Reading the future of the youth today

I remember my mom reading to me when I was young. And thanks to her I love reading and would not like to give it up for anything in this world. Parents today would rather give their child an expensive toy rather than spend time reading to them. The television has replaced the storytelling time for children. I asked my mom what happened to all the books she used to read to me and she told me we read them so much that it became all torn and tattered cuase she used to sit between me & my sis and read to us and we both kept pulling the book to see the pcitures. I want to pass that on to my children cuase the love of books is really important and more constructive as compared to just watch television.

I'm 19 years old and my parents always read to me when I was very young, because from a very young age I was adept with language, letters and words. I have a very high reading a writing intelligence, which was off the chart for most of my school life, and I fully intend to read to my chidren, if I have any, from one year old onward. Reading means the world to me, and being smart when it comes to language and writing has made my life a lot easier than it could have been. I admit, I was born with this talent, and I don't expect my child to be a language prodigy like I was, but I still believe that reading to them, and introducing language early to them, is one of the number one most important intellectual choices a parent can make for their child. Interesting topic, thanks for that.

This has become a real problem for educators. I seriously disagree with the viewpoint of the person who answered here and blames the problems on the teachers. Not true in most cases. Reading to your children is the most beneficial thing you can do for them. You're teaching them listening skills, vocabulary, comprehension, as well as exposing them to things outside of their own lives. You're setting an example for them by making time to read. You're showing them that reading is important. You're helping them get inthe habit of reading each day. When they start reading themselves, they'll spend more time practicing which is the only way a child can become a better reader. Being a good reader is crucial both in school and in adult life. I had a teen-aged foster son who was humiliated when we went out to eat, because he couldn't read the menu or sign boards. He'd developed the habit of waiting until someone else ordered and then saying, "I'll have the same thing."

I read to my children and they love it. My son tells me that I am the best reader since I make it interesting and animated. Now since he is 10 our interests are changing and I don't like to read the books he enjoys but I still read to him sometimes.

today as the world has become more competetive, children do have to live their own life.They should not depend up their parents.from parents point of view, they have to look after the family, children's educational expenses etc.Hence the children should have their own responsibility.It is no point in blaming the parents.

My Mum never read to me nor my Dad. For the very reason being there were 12 of us nad lots of littles feet clamouring around her. I and my husband both read to our son.He loves it can't read enough. We're not a reading type of couple but we do it because we see the benefit it will have on our son.

I must admit alot of days i seem to busy to spend alot of quality time with my kids but i almost make sure they don't spend too much time with the tv my 16 yo reads and writes poems so we do alot of that together and my 6 yo is learning to read so we love to get a book and work the words out together . I lot of parents have kids but they don't raise them anymore they let the tv's and computers. Everyone needs to spend as much time as possible with their kids the little ways means as much as alot of time sometimes.

no not all youth today. there are still youths that are God fearing and has social awareness. it depends really on the family that has nurtured them

Reading to kids, i think an essential part of their learning, during the formative years.Certainly agree that it gives them an edge in school, as education at home is easily grasped by the tender minds. Another reason to read to kids is that it preserves and nurtures the human bond we share.

Parents being occupied with work is not an excuse. What you said is exactly right...parents would rather sit the kids in front of the tv than interact with them. That's why kids have horrible vocabularies, can't read, and hate to read. When I was little, both my parents worked 7-5 jobs and I was in daycare. But my mom read to me EVERY NIGHT before I went to bed. She worked her butt off all day, came home just to cook and clean, but she still spent time with me. A lot of people these days are having kids when they are still a bit too selfish to truly devote themselves to their kids. Parenting isn't just about keeping the kids fed and alive. You have to talk to your child, interact. Just talking to you kids and reading to them can boost the child's intelligence. You don't need to read them algebraic equations while they are in the womb, just treat them like people and talk to them.

my kid is only 1year old. i have to wait to read with him. but yes i agree to u that parents are so bussy now days with their work that they hardly spend time with their children. for giving a good upbringing to my child i also want to learn some good tips if you have. i am a house wife and spend almost whole day with my child.

I do not have any children, but I recognize the need for literacy. Too many people spend too much time in front of televisions and video games. I'd be proud of my child, if what they did in front of a computer was to spend time in a format like Mylot here. At least they'd be reading, learning about other people's opinions, learning things, and communicating. Reading is so important because it expands our minds in so many ways: improved vocabulary, improved basic knowledge, exposes us to other viewpoints, helps with critical thinking, helps with writing skills... Parents in today's world, just aren't doing enough--and it's not all the parents fault. Economic conditions and society's obvious lack of direction have a lot to do with it. We all could read a little bit more.

Infact history is a great predictor of the future, its better to get a lesson from the history

I think its the best gift a parent can give to their child, read them a story or a faritale.It all you describe and it helps the children to bee better readers themselves.

when i was younger, my mom always reads to me books or stories. it helps me expand my creativity and puts my brain to work and imagine things. these days, television had been so much a part of human's life that it has already replaced the reading habits of a parent to his/her child. i don't find television learning materials to be better than the old classic way of teaching kids these days. that's why most children today are less brainy than us who were raised the old classic way of learning before. i hope parents still find time to have an hour or two of reading sessions with their kids. it's where kids learn more about life especially when they can ask questions and get answers from their parents straight away. it's one good way of making the parent-child bond stronger, too emotionally and physically.

You are totally right. I read to my son when he was a baby and beyond. I taught him how to read..spell and everything..so when he started school he had no problems. To this day..he is smart, outgoing, and a whiz at math...so I think that teaching them early is the key...

well thats a good idea on how to handle kids...parents i believe is the first teacher do you??(believe) so its in us plays a great role in molding them during their childhood...tvs and video games are rampant now ..we must do something about it...try to schedule on the viewing and playing , give jsut a small percentage on this part..give lots of time on the studying part and if theyre young enough reading before sleeping is a very good idea..

Is good to provide the youth with every that will be to they life so that it will help them to be focus

I started reading to my daughter since she was about 3 months old. I loved my time spent reading to her, it was so enjoyable. And she loved books, looking at all the pictures and listening to the stories. And once she learned how to read herself, she became an avid reader. She has always done very well in school, and I think the fact that she likes to read has a lot to do with that.

This is a good food for thoughts. in today's hi-tech age we hardly get chance to read to their child. i do recal when i was little and my parents used to read and tell me the story, which later become my everyday habit. till today i love reading and writing. i had ver little kid of four month old. i have alread bought some bookd which xcan be read and they are very interesting too. i surel y love to read to my child. basically this will give them a chance to come out from television culture, which i don't like at all. it is true that sometime tv is helpful. that fully depends your home culture when and how much your child will expose to TV. i think everybody should try to read to their child and don't give up the habit of story telling to your kid.