Parents know well that reading is one of the main pillars of education. However, children's reports on this aspect change with age and it seems that around the age of 9 they experience the most drastic drop in this interest, which experts call "decline by nine".
But what exactly happens?
This trend starts from the third and fourth grade, that is, the age when children stop reading books for pleasure. In the "Scholastic Kids & Family Reading" report, researchers found that the desire to read drops sharply around age 9 by 35% compared to other age groups. So children of this age read less than five times a week according to this report.
Why does this matter?
Parents, but also people in general believe that a child who reads books becomes a successful person in the future, both in school and in life. "Reading for pleasure is an indicator of a child's future success," says Brenna Connor, book industry analyst. Reading skills by the end of third grade are also associated with higher academic achievement.
Beyond the learning approach, reading for pleasure is an enjoyable process. "There is a link between reading for pleasure and general well-being, with children who read more likely to be happier over the years compared to those who don't," adds Connor.
So why is this phenomenon happening?
There are several possible factors influencing this situation. To begin with, finding the right books for this age group, especially during the Covid 19 pandemic and the quarantine period, adversely affected the entire chain of desire, from discovering the right book, to securing or reading under this pressure that affected the whole world from March 2020 onwards.
Two other influencing factors according to experts are: technology and social networks. "With smart devices, kids are actively seeking out the dopamine of video games and other online offerings, versus sitting down with a book for a few minutes," she continues.
And another no less important influence is the tendency of parents to be many hours away from children and home, due to jobs and commitments, which directly affects leaving territories free for the little ones, who choose easier things , such as phones, iPads, etc.
What can parents do?
Most importantly, make reading a part of family life. Read to them before bed, as this is the foundation of stimulating curiosity and imagination. If they refuse, set your own example by reading something new every day.
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