What's with kids and books?

I’ve been a teacher for twenty-some years, so I know kids pretty well in the school setting. And since I have my own two kids, I know how they are at home, too. And, hey, I used to be a kid. It wasn’t so long ago that I forget what it was like to be one.

And as an art teacher, I have learned that kids love to draw and they love to do art. I did, too, as a kid. But do kids like books, and do they like to read? Uhhmm…sure, some kids do. Like maybe one out of ten.

Let me say that I know for a fact that schools bend over backward trying to get kids to read. They have silent reading time, group reading time, advanced reading, remedial reading, reading logs, book reports, book fairs, time taken from regular class to read, time given for homework to read, it’s read, read, read, everyday encouraging kids to read. But if you were to ask your average kid if he/she likes to read, what answer do you think you would get?

I remember while growing up, I was not an avid reader, but I wasn’t averse to it. A lot of my friends sure were. My own two kids are not avid readers, either, but they do well enough when they are required to read. But I never see them seeking out books on their own to satisfy a natural need to read. It just isn’t there.

I’m not offering any solution, because there are tons of books that are aimed at kids of all ages, and it doesn’t seem to matter. We all know tiny tots love it when a parent or teacher reads them a picture book, but what happens when they grow old enough to pick up a book and read it on their own? Something happens. Is it the distractions? Video games, Gameboys, PSPs, DSs, DVDs, DVRs, iPods, and all the computers? I don’t really think it is.

Because when I was a kid when those things didn’t exist, kids were the same when it came to books and reading. As hard as schools and teachers encourage reading and promote books, most kids just don’t take to them. Again, some did and some still do, but not the overwhelming majority. They can’t stand books. Will it ever change? Probably not. And sadly, as these kids grow up, the numbers may improve somewhat, but not enough to change the aforementioned percentage of about one in ten. IMO.

That means for those of us who like to write, we are writing for only about ten percent (or less) of the US population. So if that means there are 300 million people in America, then we are writing for about 30 million people. I guest those are good enough numbers, but what if it was more like 90%, or even just 50 percent? Makes you wonder.