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Miralee Ferrell | Do Kids Read Anymore?
April 10, 2015
If you hand a middle-grade child a book, a video game, a tablet, smart phone, or
the remote to the TV, which do you think they’ll pick? Of course, it’s totally
dependent on the child, but I’m sad to say I think the book would often come in
last. The same can probably be said if you make those same offers alongside
going outside to play—technology often wins. I grew up loving to read and play outside with my sisters and friends. We lived
in a different age than today—our parents allowed us to play baseball with a
group of neighborhood friends in a vacant lot a half-block away without adult
supervision, and we often didn’t come home until dark. We rode our bikes down a
steep hill in a residential area—and yes, I crashed one time, flipping over my
handlebars and landing on the asphalt—but no one ever assaulted us or approached
us in an inappropriate way. But wait—I’m getting off my subject. Kids and books. Do kids read anymore? My
parents and my grandmother read to us when we were young, giving us a jumpstart
on our love for reading. Later, I was such a voracious reader (by the time I was
a grade-schooler) that I’d hide in the bathroom with the door locked, reading,
or under the covers with a flashlight after it was past my bedtime. I wanted to
read one more chapter—or even one more page. So what’s the solution for parents today? Technology is everywhere. My
two-year-old granddaughter is more fascinated with a smart phone, tablet or
computer screen (especially if it works by touch) than by a book. That makes me
sad, and I’m so thankful her mama is reading to her, and they don’t park her in
front of the TV set or hand her some type of technology whenever she wants it. I read to my kids, and I worked hard to find books that would hook them and give
them a taste for worlds they couldn’t experience any other way. We homeschooled
for several years, and we read the entire Narnia series, then followed it by
watching The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, as it had recently come
out as a movie. They loved it, as the movie brought the books to life for them.
But I didn’t let them watch the movie first. I wanted them to create those
characters in their minds and imagine what they and all the creatures might look
and sound like, not have someone show them ahead of time. We also read
high-adventure books, like the Frank Peretti novels for kids, and so many more. Both of my children, girl and boy, grew up loving books, and they are still avid
readers to this day. The key is to find things children are interested in. For
my daughter, it was horse or animal books, or mysteries (the newer Nancy
Drew Files). For my son, it was stories with adventure, mystery, or
airplanes, and later, military stories. Now, I write kids’ books, something I never planned to do when I started, but I
felt God leading me down this path. I try to bring animals, adventure, a touch
of mystery, friendships and struggles kids can relate to, and sprinkle it all
with a touch of values and morals that parents will love and kids might not even
realize they’re getting. And you know what? I’m loving writing them as much as I
used to enjoy reading them! So go read to the child in your life. Find out what interests them and encourage
the love of reading. You and they will be glad you did!
GiveawayReaders, do you know kids who read? Leave a comment below to be entered to win a
Quilted DaySpring Bracelet and a copy of A HORSE FOR
KATE for a kid reader in your life. About A HORSE FOR KATEA horse of her own would be awesome. But Kate figures that might be a long way
away, especially since she had to give up riding lessons and move to her late
grandfather’s farm. Besides, it would be a lot more fun to have a best friend to
ride with. When Kate discovers a barn on their new farm that’s perfect for a
horse, and a dusty bridle too, she starts to think that her dream might come
true. Then she meets Tori at school, who is totally the best. So when they
discover a thoroughbred that appears to be all alone, could it be the answer to
her prayers? Maybe. If she can convince her dad ... and figure out what’s going
on with that horse. About Miralee FerrellMiralee Ferrell is the
author of THE OTHER
DAUGHTER and four books in the Love Finds You series, which
includes the award-winning novel Love Finds You in Sundance, WY, along with the
best-selling novel, BLOWING ON DANDELIONS, part of the Love Blossoms in
Oregon series. She recently started writing horse novels for kids, with a
four-book series with David C Cook. She and her husband live on eleven acres in
southern Washington State, where they love to garden, ride horses, take hikes,
and visit with their children and grandchildren.
Comments
24 comments posted.
Re: Miralee Ferrell | Do Kids Read Anymore?
The only kids around me are my younger cousins (pre-teen) and they do not like reading. One of them might have a learning disability though (the school suspects so) so that might put him off reading, but I'm working on the other one to make her into an avid reader like me :D
(Lisa L. 1:19pm April 9, 2015)
My granddaughter still loves to read. Pretty book cover.
(Sue Brandes 7:51am April 10, 2015)
My grandchildren read and love books. I grew up in the 1950's
and read avidly and still do. We inherited this love of books
and reading from my parents and it is necessary to instill
this to further generations.
(Sharon Berger 11:51am April 10, 2015)
I can't remember the last time I saw a kin reading something other than a text.
(Rhonda Rogers 5:04pm April 10, 2015)
TGIF have a fun weekend. read romance books
(Emily Stemp 5:34pm April 10, 2015)
I love horses & so does my 10 year old niece. I think she
will really like this book. She is one of those kids who
likes to read.
