I am over at Writing to be Read today with a post that looks at this question by children: “Why must I read when the world is electronic and I prefer computer games to books?” Thanks for hosting me, Kaye Lynne Booth.
Children need to learn to read and write. This is an undebatable fact. Well, it’s undebatable from a parents point of view, it is very debatable from a teenagers point of view. I have had a number of conversations with children, including my younger son, about the necessity of reading.
“Why do I need to read when I can watch a movie?”
“Why must I read when the world is electronic and I prefer computer games to books?”
The simple answer, is that despite our moving to a more visual and electronic platform, everything in our modern lives is still underpinned by the written word. It is merely it’s shape and form that has changed.
Every movie and most television shows are based on screenplays which are written by writers, or even groups of writers. Many movies and television series are adapted from books. If there were no books, our…
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Another great interview and what a topic. Nicely written as always
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Thank you, Bella, I’m pleased you enjoyed this post.
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Shared this post on Twitter, and left a comment on the linked one. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you, Pete. Appreciated as always.
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An excellent contribution to the topic. Thanks, Robbie!
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Hi Olga, I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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Terrific insight Robbie!
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Thanks, John
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Great piece, Robbie. I don’t have children, but I completely agree with your thoughts on the topic.
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Thank you, Jill. I remember reading a fridge magnet which said “everyone should have children, no-one should be spared.” 😂
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LOL!
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A great article, Robbie. Thanks!
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Thank you, Darlene
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Nice article! Things constantly change and evolve!
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Thank you, Dorothy
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I am tempted to respond “why should I cook dinner when Taco Bell is just a few blocks away?” LOL You are right to point out that writing is behind everything and that once you and I get over our “literary snobbery” about content we are glad to see boys reading all about game strategy.
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Haha, Elizabeth, I am sure my sons think there is a dinner fairy and a washing one too. Sometimes as a parent you have to see things from a different perspective and explain things to your kids in their language.
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Thank you for the great posting, Robbie! To be honest, I have to admit that I enjoyed learning to read. But not books, but – what a shame – to be able to read bank statements. Here, too much was just about money. ;-( Michael
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Ah, I understand Michael. Learning maths and accounting is also good but reading is the basis of all learning.
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Lol – Maybe! Here was all around money (because there normally is less of it ;-)). For sure reading is bringing the skills, you need for all the other. Michael
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You make good points about reading and writing, especially with electronic things in our lives.
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Thank you, Andrew. As writers we need to evolve with changing times if we want to succeed, especially people who write for children and teenagers.
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You’re welcome.
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I really appreciate this topic and your responses, they are a great reference for parents dealing with this common new generation question. My now teenage son had shocked me in this 4th grade, asking me why he needs to read books because he could gladly live off of playing sports and video games. It took us about 90 minutes of conversation to arrive at an acceptable agreement 🙂
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I am glad to know other parents are engaging with their children on this topic. My boys certainly appreciate the need to read to play their games and they understand about screenplays and script writing.
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Robbie – this is an excellent post and discussion about how reading continues to evolve. From tablets, to papyrus, to printing press, reading has taken many forms. Now, the possibility of engaging, even changing a storyline is possible with the new technologies that are on the horizon. Exciting stuff!!
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Hi Rebecca, I think so to. We are living in a fast changing world and we need to evolve with the times if we want to succeed and that includes writing and publishing.
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I love our conversations, Robbie!
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Such great advice about children, as always, Robbie. Being a parent is so complicated these days. Toni x
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Hi Toni, thank you. I try to appreciate my sons perspectives and views.
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I obviously can’t follow them all, but nearly every kid I taught who liked to read is doing well. If nothing else, it opens doors that they might not otherwise go through. I used to read with my son through 6th grade. It does my heart good to know that he still likes to read today. I hope he will pass on this gift to his children when he eventually has children.
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Yes, reading will stay part of our lives but the form may changes to some extent. There will always be books but there are other ways our kids use reading and they don’t even realise it.
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I agree, Robbie. Reading is just as important now as it ever was. Sometimes we just find it in different places.
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Yes, that is what I think. I do encourage my boys to read and they do, but not as much as they play computer games.
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They learn a lot with computer games too. And they have fun. Both are important.
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Hello Robbie, I come from a family of readers, and brought a family of readers into the world myself. Now my grandson, aged 11, loves his video games and is totally computer literate. However, he reads non-stop. When he first learned, it was as if he had been given the best present ever. I’m sure there is room for both in the world of young people today. And I take your point about learning from those video games too; I hadn’t thought of that.
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Hi Elizabeth, thank you for your lovely comment. My boys also both read but not as much as I would like them to. I’ve had to accept that they will play their computer games and I do see their argument about their value. Moderation in all things preferably.
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It’s an argument we’ll either win or lose in the next decade. Like handwriting. There is so much good to that but I think we’re losing that skill to keyboarding. I’m clicking over to read more.
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I think people will always read, the older generation just has to accept they will do it their way and we’ll have to adapt if we want to sell our books.
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Thank you so much Robbie for your profound post. I completely agree with you children must inculcate the habit of reading books and nice to see so many books turning into movies for the little ones too. We are showing my grandson few of the nursery rhymes and he likes to see them but we have not made it a habit. My daughter reads from story books for him.
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Hi Kamal, I am glad to know that your daughter reads to your grandson, it is the best way to instil a love of reading in children. I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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Yes absolutely true Robbie the best for children and every night before bed is story time. ♥️♥️♥️♥️
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This is excellent, Robbie. Reading to children before bedtime sets a routine, lets the child know it’s important, and promotes a love of books and stories.
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