Reads too much?
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Anonymous
| My kid is driving me nuts. 4th grade. Obsessively loves to read. So much so that kid is always running late. Will not independently put down a book to eat, get dressed. Can sit on the toilet for literally hours reading. Gets sick in the car reading and does it anyway. I feel like I'm constantly saying put the book down and _____________ just so we can have a normal life and function. Don't get me wrong - I'm glad we don't have the opposite problem. But when do they learn to have some sort of awareness of time and how long they are spacing out when reading? Could this be ADHD? |
Anonymous
Yes, the inattentive kind. I was that kid, and my oldest was that kid (now in college). As an adult, I have burned dinner because I couldn't put my book down - but I'm getting better 
However, it's a nice problem to have, considering what else your kid could be doing. Please give him or her interesting non-ficition and great literature (classics for children), and discuss them together. It will stand them in good stead in school, augment their vocabulary, and help them become better writers. Just tell them not to cross the road while reading. Something my mother had to remind me about multiple times. |
Anonymous
| This is my kid too. Possible me she has inattentive ADHD (other signs and genetic component) but it means she’s reading at a 12th grade level at 9. I often have to physically remove the book from her hands. We have a no reading at meals rule and I try to enforce a no books in the bathroom rule. We also try to get outside as much as possible. |
Anonymous
| Omg, my twin daughters are like that. |
Anonymous
OP here. This is a big thing for us, but apparently there is a pooping issue that requires literature.  There are other signs that we may be dealing with inattentive ADHD, but at this point it isn't affecting her socially or academically. It's just driving everyone nuts!
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Anonymous
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I was also that kid. I never outgrew it. I am still far too addicted to books to the detriment of other parts of my life. When I had kids, I had to take a break from books for me (I read a lot to/with my kids), because I had to make sure my reading habits didn’t cause problems for them. If I forget to eat because I’m immersed in a book, that’s my problem and I can deal with the consequences. I wasn’t about to risk my kids being hungry because I didn’t realize how much time had passed.
Imposing limits is fine and encouraging non-reading activities is great. As PP said, emphasize not crossing the street while reading, and I would add not reading on stairs. Unfortunately, she may never outgrow it and develop an awareness of time. The possible ADHD connection is interesting. I’m 52 years old and gave been wondering, lately, if I might have ADHD. I think it would explain a lot of issues I’ve had over the yesrs. |
Anonymous
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That was me! When I didn’t have books I would read the cereal box, mail, toiletries over and over again.
My mom constantly nagged me to stop reading. I don’t have any advice except just make sure you are providing great reading material. Fwiw I am in my 30s now and have a pretty normal life. |
Anonymous
OP here - YES! She reads everything. Labels on bottles including the ingredients listed on shampoo. Medication instructions from CVS. Cardboard packaging. Thank you. This made me feel better. We just made an appointment with our pediatrician for insomnia she's been experiencing for several months. She can't seem to turn off her brain at night. Kind of like she can't turn off the reading. Should be interesting to see where this goes. |
Anonymous
| My ADHD kid is like this. Could be worse, but the hyper focus is real. |
Anonymous
That’s also common with ADHD - difficulty falling asleep bc your brain won’t turn off. |
Anonymous
| I was like this when I was younger. Totally normal now, still love reading when I have the time. Once I bought a book light at the school fair, hiding it from my parents so I could read under the covers lol. |
Anonymous
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OP, I’m waiting for someone to call this a humblebrag, but I hear you. I have one like this, too (and yes, we’re on a waitlist for an ADHD evaluation).
Agree that there are worse problems to have, and the library saves us. When I take my kid to a bookstore, he’ll find something he likes, then sit down to read the entire thing and get bent out of shape when I suggest we buy it first. |
Anonymous
| DS is like this and does have ADHD. He will also listen to audio books of one book while reading a different one! But like a PP said, his reading level is extraordinary. They stopped measuring it at the end of last year because he’s off the charts. Just absolutely loves books. His writing and vocabulary is also very strong as a result. |
Anonymous
Forgot to add - I do have to force him to stop reading and do other things, especially going to sleep! Otherwise it would never stop. |
Anonymous
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This was me, in hindsight it was ADHD/need for constant stimulation. I stayed this way through high school—would read novels instead of paying attention in class.
Now I am addicted to my phone. |