I sometimes get questions from kids and parents about whether reading on a Kindle or another device counts as screen time. I am not concerned about reading on a device, what worries me is when you read on a device that has wifi and apps, it makes it hard to concentrate and stay on task.
This struck home when I learned that my daughter Tessa had downloaded a Kindle book via an app onto her iPhone. Then, a week or so later Tessa told me she deleted the app because she was going on her phone too much when she was trying to read. Now, she just uses our Kindle, which does not have a way to use the internet beyond buying books — truly, an old-fashioned Kindle. Of course, Tessa also reads paper books, as well. But believe me, I wish she read more. I see her doing Snapchat and Instagram, and I get waves of wishing more of that time were for reading.
According to a survey from Common Sense Media reading by kids and teens has been decreasing significantly over time. In 1984, when I was a high school senior, about 10% of seniors reported they rarely, or never read, but now that percentage has gone up to 30%. This statistic is compounded by the fact that we know that reading goes down significantly from childhood to teen years. A 2013 Scholastic study showed that 15-17 years old read half as much as they did when they were 6-8 years old.
I do look for ways to encourage Tessa to read more. For example, the editor of Your Teen Magazine recently asked if both Tessa and I wanted to read the same book and post our reviews on their website. I am jazzed that Tessa agreed. You can do this too at http://yourteenmag.com/stuff-we-love/books. We are reading 1984—but how long will it take us to finish? Stay tuned…
This week for Tech Talk Tuesday let’s talk about reading.
How do you read? A physical book, Kindle, iPhone, etc?
November 14, 2016
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
I sometimes get questions from kids and parents about whether reading on a Kindle or another device counts as screen time. I am not concerned about reading on a device, what worries me is when you read on a device that has wifi and apps, it makes it hard to concentrate and stay on task.
This struck home when I learned that my daughter Tessa had downloaded a Kindle book via an app onto her iPhone. Then, a week or so later Tessa told me she deleted the app because she was going on her phone too much when she was trying to read. Now, she just uses our Kindle, which does not have a way to use the internet beyond buying books — truly, an old-fashioned Kindle. Of course, Tessa also reads paper books, as well. But believe me, I wish she read more. I see her doing Snapchat and Instagram, and I get waves of wishing more of that time were for reading.
According to a survey from Common Sense Media reading by kids and teens has been decreasing significantly over time. In 1984, when I was a high school senior, about 10% of seniors reported they rarely, or never read, but now that percentage has gone up to 30%. This statistic is compounded by the fact that we know that reading goes down significantly from childhood to teen years. A 2013 Scholastic study showed that 15-17 years old read half as much as they did when they were 6-8 years old.
I do look for ways to encourage Tessa to read more. For example, the editor of Your Teen Magazine recently asked if both Tessa and I wanted to read the same book and post our reviews on their website. I am jazzed that Tessa agreed. You can do this too at http://yourteenmag.com/stuff-we-love/books. We are reading 1984—but how long will it take us to finish? Stay tuned…
This week for Tech Talk Tuesday let’s talk about reading.
How do you read? A physical book, Kindle, iPhone, etc?
November 14, 2016
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
I'm thrilled to share with you a special compilation of our most popular content from this year. Today, I want to take you on a curated journey through our top selections from the Tech Talk Tuesday blogs, YouTube Bites, and The Screenagers Podcast.
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Today I’ve compiled recommended summer reading for youth, by youth. I had fun reaching out to several thoughtful teens to see what books they would recommend to their peers. They provided many interesting reads: some classics and others that are lesser-known.
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It is important to examine our expectations, hopes, and dreams for our kids’ summer reading and today I share ideas to help create fewer disappointments and a broader view of what reading “success” looks like.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
