Difficult to motivate our children to immerse themselves in a book rather than on a screen. Discover the advice of a mom to give your teenager the taste of books!
The latest report from the National Book Center (CNL) on “Young French people and reading“is formal: young people read less, and they read less long. One teenager out of three aged between 16 and 19 does not read at all for fun, and only 7% do it in 7-12 year olds. The ditch widens even more in boys, less large readers than girls. Leisure time is largely occupied by screens since the study shows that young people pass on average, all ages, 3 hours and 11 Screens, 10 times more time than reading.
All parents are faced with these difficulties, and there is no miracle recipe. There is no point in making parents feel guilty, each one makes the time he has, his own relationship to reading and his means. We know, for example, that young people from the least favored neighborhoods can be intimidated by reading. But how to fight? Anna, a mother of Abel, 12 and a half, decided to resist, without demonizing screens, putting in place since the very early childhood of her son of little things intended to make her love reading.
“”We have always read him a lot of stories, and continued to do it even when he was able to read alone “says Anna. “”This is no longer the case today, but for a long time these moments of complicity around reading were very important for us “, she adds. Abel’s mother also insists on the importance of giving an example. “”How to encourage our child to put his phone when we are unable to put ours?“, questions Anna. And this is also appropriate for reading!”At home, we read a lot, our son has always seen us reading. I would not be credible if I reproached him for not reading when I don’t do it myself “she adds. The screens are prohibited in the room, and the reading time before going to bed is a ritual established for years. “”It is also a return to calm, a time for him “, Observe this mother. And on weekends, it is not uncommon for the whole family to meet for a little reading break in the living room.
“”There are of course periods when he wants less, and in this case, we try to find a book in relation to his passions of the moment. You can seek advice in the library or in a bookstore. It is necessary to desecrate these two places and allow the child to tame them “, advises Anna. The latter also insists on the importance of not being too critical of the literary choices of children. “”Of course, we give him advice, we offer books. But we also let him make choices “she explains.
As for the books to read for the school, which many children see as a chore, it can be motivating for the child to see his parent read the same book in parallel. “”We always try to devote a little time to discuss our readings. They ask him questions about what he felt, what he liked or less loved“Adds this mother.”But he also has the right to watch TV or play the console. Simply, a time ago for everything“Explains Anna. If these parents have chosen not to (yet) buy their son, they know that this day will come.”We will advise, but I am rather confident. I think we have made a good basis. Reading is part of his life, he reads about four pounds a month, it’s natural for him “, she concludes.
