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Knowledge is Power In the age of YouTube and iPods, is there still gold at the end of the reading rainbow? 
With each purchase of “Goodnight Moon” and “The Hungry Caterpillar,” new parents put their faith in the value of reading toward the development of a child’s mind. Once the colorful pictures segue into word-laden, artless pages, however, fewer force the issue. “Parents excel when it comes to introducing their very young children to beautiful picture books and bedtime stories, but when their kids start reading independently, parents need to become more, not less, involved,” says Lisa Holton, president Scholastic Book Fairs and Trade Publishing, New York City. “As kids get older, the role parents play changes. We found that not only do parents need to be reading role models, but that they must play a key role in helping their older children select books that capture their imagination and interest.” Books are increasingly viewed as less fun when kids are confronted with the deluge of youth-oriented programming on iPods, YouTube and MTV. Despite that, some experts believe kids still inherently love to read. “With all the media that today’s youth are faced with day in and day out, the truth is kids really do enjoy reading books for fun,” says Dr. Hal Quinley from Yankelovich, a public opinion research firm, Chapel Hill, N.C. “Parents may be underestimating the difficulty kids have finding books they like. Although kids value their independence, they seek guidance from parents and that includes the suggestion of a great book to read.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average working American spends .03 hours per day reading to or with their children, and only .37 hours reading alone. With so little time invested, how do you make reading a priority in your child’s life? Follow these tips from educational publisher Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, N.J.: • First, show your children why reading is worthwhile. Even at young ages, future avid readers are acutely aware that learning to read is hard work. Share with your children how you value the effort they put into building their reading ability and encourage their appreciation of this new experience. Show them how reading unlocks new emotions and enlightens their imagination. These are concepts that can be grasped by children of any age. Ask the child, “What did you find out? How did that make you feel? What did you wonder?” • Avid readers also appreciate and enjoy the unique voice of their favorite authors. Find related works by the same author and encourage children to compare different works and talk about the connections between them. • Don’t overlook the value of nonfiction. Traditionally, fiction has been viewed as “reading for fun,” while nonfiction is relegated to the role of fact-finding. The best nonfiction authors write with a voice that speaks directly to the reader, and include illustrations, diagrams, and other graphics to add to the appeal. • Finally, support the creation of a community of readers, so highly valued by those fourth graders who were studied. Invite interaction among friends and family, and encourage young readers to share their enthusiasm by storytelling – relating the key points of a narrative, or taking on the role of a central character to describe their experiences. • By demonstrating the value of reading, and by devoting the same time and energy to it as you would any recreational choice, you can hopefully foster a generation of future adults who once again enjoy the simple pleasure of a good book.
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