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Boys are too bored to read

Interesting article. How to get more boys reading is an issue that has been discussed in education here in the UK for a long time now. Personally, I think that the situation here has improved greatly, and a lot of it is down to Harry Potter (sorry all Potter haters.) These are the books that got boys interested in reading again, and got children thinking that reading was cool.

The success of Harry Potter then sparked a renaissance in children's fiction, with publishers finally starting to treat children's fiction and authors with respect. The fantasy genre in particular is doing very well at the moment, with authors like Nix and Pullman being very popular. I think that there has not been such a wide variety of excellent children's fiction around for a long time.

There are some differences in what boys and girls like to read, that's true. It tends to be the girls who like to read pony stories and the boys who read non-fiction about aeroplanes or tanks. But what I find amazing about Harry Potter is that it seems to be liked equally amongst both genders. I don't think children should be pigeon-holed into reading only certain stuff because of what gender they are - give them access to a good variety of genres.
 
My daughter refuses to read anything... full stop! She's alomst 15 and NEVER reads anything not even Potter. How can she have my genes?
 
Geenh: :eek: Have you thought about disowning her? ;) Has she always been the same, or is this a recent thing since she became a teenager?

Seriously, I do believe that people who don't like reading just haven't found the right kind of books for them yet.
 
Halo, I used to believe that! I've got over 1000 books for adults AND a collection of kid's books. The only thing I've ever seen her read is Jemima Puddleduck!

It's distressing that she won't read! Is it indicative of the way children are over-indulged with computer games and PS2s? Boo hoo.
 
Geenh said:
It's distressing that she won't read! Is it indicative of the way children are over-indulged with computer games and PS2s? Boo hoo.
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I think it is. We have now entered the "entertain me" age. Instead if kids doing stuff, stuff is done for the kids. Just look at the proliferation of electronic toys. They do the playing while the child pushes a button. I saw it coming long ago and whenever family or friends asks what to get one of my children for birthday or Christmas, I say "nothing that requires batteries" and sometimes I have to explain why.. Those of you 30 and older remember the toys we had as kids, nothing ran on electricity. We had bikes, building blocks, dolls, toy trucks that we had to push. My sister is a teacher and she has to make teaching more entertaining for kids or they just zone out.
 
It;s funny, I can remember playing outside with dirt, a ball, some planks, a skateboard, sticks, etc. My mother couldn't get us inside without a fight. We had more imaginative games in an hour than most kids nowadays have in a month!

I feel so old saying this stuff, you know "In my day...".

My daughter cannot spend 30 minutes quietly on her own. I suppose there's not much to do if you refuse to read anything.
 
Yeah, "In my day, we had to walk ten miles to school, uphill both ways..."

I'm lucky. We live in the countryside, so I have the luxury of shoving my kids out the door to play outside. For the most part my kids love to play outside, I have just one who is content to be a couch potato.
 
I want to move to the mainland and get a nice big piece of property away from the hustle and bustle. That won't be for a few years so she'll be mostly all grown up by then.

My brother used to live in Louisiana
 
I disagree a bit that children have stopped reading because it's the "Entertain Me" age. I agree that it is the "Entertain Me" age, but boooks are entertainment, but schools have stopped challenging young children to read, giving them only the regurgitated bird feed that's one-hundred percent politically safe, "everyday vocabulary", and plotless. Honestly, have you seen the trash teachers force school children to read? If those are the only examples of books that they have, no wonder they don't seek any out on there own.

On the original post, that's very interesting. I was just thinking last night how far fewer YA books are written for boys than for girls, though quality YA books are lacking for both genders, in my humble opinion. I don't mean to stereotype readers at all, most books are gender-neutral, but I'm referring to books like The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and The Baby-Sitters Club series that are marketed directly to girls.
 
evie said:
boooks are entertainment
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So is hopscotch and television. The difference? Hopscotch and books make the child actually do something, and the tv does the entertaining.

I agree with you on the reading material point, though, but come at it from another perspective. Teachers have very limited choices for reading material. It's pretty much the case of trying to please the most people. Can you imagine the heat that would come down on a teacher's head if he/she chose something a single parent thought was inappropriate? My sister is a middle school teacher and she has to deal with some really difficult parents (example: mom curses like a sailor in front of all her kids but has a problem with the library stocking Captain Underpants books because they have the word "poop" in them)
 
My mother never had any problems getting me to read, but she did with my brother. He only ever read comic books, but she realised that if he was reading anything it was good. He's now a journalist, which I always think is a fairly amusing outcome.

My mother was a high school librarian, and so there were always books lying around our house that were being 'processed' (ie: read). That was one of the attractions to reading, because you'd be watching TV and pick up a book and often it would be more engrossing than what you'd tuned in to.

