Poll: Did your parents read to you? Do you think that's affected your reading?

starlettedir · August 2010

I think from day one my parents read to me. When I started reading I read to them every night. I've always been a bookworm.

DH doesn't really recall his parents reading to him or reading to them. I think in the 5 years we've been married(and the 2.5 of dating/engaged) I've seen him only start one book and he never finished.

Do you think what you were exposed to reading wise made a difference? He's kinda floored at all the books that are on the registry. I don't think there is enough LOL

He's also shocked that I had to do pages from workbooks during the summer every morning before I could play. I've said I fully intend on doing this with our kiddo.

CallMeKel · August 2010

I absolutely feel that the two correlate significantly. There is tons of research to back that up as well!

My parents read to me as a child and I have always LOVED reading. I often read a novel straight through in the course of 1-2 nights. I also SAW my parents (mom especially) reading growing up so they were always modeling.

Luckily, Kendall LOVES books and reading and will often times choose to just go in her room and "read" (vs. play with toys, etc).

I LOVE READING!

kat.in.the.hat · August 2010

If you've read Freakanomics (love it) they say that it's not actually reading to your child that will encourage their love of books, it's that they see you reading. Of course, parents that read on their own are also more likely to read to their kids, but the foundation is laid when kids see their parents reading.

My parents never really read to me (that I remember), except daily devotionals, but they have always, always had books and been avid readers.

We never read to Marion when she was tiny, in fact, I don't think we really read to her until she was probably over a year old and could bring us books to read to her. She's a huge bookworm now though and I think it has as much to do with her seeing us always reading as it does the amount we've actually read to her.

Cajun_gal · August 2010

Pretty sure I was read to as a child... I enjoyed reading when I was in middle school and part of high school. I hate reading now though! I think if I didn't feel like I had a million other things to do, I'd enjoy it more as I could just sit back and read and not worry about other things. Instead, I need more instant gratification like movies. We read to Dylan every night and sometimes during the day, and I'm sure the amount will read will go up as he gets older. I really hope he'll enjoy reading.

Nanner · August 2010

kat.in.the.hat:

If you've read Freakanomics (love it) they say that it's not actually reading to your child that will encourage their love of books, it's that they see you reading. Of course, parents that read on their own are also more likely to read to their kids, but the foundation is laid when kids see their parents reading.

I think this is true, for the most part.

However it's also going to be different for every kid. I have 2 cousins who are brother and sister, both of whom were read to as young kids and whose parents read a lot. One is an avid reader, the other one would rather be playing sports.

starlettedir · August 2010

Both of my parents were very and still are avid readers. The stack of books by my bathtub is insane.

lilycat · August 2010

Absolutely. Not only reading to us, but our parents reading themselves made a difference. Books were a hobby in our house. Reading was modeled.

Seeing plays often made a big impact as well.

Not having cable (when it wasn't invented) or after it was available made me watch too much PBS. From Metropolitan Opera to Masterpiece Theater to Frontline: that was a big impact on me as a young person. Random fact generators are made that way.

thumpofmyheart · August 2010

kat.in.the.hat:

If you've read Freakanomics (love it) they say that it's not actually reading to your child that will encourage their love of books, it's that they see you reading. Of course, parents that read on their own are also more likely to read to their kids, but the foundation is laid when kids see their parents reading.

My parents never really read to me (that I remember), except daily devotionals, but they have always, always had books and been avid readers.

We never read to Marion when she was tiny, in fact, I don't think we really read to her until she was probably over a year old and could bring us books to read to her. She's a huge bookworm now though and I think it has as much to do with her seeing us always reading as it does the amount we've actually read to her.

This exactly! My mom didn't read that much to us but she was ALWAYS reading! She loved mysteries and I remember her reading a lot of agatha chrisite. My sister and brother don't like to read as much as I do so I do think some of it is inate but obviously parents influence. I read to DD and she sees me mostly read magazines since I read books when she's asleep. It is the cutest thing to watch her pick up my magazines and leaf though them the way I do

KellyMichelle · August 2010

My mom always read to me and always reads. I think that really showed me that reading was important from the very beginning. I have always made it a point to read to DS and for us to have reading time. He LOVES books and started reading on his own at 4.5 years old.

