Developing Children’s Interest in Reading

Abstract

Librarians have always discussed methods of developing children's interest in reading, but they have focused more on the books being read than on the act of reading. Although many touted the need to "establish the reading habit," a closer reading of the literature reveals that this referred specifically to reading "good books," those which socialized children into culturally acceptable sex roles. As early as 1876, articles warned of the dangers of sensational fiction for both girls and boys. By the 1940s, comic books had replaced sensational fiction as a potential "corrupting influence." Only in the late 1950s did public librarians begin to address the new problem of a reluctance to read at all among children in general and among boys in particular. This paper will examine the effect of gender role expectations on librarians' efforts to promote reading to children in the twentieth century. In particular it will explore the questions of whether these strategies continue to be designed to promote reading literature that reinforces society's gender role expectations and of whether they are designed to promote reading to both boys and girls equally, or whether one group is privileged at the expense of the other.

The Impact of e-Books on Young Children’s Reading Habits

“…According to surveys in America, virtually all children attending kindergarten want to read when they first go to school, but this enthusiasm dies down as they progress through their school lifetime [10]. This argument is reinforced by Stauffer, who states that there is plenty of evidence that children's attitudes toward reading become more negative with age [11]. Therefore even with the advantage of a home environment which is positive about reading, a child may still become a reluctant reader at some stage of their school life.…”

Constructing the literate child: an analysis of Swedish literature policy

“…Using discourse analysis, Stauffer investigates changes in attitudes and practices towards children in public libraries from the late 1900s until the beginning of the next century. 14 Laura Skouvig's study of how the public library user is historically constructed is also noteworthy. Her study shows a bureaucratization of the user that resulted in a division of the population by user groups such as children, youngsters, adults, readers, and non-readers.…”

Children’s reading habits and attitudes

“…As has been discussed above, although many children themselves are aware of the benefits of reading, they may not necessarily be motivated to read as a result. There is plenty of evidence that children's attitudes towards reading become more negative with age (Stauffer, 2007), and even with the advantage of a home environment that is positive about reading a child may still become a reluctant reader at some stage in their life. According to the National Literacy Trust, while self-defined 'non-readers' saw 'readers' as people who are likely to 'do well' and people who are 'intelligent', conversely they also thought that 'readers' are 'geeky ' and 'boring' (National Literacy Trust, 2007).…”