I can recall when I was 15 (it was only a decade or so ago) that I enjoyed books about kids my own age and older. In particular I enjoyed books that focussed on kids who had problems, be they sickness, emotional issues or relationship issues - I read *a lot* of Judy Blume.

But I also recall how 'uncool' it was to read, and being in North America now (I grew up in Australia) that seems even more true here. If it's not 'cool' to read Harry Potter, those people in the 'in' crowd will not be reading it. You may well find that your daughter begins to read when she goes to university and does not have to fit into the mould of 'being popular', which places so much pressure on all kids. But consider purchasing some books of a more adult nature which might appeal to the things she is interested in - such as 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' or 'Girls Night In'. They may not be great literature, but they're fun. Just pop them on the coffee table in front of the TV and see what happens during the commercial break!
 
Very interesting discussion!

I totally agree with cajunmama. Books are entertaining (most people might not agree with me) but television is instant entertainment. Reading requires some effort from the reader side, as in concentration, use of one's brain to understand what is being read. But, television? Switch it on and hey, you are being entertained! Reading is more of an addiction than entertainment. If I dont read a book for two days, I go crazy. I cant imagine not reading something! And as a matter of fact, I dont own a television. And its been ages since I watched something on TV and hey, who is complaining?

I have a neice who is 7 years old and she loves reading! And its really amazing that she reads with such great attention. You ask her anything from Harry Potter 1 and you are sure to get an answer. Yes, she did read Harry Potter 1, but thats not the only book she has read. She reads comics - tom and jerry, calvin and hobbes (though she doesnt understand, she asks me or her mom when things go out of control!). She reads ramayan and mahabharat (Indian epics) comic books. She reads story books AND she reads the newspaper. Her mom makes it a point to make her read atleast one complete news article or clipping everyday. Not because the kid enjoys it, but because her mom wants to imbibe the habit of reading in that kid. Its really amazing to see that kid grow this way! I wish I have such a great daughter and I wish she reads :)

Happy reading everyone :)
 
Hm, I guess I'm a bit different from the norm then. For me, watching TV and being entertained by it requires more effort than reading does. Both books and TV shows require you to remember which character is who and his life story. When reading a book, you use, conciously or unconciously, the character's tone, diction, mood, previously spoken dialogue, etc. to identify the character. On TV, you often have to identify the character based on his appearance alone, which for me is very difficult. Make sense? I guess not, but it does in my head anyway :eek: .

I can't imagine being a teacher and having to deal with what restrictions parents feel it is their right to impose upon their children and others' children. As a third party I feel quite tempted to bash some sense into their heads, if I was a teacher, I'm not sure I could restain myself.
 
evie said:
I can't imagine being a teacher and having to deal with what restrictions parents feel it is their right to impose upon their children and others' children. As a third party I feel quite tempted to bash some sense into their heads, if I was a teacher, I'm not sure I could restain myself.
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What makes you think my sister isn't tempted to bash in a head or two? :D The good kids make up for the difficult ones, though.
 
evie said:
On TV, you often have to identify the character based on his appearance alone, which for me is very difficult. Make sense? I guess not, but it does in my head anyway :eek: .
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It makes perfect sense to me!! I'm a big fan of movies as well as books, but there are some in which I simply can't keep track of the characters. In particular 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'. I've seen that film 3 times now and I still have a hard time knowing who is who.

I think it also has a lot to do with how long you 'get to know' the characters for. By the time you are two hours into a movie, your characters have been introduced, developed and their story is usually at a conclusion. In a book of average length, however, the same time frame would usually have one still in the character development stages.

Of course, a movie can never develop a character in the same way a book can, to my way of thinking. Those elements of people, such as memories, associations to objects and actions and their hopes and dreams come through so much easier through a book, simply because the medium is better suited.

Hmm... I'm starting to wonder what this discussion is doing in 'Childrens Literature' anymore!
 
I'm another whose Mum never had to worry about them reading a book. I'm pretty sure that I inherited my reading genes from her. After a hard days play I could always be found snuggled up in bed with a good book. Bythe time I was 10 i'd read classics like The Last of the Mohicans, Oliver Twist, The Call of the Wild, 20'000 Leagues Under the Sea and many many more.

It is sad that young people don't read as much anymore. I am glad that the Harry Potter books have sparked a trend in reading again. I'm 29 and I still play computer games and watch film. I spend quite a bit of time down the pub with my mates as well. But like when I was a child at the end of the day you can find me inthe same place.

I hope that if I ever do have kids they'll inherit my reading gene too.
 
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