francene--blog. Year 2013
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Sept 12th

9/12/2013

 
Picturecamelshump.co.uk
Children who read for pleasure are likely to do better in maths and English than those who rarely read in their free time.

The study, by the Institute of Education, London University, examined the reading habits of 6,000 children. They analyzed the results of tests taken at the age of 16 by 6,000 children, all born in one week, from the 1970 British Cohort Study.

This seems a long time ago. I wonder if the same results would apply to children of our age. So many changes have taken place, with computers, more television, and hand-held screens. I notice Amazon are showing children reading from kindles in their latest television advertising.

The result of the study indicated reading for pleasure was more important to a child's development than how educated their parents were. The researchers concluded a wide vocabulary helped children absorb information across the curriculum.

The findings showed readers at the age of 10, who had been reading books and newspapers more than once a week right through to age 16, performed better than those who had read less. Read More.


Picturewww.telegraph.co.uk
The Institute of Education also looked at the impact on test scores of having brothers and sisters. Youngsters with older siblings were less likely to do well, particularly in vocabulary. This could be because children in larger families spend less time talking one-to-one with their parents and have less chance to develop their vocabulary skills. There was less effect on older children, although they may score lower on vocabulary.

Once again, studies show the likelihood of a strong reading ability enabling children to absorb and understand new information and affect their attainment in all subjects.

The next study should be how to interest potential gangsters in reading for pleasure. Here, I think parenting skills could play an adverse role in setting bad models of behavior. Not always, though. My children loved to read and developed high IQ's. Yet one of them turned to crime. So, far be it for me to judge other parents. I know the heartache and the shame it can cause when your child throws off everything you have taught them.

Here are excerpts from letters written over several years before my son's death at age 28 years:


I am still the same son you know. I am just harder of heart and more callous toward the world and its contents. It may not help my afterlife, but I now have a place in this one. My only real enemies are those in blue, and because I have really long hair, they don't even like the look of me. [...]

[...another...]I thank you for all the time you patiently spent bringing me up. I thank you for loving me through all the times when perhaps you didn't feel like it. And last but more important, I thank you for the side of my personality which just loves, and is seen by everyone no matter what I am up to, where I am, or what I am doing. I know also, that some of this was naturally in me, but, like my artwork, it was carefully matured so as one day both may have a chance to play their parts in my life.

Yours with great love and adoration, [...].


Ray link
9/11/2013 10:38:07 pm

I have to say I am not really surprised by the this information, but rather find it reinforcing to my personal core believes. I just wish as an adult, I had more free time to read for pleasure as I had when I was a kid.

Francene Stanley link
9/12/2013 03:14:20 am

The information comes as no surprise, does it? Reading is good for everyone.

A Dose of Dannie link
9/11/2013 10:46:18 pm

Agree with this post! My teen who is 14 ~ she read many many books loves English and her vocabulary at times is better then mine lol :-)

Francene Stanley link
9/12/2013 03:15:17 am

The best thing about reading is that it makes you want to know what words mean.

Kristen from The Road to Domestication link
9/11/2013 10:52:48 pm

I agree wholeheartedly! I wonder if there are any studies being done as far as development differences in kids who read actual hard-copy books and those who read on an electronic reading device?

Francene Stanley link
9/12/2013 03:16:29 am

I guess that's to come in the future. Too few children would have a reading device available at the moment.

Suerae Stein link
9/12/2013 10:56:26 am

Francene, I am so sorry to hear of your son's death at such a young age. His letters are so heartfelt and honest. So sad.

I do wonder at reading for pleasure when it comes to boys. I find the books for young adult readers these days (specifically those that cater to boys) to be filled with dark content and violence and tragedy. My son lost interest in reading for fun when he entered high school, so a short time after the Harry Potter series. It was difficult to find books that suited him.

Francene Stanley link
9/12/2013 06:54:06 pm

That's a real problem. I hope you find a solution, Suerae.


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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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