PAGAS · August 2010

kat.in.the.hat:

If you've read Freakanomics (love it) they say that it's not actually reading to your child that will encourage their love of books, it's that they see you reading. Of course, parents that read on their own are also more likely to read to their kids, but the foundation is laid when kids see their parents reading.

DH just finished Superfreakanomics and was saying we could ditch F's carseat...lordy. I have to read it soon.

I grew up read to a ton and I read a ton. We read to F a lot, she is obsessed with books.

CareBear01 · August 2010

I don't particually remember my parents reading to us. My mom would always read magazines before bed, so I do remember that. I was a HUGE reader up until 8th grade (in fact, I think I was the 2nd highest reader in our 8th grade class - they tracked it b/c we were supposed to take little quizzes after each book for prizes). Once I got into high school, where we were assigned required reading, I stopped reading for pleasure. I started doing more outdoor activities (horse back riding, drill team, etc.) so reading went by the wayside. I like reading, but sadly I am too busy (or too worn out by the end of the day) to read much anymore.

chrisbride04 · August 2010

My parents read to me alot and I know it played a major part in being an avid reader as a child. While my parents didn't read alot themselves, my mom spent alot of time taking us to the library to choose books and to bookstores and we were always encouraged to read. I think it also helped that my elem school offered incentives for reading a certain number of books. The school where I teach has such a reading program and I know alot of kids would not be reading much otherwise b/c they are not read to at home.

I attended a Reading conference recently for school and they gave us a statistic that was something like children are 80% more successful in school when they are read to beginning in infancy/toddlerhood. (I know that's not worded exactly like the presenter gave it, but hopefully you get the point.)

DS loves to be read to, and also to pretend to read to us by using the pictures to tell the story.

luckygirl07 · August 2010

My mom read to us constantly as kids. She loves reading and is always reading in her spare time. My sister is an avid reader now, and I HATE reading books.

AggieDee · August 2010

kat.in.the.hat:

If you've read Freakanomics (love it) they say that it's not actually reading to your child that will encourage their love of books, it's that they see you reading. Of course, parents that read on their own are also more likely to read to their kids, but the foundation is laid when kids see their parents reading.

I agree. My parents never read to me as a child. But my dad read the newspaper front to cover every single day. My oldest brother and I are huge bookworms and always have been. My other brother could care less if he ever read another book.

I started reading to Jackson every night when he turned a year. He loves books and asks to read them all the time. He even insists on sleeping with his books and likes to read them to sissy.

jen091303 · August 2010

My father always read to me growing up and he loves to read. I enjoyed reading when I was little but now I hate to read.

LisaK2b · August 2010

DH and my parents didn't read to us. And we both don't like to read. I don't think they read that much, but my mom was a big magazine/newspaper reader. Well..DH likes to read computer and financial magazines and I like to read gossip mags. The only books that I have read in the last 5 years were the twilight series. And wanted to read more but didn't find anything after that that caught my interest.

We read to Emmy every night (she gets 3 books a night..she always ask for more, but we limit it or the night would never end). The girl loves to be read to, but who knows how she'll be when she's a teenager and chit chatting on the phone/texting or something.

With that said, I still think it depends on the kid. My grandparents never read to my aunts and ALL of them LOVE reading. They read a new book every week. So who knows...

RosesRRed · August 2010

It can be taken too far though. I see my parents reading so much that life is passing them by. They never have time to do anything but they do not work or have a social life. They just read all day everyday. I always thought it was so sad that they were living life through the stories they read instead of actually participating.

I did not enjoy reading books for a long time because I did not want to be like my parents. I have learned that I am in charge of the balance I need and can read and live life at the same time. They still read all day everyday but I have came to realize that is the way they want to live and I just have to accept it.

Katieraye09 · August 2010

My parents read to me a lot when I was little. (my Mom is also a retired reading teacher...30 years) My parents are both big readers and I was up until high school. I have tried to pick reading back up over the last year or two but I can't get into it. If I do read, it's only my trash magazines.

DH has never been a reader. I'm not sure if his parents read to him or not....

