By Matilda Trudgett
In an age of tech-toddlers and iPad kids, I wonder if kids today even know what “doggy-earring” a book means. As screen time surges among the next generation, is reading books becoming a dying art?
Reading is a skill we are taught in our early childhood that lays the foundation for a myriad of other abilities we develop as we transition into adulthood. Currently, a third of Australian children aren’t reading at an adequate level.
Children who don’t learn to read proficiently in their early childhood are more likely to fall behind their peers and drop out of school, resulting in a higher likelihood of issues with things such as employment later in life.
Primary school teacher Chris Trudgett has noticed a visible decline in students’ reading habits over the past few years.
“It wouldn’t be unusual to see students reading at lunchtime four or five years ago, but I don’t think I’ve seen that in recent times,” Trudgett said.
Although reading digitally has its own benefits, the way we absorb information read digitally is much more surface level than reading words from a physical medium such as a book — especially in young children, as evidence suggests physical reading is linked to higher comprehension.
A UNSW survey of 2000 teachers found that 80 per cent have noticed a decline in focus among students in recent times.
“Concentration stamina appears to be lacking when children are faced with a longer text or a chapter book,” Trudgett said. “I feel social media formats of short, sharp texts (video included) have eroded the ability to maintain focus over longer periods of time.”
The integration of digital tools into the reading curriculum is inevitable, and it can be a positive if utilised in conjunction with traditional reading.
The task is figuring out how to balance the two and keep young children engaged with print reading.
“Read what you are interested in,” Trudgett said. “If everyone is reading the latest JK Rowling book but you prefer learning about lizards, read a book about lizards.
“You should be enjoying or interested in what you read not just following the crowd.”
Featured image: Kids today are losing touch with the wonders of bookstores and libraries. Photos: Matilda Trudgett