Figure 1.-- Boys interest in reading varies. This is a shame, because any child can get interested in books. This is because books tell stories and every child likes stories. Once a child has learned to enjoy reading, the sky is the limit.

Boys interest in reading varies. This is a shame, because any child can get interested in books. This is because books tell stories and every child likes stories. In addition cover the entire gambit of the human experience. Thus there are books to interest any child, whatever his or her interests. Even boys focused in outdoor activities and sports can be led to books by choosing stories and biographies focusing on these activities. Teachers play a major role in develop reading skills and to an extent getting children interested in reading. But the key is the parents. A little bed-time reading with interesting books can serve kindle a life-long love affair with books. Here American children were at an advantage to children in most other countries because of a wonderful punlic library syste, Parents can not only interest the child with bed time reading sessiion, but help address any learning problems the child my be encounteing with reading. Without this help at home, the child is at a serious disadvantage. And this disadvantage is no small matter. Reading skills are the single most important determinant as to how a child does at school. And this means his or her ability to develop basic academic skills and the ability to persue his education to help achieve career goals. Thus a child who finds enjoyment in reading is well on his way to a suceesful life.

Potential

Boys interest in reading varies. This is a shame, because any child can get interested in books. This is because books tell stories and every child likes stories. In addition cover the entire gambit of the human experience. Thus there are books to interest any child, whatever his or her interests. Even boys focused in outdoor activities and sports can be led to books by choosing stories and biographies focusing on these activities.

Schools

Teachers play a major role in develop reading skills and to an extent getting children interested in reading. But even gifted teachers have limitations imposed by the schools. There are proibably avout 30 children in the class of all kinds of abilities and inrterests. Thus there is only so much time and energy that can be devoted tyo any single child.

Parents

The key is the parents. Parents may not be able to help much with calcul\us or phssics. Virtially every parent can help prepare a child for learning to read and help the beginning reader. A little bed-time reading with interesting books can work wonders. It can serve to kindle a life-long love affair with books. And once a child is interested in books, learning to read is a snap. Parents can not only interest the child with bed time reading sessiion, but help address any learning problems the child my be encounteing with reading. Without this help at home, the child is at a serious disadvantage.

Public Libraries

American children in terms of books and reading were at an advantage to children in most other countries because of a wonderful public library system. The printing press was invented in Europe (1440s), before yjer discovery of America. This reduced the cost of books, but they were still relatively expensive. Educated peopled, primarily ministers and doctors, acquired small private libraries in colonial times. But books were not available to the generl public. The only book in many family homes was the Bible. Churches and colleges began amassing libraries, but they tended to be quite small, even in the 18th century. Church collections were available to parishioners, but the collections were limited and as there were no organized administration, the collections often declined rther than increased over time. As colleges began to develop in colonial America, they began to build libraries. A major step was Reverend John Harvard bequeathed a new, Boston college about 280 books and an endowment (1638). This was a major step in making Harvard University one of the outstamding acafemic instituitions in america. Still books were not available to the general public. A major step to address this problem was when Benjamin Franklin who was amassing a notable collection of books organized a subscription-based book lending service in Philadelphia (1731). Thomas Jefferson amassed the greatest collection of books in America. His collection would become the foundation of the Library of Congress. Slowly in the 19th century, the large north-eastern cities began founding public libraries. Boston is commonly seen as the first city to found a public library in the modern sense (1854). It was Scottish immigrant industrialist Andrew Carnrgie (1835-1911) that would help America develop the greatest public library system in the world. Public libraries made books available to any American at no cost. And these libraries began stocking books for children.

Importance

Reading skills and the reading habit is no small matter. Reading skills are the single most important determinant as to how a child does at school. And this means his or her ability to develop basic academic skills and the ability to persue his education to help achieve career goals. Thus a child who finds enjoyment in reading is well on his way to a suceesful life.

Created: 7:05 PM 1/13/2011
Last updated: 8:14 PM 1/13/2011