Raising Readers in a Digital Age

Is your child a good reader? Your answer to that question may depend on his or her age. At nine, most American kids score better on traditional reading tests than 12th-graders did in the past. By 17, that advantage has eroded and high school seniors appear to read less fluently than they did twenty years ago.

Those statistics are troubling because, according to a report from the National Endowment of the Arts, proficient readers are better students, more successful workers and more involved citizens.

Why are young readers losing ground in early adolescence? The Internet is suspect number one. Although a few early studies suggested the Internet might improve reading abilities because text is such a prominent feature on most websites, today the consensus is shifting. In a recent article in Atlantic magazine, bluntly titled “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”, the author lamented his own inability to stick with a lengthy piece of print.

Of course, some Internet advocates argue that reading itself is morphing into a different kind of skill that depends as much on following hyperlinks as it does following an argument. Indeed, kids who spend a lot of time online tend to be very good at scanning text to find key bits of information. At the same time, many educators worry that point-and-click reading isn’t at all a substitute for think and learn reading.

For parents, the old guard/new media debate isn’t especially helpful. It’s more productive to focus on mental capabilities that equip children for happy, productive adult lives. Some are best cultivated online, and some are more likely to emerge when kids read books. Suggesting that one is more important than the other is a little like saying kids should choose walking or bicycling. A healthy childhood includes both, and good readers need quality experiences with books and websites.

Kids themselves seem to grasp this idea. A poll by Scholastic earlier this year found that 75% of all kids agreed with the statement, “No matter what I can do online, I’ll always want to read books printed on paper.” That attitude gives parents the opening they need to help kids understand what skills they are building through different reading experiences:  

Concentration. Every parent knows multi-tasking has its place. Still, researchers have confirmed that dividing the brain’s resources often means nothing gets done very well. Because websites always include hyperlinks, not to mention advertising, distraction is built into the reading experience. As one kid put it, “With books, there’s nothing to look at except the page.” Sticking with one text may lengthen a child’s attention span.

Comprehension. Every student should understand the difference between skimming for exposure and studying for mastery. The Internet is an ideal place for getting a quick overview of a topic because young learners can free associate, clicking on links and getting quick answers to questions. At the same time, this restless style may lead kids to make what one researcher calls “hasty, random choices with little thought and evaluation.” Books give students a chance to read, reread and, if necessary, take notes or jot ideas in the margins.

Analysis. Evaluating the reliability of information online is notoriously difficult. If you need proof, visit a site like http://www.zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ In one study, 24 out of 25 seventh graders failed to recognize it as a spoof. Although more and more books are being self-published, the ones that find their way into schools or public libraries have gone through editorial scrutiny; so they are more likely to present facts that have been researched, ideas that have been developed and arguments that make sense. Kids need to learn to recognize all three.

Reflection. The best kind of reading stimulates a child’s own thinking. Fiction, in particular, often inspires young people to contemplate not only the characters in the book but also their own values and philosophies. Classic books stay in print because they have this power. Indeed, many adults can vividly recall books they read when they were young. In general, websites are less memorable because they don’t provoke such deep engagement with ideas.

Interaction. This is where the Internet has huge, though often unrealized, potential. On a website like fanfiction.net, for example, kids can post their thoughts about books they’ve read and even write alternative endings which get instant feedback from other readers. For parents, the challenge is directing young readers toward venues where the opinions being expressed are written grammatically and worth considering. In some cases, it may be easier to promote discussion skills by having everyone in the family (or the neighborhood) read the same book (or visit the same website) and talk about its merits over dinner.

If the challenge online is finding websites worthy of a child’s attention, the challenge offline is getting children to give books a chance. Parents can get a head start by creating positive associations with books from an early age. Nothing kids do online can compete with curling up in a comfy chair to read a book with Mom or Dad. Even after children read for themselves, set aside time for reading aloud together. (To find a grade-by-grade list of promising books, visit teachersfirst.com/read-sel.cfm.) Perhaps the best way to develop the reading habit is to establish times when other media aren’t available. The hour before bedtime is especially promising because experts say kids sleep better if they don’t use computers, play video games or watch TV before bed. (Other tips about getting kids involved with books are available at rif.org/parents/.)

Finally, pay close attention to how your child learns best. Some children will be most engaged when they are immersed in a well-written book. Others will find their ideas enriched and amplified by the many options available online. The luckiest kids and, in all likelihood, the best readers are those who have had plenty of opportunities to do both.

Carolyn Jabs, MA, has been writing about families and the Internet for over a decade. More Growing Up Online columns are available a www.growing-up-online.com.

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