Video Games

[Anonymous]

Kids are into video games way too much. Tried to encourage more reading and rewards, but it aways comes off as 'work'. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Take away the console and devices?

[Anonymous]

I read to my son at night. He reads to me, too, but I still read to him. He really enjoys that time. Can you do something like that? If you have more than one child, can you do a family reading time?

Also, if your kids like board games at all, how about a family game night?

Moderation and variety.

[Anonymous]

I'm all about bribing my kids, but the downside, the way you are doing it, is that you are making reading seem like the thing that is so terrible you have to reward them to do it.

Make those things fun instead - today we are going to the library and you can each get 10 books and then lunch out and then reading time!

Don't say anything about the video games - just make other stuff sound fun. At least I would try that for a while.

Also, it's summer so it's ok, also, to let them play some.
!

[Anonymous]

No doubt there is some relationship between reading and video games but it is likely much less than many people expect. Our first child was an amazing reader -- as in he would get a new Harry Potter Book and finish it in a day and a half -- or less! He also got into gameboys, Wi, xBox , first person shooter games. Now in college, he reads a great deal of academic stuff for "fun" in his free time but rarely any fiction, preferring to unwind with video games. Second child had little interest in either video games or spending much time reading for pleasure -- outdoors type kid, musician indoors, etc. Same parent, read to them both a great deal as children, etc. both did very well in school, equally bright, very similar test scores. The younger one reads or processed more slowly, but at least equally deeply, and that means reading is just harder and more boring. In high school, he discovered that listening to a book on tape while reading it allowed him to pick up the speed substantially and that made it more engaging. You do what you can as a parent, but ultimately each kid is different.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. I have two boys - the one that loves video games is the one that also reads for pleasure the most. My one that really doesn't love reading and never reads for fun also doesn't like video games. I don't think you can lump those together necessarily.

Some kids like reading, others not as much.

[Anonymous]

Op,

If your kids are elementary ages try reading the book series Land of the Stories by Chris Colfer. My niece ( 10 ) and nephew (8) told me all about them while they were visiting. Maybe a good exciting series would get them interested in books as much as video games. My nephew loves video games and he loved reading them!