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Encouraging Kids to Read: High Tech vs. Low Tech / Bribery?
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I'm not a huge fan but I understand the complexity of the scenario, so I can't give an unequivocal "no." If kids think readin is so hard, and it's a laborious process for them, I can see where some rewards for engaging in a difficult task could help get things started. But I worry about the subtext that reading is such an awful task that one must get rewarded for engaging in it. I'd never do this with my kids. They read on their own now, and giving them rewards would just fuck up the dynamic. I've heard that rewarding kids for reading with more books and/or reading time works with some kids, too.By the way, even though my kids read on their own, we still take the library for all its worth when it comes to summer reading program rewards/prizes. Like taking candy from a baby...
That's a good point, RA. I don't think parents should choose a method to encourage reading that may cause the kids to think it is somehow a chore.
Maybe if the reading is for school and the kids are genuinely uninterested, I would consider it not an altogether bad idea. But as to reading independently of assignments, I think there are a million other more constructive ways to encourage, not just the reading itself, but enjoyment of reading.
"Son, if you read this book and enjoy it, I will give you this cookie."
I reward my kids - five and four years old - by putting the books they have read by themselves on Goodreads. They get to tell me what the book is about, and I get to type it in. It's getting harder with the older one because she will tear through 5-10 books in a day.
My niece watches interactive books on the iPad. I hope this doesn't affect her when it's time to read a real book.
I find interactive books jarring. I don't want stuff moving around on the page while I'm reading.
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She watches little stories. They're like fairy tales.The words on the screen are read aloud, and stuff moves, and I think the pages turn by themselves too.
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Cyril wrote: "I reward my kids - five and four years old - by putting the books they have read by themselves on Goodreads. They get to tell me what the book is about, and I get to type it in. It's getting harder..."Cyril, I love this!
My "kids" are now young adults. They all like to read. We used to go to the library every Saturday (my son was in a chess club that met at the library). We would take out a bunch of books. My youngest, now 20, read EVERYTHING when she was a kid. Now she will only read classics. My son, 25, reads sports books (about teams, rivalries, sports figures, etc) and classics. He's a sports information director at a state college, so it's almost work related. My 23 year old daughter will read a variety of books, with the exception of anything romance and she's sick of vampire books. I never needed to reward my children for reading. I'm really opposed to it. Just like I wouldn't award my kids for getting good report cards. My youngest has been a straight A student since the fifth grade. She would moan about not getting rewarded for getting A's. Too bad. The A itself is the reward. Look where it got you in life. She goes to a private university (Boston University) with a partial academic scholarship. That is the reward for getting A's.
I wouldn't reward my kids for reading. I want them to enjoy it not make it like it's a chore. I read a lot and have always encouraged my kids to read. My son finally found a series of books he loved and has been a reader ever since but my daughter.....well..I'm keeping my fingers crossed she'll come around!
I agree with Lila. I want my kids to read because they enjoy it and want to not because I've assigned it as a chore, bribe or reward non withstanding. I read to both of the girls every single night until they got old enough to read themselves. Even then they sometimes asked me to read to them. Alas, my oldest, at 22, will only occasionally pick up a romance or 'Chicken Soup For The _____ Soul'. My youngest, at 17, could not care less one way or the other. She reads a few mags and on the odd occasion will pick up a 'teen angst' book. I'm disappointed they do not enjoy reading as much as I. Like Lila, I can only hope.
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First: one mom uses a point system that allows her kids to earn treats based on their reading habits. (I thought this was a pretty decent idea, even if it is mild bribery. I don't have kids, so I can't really say for sure.)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jenny-r...
Second: Toys R Us is going to start carrying the Kindle in their stores.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07...
What do you think?