Reading is becoming a lost art.
Twenty-one million Americans can't read at all, 45 million are marginally illiterate and
one-fifth of high school graduates can't read their diplomas, according to
ReadFaster.com.
Fewer than half of American adults
read literature.
Kids who learn to read when they're young are
less likely to end up in prison, drop out of school, or take drugs. In fact,
a child's entire lifestyle can be enhanced by picking up a novel now and then. Literary readers are
nearly three times as likely to attend a performing arts event, almost four
times as likely to visit an art museum, more than two-and-a-half times as likely
to do volunteer or charity work, and over one-and-a-half times as likely to
attend or participate in sports activities. Unfortunately, many children are
struggling with learning how to read, haven't had exposure to interesting
reading material, or simply don't have examples of reading for understanding and
leisure.
Many school
children are stuck with ill-equipped libraries created decades ago. These small
collections of antiquated materials are unable to meet the needs of today's
kids. In Southern California, for example,
the average copyright date for a nonfiction public school library book is 1982,
predating many political events, social changes, and technological inventions
that are a part of children's lives. Many public libraries aren't much better.
Some only have the funding to stay open for short periods of time, and others
are unable to hire librarians with specialized knowledge about childhood
reading.
In fifteen minutes or less, you can make a difference by
promoting reading with children and teens. Influence a child to pick up a good book
– it just may change her life.
Reading should be natural and fun. Try one of these quick
ideas to support reading:
- Be an example. Let children and teenagers see you as a
positive example of reading. If families with children visit your home, let
the kids browse your book collection and invite them to join in
discussions about books. Never lecture or force kids to read. Just let them see your
enthusiasm, and they will be more likely to catch the reading bug.
- Start a lending library. Offer to let children borrow
the books in your collection. You may want to keep track of your books and
give kids a chance to check out your "library catalog" with an online program
such as
LibraryThing.com. If you live in an apartment complex, consider starting a
give-one-take-one laundry room lending library. Just fill a cardboard box with
a few books and leave the collection in your common laundry room. Tell your
neighbors about the idea and watch as the people in your complex discover and
share their favorite books. (Be sure to get the go-ahead from the apartment
manager first). You can also start a book swap at your church, community
group, or child’s school. Or, encourage kids to swap books online with sites
like
PaperBackBookSwap.com, or
FrugalReader.com. Do be sure that they have the approval and guidance of
their parents when using online book swaps.
- Release a book "into the wild" with
BookCrossing.com. Simply choose a book you think would inspire kids or
teens, and register it on the site. Follow the on-site directions to label the
book and leave it somewhere it will be found. Kids will be delighted to
"capture" the book, mark its progress on the site, and leave it somewhere for
another reader to find and enjoy.
- Give books as gifts. Instead of giving toys that will
soon be broken or forgotten, consider giving books to the kids and teens in
your life. Holidays, birthdays, graduations, and other celebrations are
opportune times to promote reading. You may even want to give books as baby
shower presents. Choose quality copies that can be read again and again, and
be sure to choose books that suit the child’s interests.
- Donate books to classroom libraries. Teachers often
spend hundreds of their own dollars to get a decent selection of books in
their classrooms. Encourage reading by giving kids a wide variety of
age-appropriate books to choose from within the walls of their classroom.
Check out classroom wish lists at school book fairs, or simply contact a local
school or teacher and ask how you can help.
- Give kids booklists that fit their interests. There are
books on every interest, from horses to the electric guitar. After being
forced to read school books they consider boring, kids are often surprised
when they learn that there are books about subjects they really care about.
Get kids hooked on reading by printing off a list of subject-specific books
from
ATN Book Lists,
The Boston Public Library,
About.com's Children's Books, or
Lots of Lists from the University of Calgary.
- Email reading websites to teens and their parents.
Introduce teens to the reading community by sending them to
Teen Reads,
Teen Angst Books,
Reading Rants,
Teen Link, or
Guys Read. Note that some pre-teen and teen books (otherwise known as
young adult or YA books) contain mature content.
- Celebrate reading holidays. The National Education
Association sponsors the
Read Across America celebration on March 2nd, Dr. Seuss's
birthday. Their website has
ideas for how to plan a kid's reading event in your community.
National Library Week is generally celebrated the second week in April and
many libraries across the nation hold library activities for kids during that
time.
National Poetry Month also comes each April, along with many opportunities
for kids and teens to experience poetry.
Get Caught Reading Month, held each May, gives kids the excitement of
getting "caught" with their nose in a book.
Library Card Sign-up Month is held in September and
Teen Read Week is observed each October. For information about more
literary holidays, see a detailed list at
LibrarySupportStaff.com.
