How To Encourage The Young Readers Around You. . . And The Reader In You

There are few things that get me really mad/sad in life that I actually think I can do something about, which, of course, could turn into a blog post in and of itself. But for now, we're going to focus on just one of those things: the lack of joy for reading.

Reading is something in life that I am quite passionate about, one, because how can you not be passionate about something you love, and two, because when you know something is beneficial, and it seems like no one else does, wouldn't you want to enlighten them?

When people love something and are passionate about that thing, they're constantly talking about it, like how newlyweds are constantly talking about each other, or how someone who loves their job is constantly talking about work. And so, it shouldn't surprise you that one of my favorite things to talk about is books, I mean, I am a writer, so it's expected that I should be in love with books, right?

But really, anyone who knows me, especially people who are with me on a regular basis, knows I love talking about books. When someone mentions books (or Marvel movies but we can talk about that later) my eyes light up and I'm instantly paying very close attention to what they're saying. (Unless it's Harry Potter. Nothing personal against people who like the overly famous book series, but it's just. . . not my cup of tea.)

So if you want to get a very long text from me, just ask me for book recommendations!

And when someone tells me they don't enjoy reading, or that they in fact don't even like books (because I can kinda understand not liking the actual process of reading, but not even liking books?!?) I am very distressed, just like someone who loves dogs would be distressed if they were told that dogs are worthless and boring and serve no purpose.

When I see the people, especially the young people, around me falling farther and farther away from the love of reading, I'm sad not only because I myself love reading, but because I believe reading is one of the greatest gifts God has given us. His very Word is a book, which requires reading, and is the greatest story ever told.

If we don't have a love for reading, how are we going to love reading God's Word?

A New Generation

What really saddens me is that kids these days know more about video games and television shows than books, and the beautiful worlds that can be shared through books that are so much more real than the latest videogame skins and all that junk.

It is very rare for me to ask a ten year-old what they do in their free time, and for their answer to be reading. And yet my greatest love as an elementary kid and middle schooler was reading. What did I want for my birthday? Books. For Christmas? Books. What did I want to do in my free time? Read books.

Everything was about books for me, and I ended up reading so much that my mom had a hard time supplying me with books, since I was both a frequent reader, and a very fast reader. Even my school revolved totally around reading.

And when kids I talk to very infrequently, if ever, read a book of their own will, I feel like they're missing out.

But, how can we encourage these kids, and sometimes even young adults, to love reading? It's not like it's something that happens overnight and they all of a sudden want to read, nor is it something that can be forced upon them, which is the biggest problem I think.

You Can Not Force A Love For Reading

Let me say that one more time: you can not force a child to love to read, you can't make them want to pick up a book, and yet this is constantly happening. In schools, there is required reading, assigned books, and limited selections for those books. And this is ruining the love for reading.

The second you tell a child, particularly a strong-willed child, to read a book, they will automatically not want to read said book. Or if you force them to read for a certain amount of time, they will hate reading during that time. Because love has to be voluntary, and so the love of reading must also be a child's own choice.

This is the most important aspect of encouraging young readers: let it be their choice.

Now, I know this can not always be the case. You can't just let your kids run gallivanting through the library pulling any books off the shelves, because there are, unfortunately, a lot of bad things out there. But you can still give them a myriad of choices that are set within parameters.

You can also do this with children who wouldn't run gallivanting through a library even if you let them because they just won't read anything. Give them three options, and let them choose one. Or have a shelf on your bookcase that they can pick whatever book they want from, but they still have to pick one. That way, a strong-willed child will still feel like they have control, and you will be getting them to read.

Audiobooks

Just to be clear, when I say read, I mean either read a literal, physical book OR listen to an audiobook. Both are reading, both enhance the imagination, and both teach valuable language skills, and grammar skills.

Yes, I realize that you kinda have to be able to read to get by in school, and being able to read well can get you by very well in school, but some people will never pick up a new book if it means they have to read. Reading, in the physical, words-on-a-paper, way, is not everyone's cup of tea, but that doesn't mean you can't have a love for books and words.

Some people don't want to, or aren't good at, reading, and so they think they don't like books. Maybe that's you. If it is, please, please, try listening to audiobooks, especially audiobooks with good narrators. (And if you need a recommendation, Romanov by Nadine Brandes has an amazing narrator. . . in a Russian accent. . . and it's literally so fun to listen to - and a super good book anyways!)

The amazing thing about audiobooks is that you can do something while listening, like fold laundry, wash dishes, clean your room, or even workout. That way the people who think they don't have enough time to read because they're too busy don't have an excuse anymore.

And, audiobooks are in no way inferior to physical books and "literal" reading. Actually, they are in ways more beneficial to your brain because they don't skip anything. When you're reading, especially if you're a fast reader like I am, you skip over so many words. For example, whoever actually reads the word "said"? Your brain just jumps over it.

With audiobooks, your brain can't do that. You have to listen to every single word of the book, the correct pronunciation of those words, and the correct intonation and inflection.

So if you're only physically reading books, you are most likely missing out on a lot of the benefits of listening to those same books, especially if you're an audible learner. Audible learners trying to read a book? That will never be fun, or enjoyable, or educational for them. But listening, on the other hand, could be the most satisfying part of their day.

That said, reading does have its own benefits, like subconsciously teaching your brain spelling and grammar, so there should be a balance between the two. But if the people around you aren't willingly picking up books, give them audiobooks.

When I got my younger brother into audiobooks, he started finishing books before me, and being so excited about them that he would spoil them for me because he just couldn't stop talking about them. And now, he's constantly asking me for more and more audiobooks so that he doesn't have to listen to Lord of the Rings again.

And Now. . . You

So now we come to you. Maybe you're an avid reader like myself, and maybe you're not. If you're not, can I ask, what is stopping you?

Of all the answers I get to that question, time is the most common one, and if that's the answer for you, I get it. There are times when I barely have time to read, and reading is my absolute favorite pastime. A friend asked me if I'm ever bored, and I'm never bored. Ever. There are too many books to be read and not enough time, like I said.

But, I believe time can be found, especially for books that are eternally significant. The Bible is one book that cannot be pushed to the wayside. Ever. It's too important. If the only book you're picking up is the Bible, I would applaud you as a reader who is choosing the only book that really matters.

Next time you can't find anything to do though, don't scroll through YouTube. Pick up a book, please. Or listen to a book while you walk the dog. Or as you wash the dishes, instead of music.

The key to this is finding a genre of books that you love. Find that niche of books that get you so excited that you can't wait to drive to the grocery tomorrow just so you can press play on that book again.

God gave us words, and imaginations, and books are beautiful combinations of the two. You're missing out on so much if you don't even give them a chance.