Resources

Another study, this one from Scholastic, 2008 Kids & Family Reading Report and subtitled Reading in the 21st Century: Turning the Page with Technology.

I approach with my customary caution about any survey or comparative study. Pertinent details for this study are:

"In 2008, Scholastic and Yankelovich conducted a survey to examine the factors shaping children's relationship with reading now, and as we progress through the 21st century.

The key findings of the research, based on interviews with 501 children age 5-17 and their parents or guardians (1000+ total respondents) in 25 cities across the country"

While there is a reasonable amount of statement of the obvious, there are, as almost always there are, some interesting titbits.

I am not at all surprised to find the report confirming that:

High frequency readers are five times more likely than low frequency readers to say reading is extremely or very important (94% vs.18%).

On the other hand, here some interesting pieces picked randomly:

About nine in ten kids agree that they need to be strong readers to get into a good college and to get a good job.

Three in four agree that things will be "much harder" when they are grown if they are not strong
readers.

These sentiments do not vary significantly according to a child's age or gender.

High and moderate frequency readers are far more likely to read books than other printed materials.

Low frequency readers are far more likely to read magazines than books or other printed
materials.

"There aren't enough really good books for boys/girls my age." 55% Total Agree among Kids

Among children age 9-17, "having trouble finding books that I like" is among the top reasons for not reading more books for fun.

Boys are more likely than girls to have trouble finding books they like

Kids are nearly twice as likely as their parents (26% vs. 14%) to say having trouble finding books they like is a reason kids do not read more books for fun.

I thought these findings were especially pertinent.

Parents overwhelmingly view reading as the most important skill a child needs to develop; yet parents with older children believe this to a lesser degree.

Eighty-two percent of parents say they wish their child would read more books for fun.

Parents who read books for fun daily are six times more likely than low frequency reading parents to have kids who read for fun daily.

Reading at home starts young for some, but not all, children. About half of all parents begin reading to their children before their first birthday.

The percent of children who are read to daily drops from 38% among 5-8 year olds to 23% among 9-11 year olds - the same time when kids' daily reading for fun starts to decrease.

Parents employ several tactics to encourage kids to read more, such as giving books as gifts,
using movies or TV shows based on books, or encouraging kids to go online and extend the
reading experience. Parents of high frequency readers employ more tactics than parents of low
frequency readers.

Parents are a key source of books suggestions for their children, yet nearly half of all parents say they have a hard time finding information about books their child would enjoy reading.

The whole thing is worth a perusal.