francene--blog. Year 2013
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June 7th

6/7/2013

 
I read on the BBC News this morning that reading for pleasure is more important to children's successes than education or social class. I'll share my childhood reading experiences and you can draw your own conclusions.

Picturelaptopclipart.com
A new study suggests a child's genetic make-up has only a small role in determining how good they are at reading. Researchers looked at the relationship between children's reading scores and their social background using data from a study of 5,000 children. Children's different genetics tied to reading hardly affected the scores separating their social background.

My family consisted of two separate households—a mother, two sisters as well as me, plus a father and step mother. Back in the 1940's in Australia, we weren't well off. My mother rarely received maintenance and worked part-time to feed and clothe us. However, we made good use of the library. I would walk my two younger sisters there and back, avoiding a certain toy shop where a pedophile would lay in wait to snatch unwary children. I'd escaped once and wouldn't allow it to happen again.


PictureLittle Virginia and older sister Francene playing.
The library was a social place, where children met and talked about the books they were reading. Every now and again, the library would run cartoons and short movies upstairs—the silly old cartoons about Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. I could hardly hear the words above the excited shouting.

This free entertainment must have established our love of books because all three of us are avid readers. Along with my sister Virginia, I write novels. So far, three of my co-written futuristic fantasies have been published by Double Dragon. Solstice Publishing will release the second of my paranormal novels in June. What has made us writers? Virginia says it's because she read so many books she got bored and wanted new material. I guess my reason is similar. I love to create new circumstances and characters.

Our genetic make-up could be classed as scholarly. Although poor in material wealth, my parents were well spoken, intelligent and of good standing. They both did well in later life and lacked for nothing. I inherited my teacher grandmother's science fiction books in my mid-thirties and used them as a diversion from the reality of a difficult marriage. My husband must have been in the early stages of bipolar condition then. I guess all novel reading is a form of escapism. Other manuals teach and early learner books are a great way for children to grasp the concept of the written word linked to imagination.

Since the 1940's, circumstances have changed. Children have access to the internet and mobile phones. Many don't get books from the library. I hope they read for pleasure. It's been proven that reading is more important than education or social class.


Sheri Kaye Hoff link
6/7/2013 04:18:54 am

Great post. My mother always encouraged me to read when I was little- and I have pretty much read a book a day since I was about 5 ... Love the info you provided.

Francene Stanley link
6/7/2013 08:39:53 pm

A book a day is an amazing achievement. I'm lucky if I read one a month. Thanks for your comment.

Samantha link
6/7/2013 04:25:12 am

I was an avid reader when I was young. My mom used to bring a laundry basket to put all of our books in :) When I got grounded, I would get grounded from reading because that's all I did in my spare time. Needless to say, I did everything I could not to get grounded lol I hope to instill the importance of the written word to my children like your parents did for you.

Francene Stanley link
6/7/2013 08:43:00 pm

I think if you read to very small children, you raise their interest in stories. Thank you for contributing with your own experience.

Sheri Conaway link
6/7/2013 05:44:05 pm

I was an avid reader and, in fact, was somewhat of a loner as I often preferred books to people. (I've improved as I've gotten older though). I passed my love of books and literature on to my daughters, and we love our books, both paper and ebooks, these days.

We, too, tend to like to make up stories of our own, though I have not yet gotten any of them to a stage where I'm ready to submit them for publication.

I've also found that readers are drawn to readers as many of my friends also find pleasure and relaxation between the pages of a good book!

In speaking to a co-worker's wife today, she complained that her 4 year old was no longer interested in coloring and imaginary games since he moved from having her read to him to occupying himself with videos. Books really do encourage our creativity and challenge us to expand our minds and dream bigger dreams!

Francene Stanley link
6/7/2013 08:44:41 pm

That's worrying about videos removing the child's creativity. Just goes to show that books stimulate imagination.

Amy link
6/7/2013 09:59:49 pm

Francene, I can still see in my mind's eye the way our little town library looked, where my favorite books were located. I can still smell the bookish smell, and I can see the sweet old lady librarian who sat in state in the middle of the main room, at her desk. We grew up in a very little town and lived only a block away from the town library. It was probably the first place Mom let us go by ourselves. I still dearly love books, and our house is full of them. I'm so thankful that my children are all just as devoted to good books as I am. We don't allow them free-reign to the t.v. or videos or internet, or I don't think it would be this way.

Francene Stanley link
6/8/2013 03:38:38 am

You paint a lovely picture of your local library. I'm sure you're doing the right thing for your children.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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