's life.