(Jolynn Rood 6:54pm April 10, 2015)
It's so nice to hear that several of you love to read and
are encouraging the children in your life to follow in your
footsteps. Keep up the good work!
(Miralee Ferrell 9:29pm April 10, 2015)
I have one who loves to read and one who doesn't. I
try to have them see me read a lot hoping it will be
an example
(Karen Kane 10:29pm April 10, 2015)
Our children are grown adults and have children and
grandchildren of their own. Yes, I agree that we have too
much technology these days that kids are playing computer
games and texting and doing others things they should not do
besides being productive and reading all the time. I think
it is wonderful that you are writing books to help children
and adults too. I love horses and have been riding on our
farm in Kansas since I was age 5. My animals were my best
friends when I was growing up and I should write some books
for children too one of these days. Congrats on your new
book: A HORSE FOR KATE. I would love to win it and read it
this year soon. I love the book cover too. Looks pretty like
my quarter horse. Thank You very much. Cecilia Dunbar
Hernandez CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:28pm April 10, 2015)
My niece who is 14 years old loves to read. She also writes her own stories.
(Susan Jang 11:45pm April 10, 2015)
My nephews just don't read. And we tried to get them interested. Sometimes we get a series like Harry Potter that can get them reading but keeping it going is tough.
(Pam Howell 3:54pm April 11, 2015)
Thank you all for your comments. The one thing I'd
suggest for anyone with kids who aren't reading is for
you to read to them a lot--especially if they're younger
than 12 and willing to sit still and listen. I read to
the kids when we were on trips in the car and my husband
was driving--I had a captive audience and it made the
time go so much faster. Take their cell phones and
tablets away for an hour or so and read instead. They
might be surprised and really enjoy it!
(Miralee Ferrell 12:56pm April 12, 2015)
My daughter loves to read! When she was small she would lay in bed with her Dad and they would take turns reading every other page. Where The Red Grows was a favorite! Now life has gotten busy so she doesn't read as much!
(LeAnn Knott 2:49pm April 12, 2015)
That's why we give books as gifts for our grandbabies. They do
enjoy them.
(Nancy Luebke 3:06pm April 12, 2015)
My kids are in their 20's now and they read - not as much
as I'd like :) But I read to my boys a ton, hoping to
instill the love of reading that my sister and I got from
my mom. I always feel sad when I talk to people and they
aren't readers. I think that reading to kids is a must.
I have friends with younger kids and some of them do. I
don't think they do as much as they used to - too much
social media - but I guess they are still having to read
it lol.
(LaRonda Atchison 5:06pm April 12, 2015)
My favorite memories are from when I was little starting at age 4, when my mother would read to me and my two younger sisters every evening. We cuddle close and listen intently. She had a huge Child's World Set that had one book in it of all nursery rhymes, fairy tales, etc. with very vivid colored pictures on glossy pages she read from until we had it all memorized. Then I received many Golden Books on my birthday and we read all those. I was the best reader in my first grade class of over 30 kids, because of all the reading, I recognized simple words. I've remained an avid reader my entire life and my sister received many awards through her years of teaching, as she too, excelled in school and was top of her class in college and went on to get many additional degrees. So I'm a strong believer that early reading leads to a better education when children gain a fondness for it and look forward to reading more and more. Your book looks wonderful, and I've loved horses since I was a child and rode them on my uncle's ranch only ten miles from where I now live. Back then, it was four hours away for me to travel to his home to do this.
(Linda Luinstra 5:22pm April 12, 2015)
My daughter and all of my nieces and nephews love to read, and most prefer
hardcover books. They all go to the library at least weekly, and not to use the
computers!
(Mary McCoy 9:14pm April 12, 2015)
very nice
(Tamara Lawson 11:50pm April 12, 2015)
My niece loves reading.
(Mark Watson 1:52am April 13, 2015)
no small children I read children and tween books.
(Susan Gannon 6:40am April 13, 2015)
My ten-year-old son reads, though his school's requirement of 150 minutes a
week is useful for him and us in the face of iPad, Xbox and hockey. And
given that we live in a very White, fairly prosperous part of the world, it's
valuable that he reads about all sorts of kids. I've been particularly pleased
that he reads about girls as readily as he does about boys.
(Mary Ann Dimand 7:57am April 13, 2015)
Oh yes, all of my kids are readers! I have a 16 year old
and a 12 year old who both love Sci Fi. I have an 11 year
old who loves tween girl romance books, and my 5 year old is
reading at a 2nd grade level and reading up every 2nd grade
book in his school library. he is like a sponge! We LOVE
books in our home. You can never read or own too many
books!
(Allyson Nobles 11:22am April 13, 2015)
my neighbor granddaughter is a reader.
(Angela Parrish 4:34pm April 13, 2015)
I LOVE all the awesome comments from you gals and guys
who read to your kids, or still do! Way to go!!! I
completely agree that early reading enjoyment (reading to
them and then kids reading on their own) will increase
their knowledge and often help them become better
students. Thanks for sharing, everyone!!
(Miralee Ferrell 6:15pm April 13, 2015)
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