Monday, May 29, 2006

Shannon Hale on Kids Becoming Readers

Confession: Princess Academy is the first and only Shannon Hale book I've read; but I love it and plan to blog about it soon. In drafting the post, I found Shannon Hale's blog. (Not that it was lost or hidden or anything, the link is right there on her website.)

Today's post: 10 Ways Parents (inadvertently) Discourage Their Kids from Being Readers

Go, now, and read it.

I'll wait.

Did you notice what was not on that list?

I know! A post about kids & reading that did not call TV eeevvvviiiiillll. How cool is that?

I have no idea whether or not Shannon watches TV; and truly, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that here's a great post that doesn't bash TV. And, bonus, has great points. Of course, I love that she mentions library visits; but she also mentions reading aloud; and not pressuring kids to read only one type of book (such as the books that the parent loved).

On behalf of those of use who watch TV and read, I say, thank you, Shannon.

Now I'm off to finish King Dork. And to watch a little TV.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

People love easy targets. TV is also being blamed for the rise in childhood obesity (one of the things my office works on). When I asked at a meeting once why, if sedentary TV-watching promotes obesity, sedentary reading doesn't seem to (how many big-time readers do you know who're vastly overweight?), I was met with totally blank stares.

TV is a resource, and just like any resource, there are really great options, and ways to use it, and situations to use it in, and others that don't have as much "value" (however each individual user defines that). And this is coming from someone who's not a big TV watcher - I don't even own one.

Anonymous said...

Hi Liz,

Thanks for this link. I think that it's a great list, and I found the quantity of discussion on Shannon's post particularly encouraging. All these people saying the they like to read children's and young adult books! What a good start to the week.

Chris said...

Pinko Feminist Hellcat has a good post related to childhood obesity:
http://pinkofeministhellcat.typepad.com/pinko_feminist_hellcat/2006/05/but_playing_the.html

Anonymous said...

Hi Liz,

I realized today that I never thanked your for your wonderful contributions to my "cool girls" list. Since you suggested her, Harriet M. Welch has received a number of votes, and is currently tied (admittedly from a very small sample of votes) with Lyra from The Golden Compass and Laura Ingalls. Thanks so much for helping me to make the list more complete! I'm having a lot of fun with it.