Would you restrict time spent on reading? How?

[Anonymous]

7-yo DS likes to read, mostly Star Wars and mystery books. Recently he's been reading longer and longer every day, and sometimes would read one hour straight if we didn't stop him. Obviously i don't want to discourage him from reading, but for the health of his eyes and for the balance of activities, i wonder if there could be a reasonable and well-intended limit on his reading, and how to go about it. please share your thoughts/experience if you've considered something similar before. tks.

[Anonymous]

I would never limit reading and I think it's a myth that it can harm his eyes. I might consider whether overall he was getting enough exercise and exposure to other activities-- but if he was, for example, on a soccer team or taking swim lessons or something else that involved some running around once or twice a week, then I would just leave him alone.

[Anonymous]

An hour straight is nothing to worry about. Just make sure he gets time to be outside (when the weather permits), play with other kids, and do creative things at home, too. If it's getting in the way of chores or homework, make him do those things first. Otherwise, enjoy your reader!

[Anonymous]

This is my dream problem with my 7 yo. I know a kid who hangs out in the locked bathroom so she won't be bothered about her reading.

[Anonymous]

Turn on the TV -- a steamy soap opera or a DVD of "Oz."

That should help break him of this dangerous reading habit.

[Anonymous]

One hour?? I used to read for three and four hours straight at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never limit reading and I think it's a myth that it can harm his eyes. I might consider whether overall he was getting enough exercise and exposure to other activities-- but if he was, for example, on a soccer team or taking swim lessons or something else that involved some running around once or twice a week, then I would just leave him alone.

Vision Facts and Myths
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/vision_facts_myths.html
Myth: Sitting too close to the TV is bad for the eyes.

Myth: If you cross your eyes, they'll stay that way.

Myth: If parents have poor eyesight, their kids will inherit that trait.

Myth: Eating carrots can improve vision.

Myth: Computer use can damage the eyes.

Myth: Two blue-eyed parents can't produce a child with brown eyes.

Myth: Only boys can be color-blind.

Myth: The eye is full size at birth.

Myth: Wearing glasses too much will make the eyes "dependent" on them.

[Anonymous]

Seriously? No, you should not limit reading. Ever. (Although he should have a proper bedtime - so maybe to go to bed.)

[Anonymous]

Where do you get this idea that it's going to hurt his eyes?

As long as he's getting enough sleep and getting his other chores/homework/activities done, I wouldn't put a limit on it. An hour is nothing. You must not read, other than this crap on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously? No, you should not limit reading. Ever. (Although he should have a proper bedtime - so maybe to go to bed.)

I disagree. DD is an avid reader at 7 (almost 8). She would love to read instead of doing her spelling or math homework. I require her to do the others first or else she will never learn to add/subtract!

But, other than getting necessary things done (getting dressed, eating, other homework), I do not limit her reading.

[Anonymous]

I would push his head into the book and rub it really hard into the page whenever I found him reading. I would also talk disparagingly about "book smarts" being a waste of time. Buy him a knife and send him on a gun-safety course. Teach him to trap animals.

[Anonymous]

I would not limit reading unless it interfered with homework completion, family responsibilities or caused social problems. It doesn't sound like that's the case so go ahead!

When my oldest really started reading avidly it did start to interfere because she would be reading at inopportune times (just before dinner, when it was time to go out, etc) and then get huffy when we asked her to stop. We decided to treat it as another activity and built an interrupted block of time into her day.

[Anonymous]

My parents limited my sister starting at age 9 to no more than 5 hours of reading on school days and no more than 10 hours on non school days because her reading interfered with eating and sleeping. But an hour? Not a problem in the slightest.

[Anonymous]

My son is 6 and I do have to put an end to nighttime reading. I let him stay up reading as late as he wanted over the summer and it was a hard habit to break once school started. I put him to bed around 8pm and then I turn the lights out at 9pm. Otherwise, he would read until 11pm or so.

[Anonymous]

We limit my 8 yr olds reading...she would read 24/7 if we let her. There is no reading at meals, during homework time, during family time, during snack/playtime - she has to go play outdoors for a bit. She has to do her chores and she has to read in the family room - I don't want her alone in her room all day. We also set a limit that she stop reading 30 minutes before bedtime. Basically reading comes after anything else is done for her.