Reading for Pleasure: A Dying Pastime?

 

Why pick up a book and read? There is ample research to support the idea that reading for pleasure stimulates the mind, improves vocabulary, enhances creativity, builds empathy for other cultures and experiences, and helps children develop their inner lives. A thorough study prepared by the UK’s Department of Education underscores these notions, noting the correlation between reading and academic success. That in turn leads to greater opportunities in one’s education and indeed in one’s life.

 

 

Nevertheless, research also shows that recreational reading—that is, reading something just for fun—is on the decline worldwide. While many would assume the main culprit would be the 21^st century advent and proliferation of technological devices, a recent article suggests television has been more to blame. Rates of reading have declined steadily since the 1950s such that leisure reading is now at an all-time low. Even more alarming, notes a 2018 Washington Post article, “Survey data from the Pew Research Center and Gallup have shown, meanwhile, that the share of adults not reading any book in a given year nearly tripled between 1978 and 2014.”

 

 

Admittedly, those of us who are readers tend to be a little snobby about this activity and wonder why or how anyone could be a non-reader. That doesn’t help. Finding ways to reach new or reluctant readers involves more than finger wagging or complaints about technology. Teachers and librarians alike have been lamenting in recent years that students have less time and interest for pleasure reading, and have been looking for new ways to spark students. We can’t take for granted that students will find their way to being regular readers, as their time and attention is spread in so many directions.

 

At CA, our librarians and English teachers are the primary purveyors of the reading message. These adults encourage readership through book talks, e-mail announcements, and cool displays in the library. More specifically, Lindsay Beatty leads an Upper School student book club in which students read and discuss a non-school-related title every month. In Freshman English classes students are given choices of independent reading in the summer before 9^th grade and then again during the school year. Selecting from a list of coming-of-age titles, students opt in to one of the novels and then meet in literature circles to discuss. In both of these examples, student choice, one of the primary factors in encouraging student pleasure reading, is emphasized.

 

Obviously, parents have a major role to play as well. To encourage student reading parents can model that behavior themselves, set aside undistracted time for family reading opportunities, and keep looking for opportunities to bring kids to libraries and bookstores, not just relying on online shopping.

 

I have linked one last article from Edutopia touting the benefits of reading for pleasure. (And be sure to read the next article, too, for a nice list of graphic novels, a major genre that has roped in many reluctant readers over the years.)