Recently, the number of children who read books as a form of entertainment has dropped drastically. In this essay, I will discuss some causes leading to this phenomenon before suggesting some solutions to motivate children to read more books.
In terms of the reasons, one of the most obvious is the dominance of technology in this day and age. With the advent of smartphones, computers, online games, and other social platforms, children no longer see books as their favorable choice for relaxation and entertainment. Instead of spending time with a thick and heavy book, they can instantly satisfy themselves through a wide range of engaging resources on the internet. Besides, in this way, technology also serves to reduce children’s attention span. Frequent exposure to short-form content erodes children’s ability to focus, which discourages them from enduring a long time to follow a book. Moreover, the amount of time that children invest in studying at schools or even extra classes can be considered an impactful factor. They spend most of their time at school and attend additional classes on account of some desired academic achievements, which leaves them no time and effort for reading other books. As a result, they are more likely to opt for other sources that are more time-saving and help them make the most of their decent downtime, such as games, watching TV, or gossiping with friends.
In terms of the solutions, parents have a huge role to play in shaping children’s reading habits. Parents can transform reading into a routine task or daily activity with a view to earning allowance or rewards. For example, if children complete the required number of pages per day, they should be given money as a present to motivate maintaining this healthy habit in the following days. Furthermore, schools also need to give a helping hand in stimulating children to read more books instead of overusing phones for entertainment.
They can organize some competitions that aim to drive students to read, which can merit the one with the highest number of book compliments in a month. Thanks to the friendly competitiveness in school environments, they tend to read books more to catch up with their peers.
In conclusion, technology and the overwhelming academic schedule might contribute to the declining number of children who consider books as a pastime. Parents and schools have important roles in shaping children’s reading habits through several activities and competitions.