The amount of students and children who read for fun is declining. Reading is a skill for people of all ages, particularly for students and children, as it helps build vocabulary and connects readers to the world.
As students grow up, they often have more responsibilities, making it challenging to find time to read.
“I used to read just about every day and would read three books at a time,” senior Audrey Mason said. “Now I just read when I have time, so maybe once a month.”
The COVID-19 pandemic is also a factor in the decrease in reading. During the lockdown, many people turned to social media instead of books.
“Since COVID, I have noticed a decline in the amount of people who read, including myself,” school librarian Lee Toussant said.
Students express frustration with school reading assignments. They often find assigned books to be long, old, and difficult to relate to.
“I feel like schools give us so many books that are so boring, but it just made me done with reading,” senior Samantha Saalfrank said. “I would definitely read more if I were able to choose the books I read for English classes.”
When reading is assigned, it can feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable activity. Toussant advocates for allowing students to choose their reading material, suggesting it could lead to greater engagement.
“Choosing a book to read gives students more ownership and might give them a little leverage to be able to finish the book,” Toussant said.
The prevalence of smartphones affects reading habits as well. Many believe that smartphones provide sufficient entertainment, negatively impacting attention spans.
“Phones have shortened everyone’s attention span,” Toussant said. “It is so easy to get that dopamine rush just by scrolling through Instagram.”
Not only are phones entertaining, but they also can be addicting.
“My phone has a big impact on how often I read because I am way more addicted to scrolling than reading,” Mason said.
Educators encourage students to incorporate reading into their daily routines, even if just for a few minutes. Developing a reading habit can enhance focus and improve mental health.
