Young Love: Helping Children Create a Love for Reading



I can still remember my favorite books of childhood. I'll bet that you can too. You know the ones that you would pick up and read over and over again on a rainy day and enjoy each time you opened up those wonderfully illustrated covers and were transported directly into the story. Reading opens many doors, providing an opportunity to learn and understand the world around us. Although we often view it as a past-time or form of entertainment, it is also a prominent skill that will determine our success

According to statistics listed at www.scholastic.com, "forecasters have predicted that if static literacy levels continue, then by 2030 the entire Literacy Level distribution of the U.S. population will have decreased, creating an American workforce that is unequipped and unskilled to work in the global market." (Educational Testing Service)

The world in which we live is now driven by technology that is updated almost daily. Often, children are more equipped on computer skills, social media, and video gaming and production than adults. But with so much time spent in this electronic realm, are their reading skills developing enough to help them succeed?

"Children who grow up in homes where books are plentiful go further in school than those who don't. Children with low-education families can do as well as children with high-education families if they have access to books at home." (Scholastic)

Helping to make a difference can be as simple as reading a book to a child, introducing them to the local library system and helping them to select age-appropriate books, or becoming involved in a non-profit literacy organization such as First Book, which helps to provide books to children living in low economic areas. With a little time and effort, we can each make a difference in a child's life. Share the Joy of Reading Today!

What was your favorite childhood book?

Rebecca