Tyler has just recently started bringing books for me to read to him. Honestly, I haven't really read him books since he was 6 months old...mostly due to the fact that he won't sit still long enough to even look at the pictures! Lately he's been sitting in my lap and we've been reading, which I love!

ayersfam20 · August 2010

My parents read to us a ton when we were kids. I have always loved books. I started reading at age 4 and was reading chapter books by Kindergarten. My little sister was the same way and we both still love to read. My older brother was a late reader and never did read for pleasure.

DH and I both read for pleasure all of the time - we usually sit down at night and on the weekends and read and DD sees us doing so. I have also always read to DD and she has a huge bookshelf full of books.

She will be 6 in September and really has no interest in reading. She can read at the level she is supposed to be able to for her age (she just started 1st grade), but is nowhere near the level my sister or I were at when we were her age. She likes to be read to, and she's ok with sitting down and reading, but she doesn't love it. She would much rather sit and draw then sit and read. So, I really think it has more to do with the child than whether or not you read or read to them.

Suzi-G- · August 2010

Both of my parents read to us when we were little, though it was mostly my mom. They also both read constantly, reading was a hobby in our house. Even though my dad is dyslexic and reads slowly he's always reading at least one book, mom has stacks and stacks, and they both still read the newspaper every day.

I'm not sure if DH was read to as a child, I will have to ask him. He is NOT a reader though. He reads lots of stuff online but I don't think he has the attention span for books or much interest in fiction. Both of his sisters are readers though, so I think his lack of interest has more to do w/ his personality than anything his parents did or did not do.

I don't currently read much for pleasure mostly because in my field of work I read ALL day EVERY day. My eyes and brain are tired at night. That and because I am an editor I have trouble turning the "editing" portion of my brain off. If I can't read without catching all the little errors, reading "fluff" fiction will drive me crazy.

darva · August 2010

I don't remember my parents ever reading to us... But my dad read every night before bed. I love to read. I can read several books a week if I have the time.

I've read to all of my kids once they were old enough to really get it. Start small and we move up to more complex books. Micaela LOVED to be read to as a kid, we read a story every night... She HATES to read. lol I literally have to force her to sit down with a book and have a 'no electronics' night/hour whatever for her to read. Kaitlyn still loves to be read to and loves "reading" to us. I hope this evolves to her loving to read, because Micaela struggles with reading assignments in school now, since she dislikes it so much.

aprilprincess · August 2010

CallMeKel:

I absolutely feel that the two correlate significantly. There is tons of research to back that up as well!

My parents read to me as a child and I have always LOVED reading. I often read a novel straight through in the course of 1-2 nights. I also SAW my parents (mom especially) reading growing up so they were always modeling.

Luckily, Kendall LOVES books and reading and will often times choose to just go in her room and "read" (vs. play with toys, etc).

I LOVE READING!

Ditto! I read everywhere, while eating, blowdrying my hair, when I was a kid I remember reading in the shower! you just had to hold the book far out.

Yesterday was a really awesome moment. Addie was at my sisters and discovered the book, "the monster at the end of this book." It was all our favorites when we were kids, my mom got so tired of it she tried to throw it away but we always rescued it. My sister is 9 years older then me and I remember her reading it to me. Addie loved hearing her do the voice for Grover yesterday, she was dying in a fit of giggles. Last night at home we found the old copy of ours (it's about 40 years old)held together with packing tape. Addie insisted on reading it at bedtime and it didn't loose any of it's hilarity each time we read it. It just made me so happy to share it with her.

nsouplynn · August 2010

Nope, my parents never read to me during my whole childhood. Probably because they didn't speak English very well. My dad is pretty fluent in English though but I don't ever recall him reading to me. I don't know how it all started but I do love reading books though. I think I depended on books to help me with my English since it was my second language.

KKMMex · August 2010

My mom read to us, but one of the things I remember most is her going to the library and choosing books for me when I was little. She'd bring them home and it was always such a surprise to see which ones she picked out. I loved it!

When I got older she'd take me to the library and drop me off for an hour so I could pick out my own books. To this day I love love love the library and I make it a point to go there with the girls for Story Time and so we can check out books together.

kreeper611 · August 2010

I'm on the fence with this. My mom read to both my sister and I. I could read all day if work would allow it...but they make me work.

My sister hates to read. Hates it. In the past 10 years she's only read the HP books and Twilight books. I bet I've read several hundred books in that amount of time, if not more.

So...I think it's part of your parents reading to you, but part of it just happens.

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