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Do your tween/teen DCs still read books?

22 replies

SushiSheep · 15/04/2024 11:34

10yr old DC here who still loves books. Currently got about 4 on the go, and took a couple away with him last week on holiday.

Will this last?!

OP posts:
MassiveOvaryaction · 15/04/2024 11:46

14yo ds reads less often than he used to during term time (not daily any more) but still very keen. Holidays will get through loads of books (took 3 on a 3 day camping trip recently and finished them the day before coming home!). Has a Kindle but actually prefers real books.

PuttingDownRoots · 15/04/2024 11:48

Two DDs, nearly 13 and 11.

Both read loads. DD2 especially... her class teacher is constantly on the look out for extra books for her. DD1 reads more slowly.

SallyWD · 15/04/2024 11:54

DD is 13. She used to read but sadly not anymore. It's all about the phone and communicating with her friends.
DS is 11 and reads intermittently.

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ErnestCelendine · 15/04/2024 12:25

No - pains me to say it as I've always worked in the book industry and have 2 x literature degrees. They were always read to, loved reading, etc, now they but would never choose to. Maybe it's an act of rebellion Grin.

idontlikealdi · 15/04/2024 12:26

DTs are 13, they read under duress. They still have to read on a school night for a bit of downtime which they do but only if the book is of interest to them.

Itsaloadofbollocksbut · 15/04/2024 12:27

13 year old DD is a total book worm. 🐛

Wupity · 15/04/2024 12:29

Used to read lots when younger but sadly the pull to screens tends to win now

Disasterclass · 15/04/2024 12:31

13 year old here loves reading, and so do most of her friends. They swap books etc. The school put a big emphasis on reading and sometimes she takes a break during term time but comes back to it and reads more in the holidays

BottomlessBrunch · 15/04/2024 12:33

No both teens don't read barely ever.
Eldest has read some Colleen Hoover but probably averages 4 books a year I'd say?
Sad times however I know that my own reading has dropped as well.

Comedycook · 15/04/2024 12:34

My dd is 13 and reads all the time. She's read three books this school holiday. I also have a ds 16 who never reads. Well he doesn't read fiction but he occasionally reads books on subjects he's interested in like history or nature. Anecdotally I find girls generally seem to read more in their teens than boys do....but of course there will be plenty who buck this trend.

Wolfen · 15/04/2024 12:34

Still reading intermittently as teens. Stephen King/horror, drug cartels, biographies and other true life and factual books seem to appeal now.
I don't care as reading any decent book will have value.

LenaLamont · 15/04/2024 12:35

It died down for a while as other things bacame for interesting, but by 16 they were back to reading again.

Kalevala · 15/04/2024 12:37

Wupity · 15/04/2024 12:29

Used to read lots when younger but sadly the pull to screens tends to win now

Mine moved on the web serials, so reads on his phone.

bluecomputerscreen · 15/04/2024 12:55

lots
mainly because school mandates a book per fortnight in english.
plus of course the literature they go through in lessons.

Wolfen · 15/04/2024 13:40

@bluecomputerscreen school mandates a book per fortnight? That's really impressive. Is this a private school? And what year are they in?

daffodilandtulip · 15/04/2024 13:53

DD18 gets through tons and her bookshelf is heaving! She's studying HARD for A Levels but will still read for an hour at bedtime over going on a screen.
DD15 prefers screens but generally has a small box set of books for birthday and Christmas and gets through just those over the year.

bluecomputerscreen · 15/04/2024 13:53

state school in forrin.
measure came in a couple of years ago as a 'no screen' policy.

dc are 14, 16,17

Wolfen · 15/04/2024 14:51

I feel that there will be a real gap between the kids who've read books and those who haven't in the near future.
Many can't write a decent email let alone put a presentation together or anything else that involves some literacy skills, or even creativity skills.
Whether this is is just a transitional disadvantage whilst ai develops or will have a further impact, remains to be seen.

Hopebridge · 15/04/2024 14:55

Less so than they did but they read about half an hour every night. When they were that age could be hours. Secondary school is exhausting I think.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 15/04/2024 14:57

Mine do! 14yo had 6 books on her birthday list, last month, 5 now read & in mine & her brother trp. 12yo has about 10 on his (so far, birthday is just less than a month away). They're both frequent school library users too, 1-2 books a week. Dc3(11) is less keen but of my 5 dc she's the only one who isn't in to books but she enjoys magazines & recipe books so I encourage that.

DominoRules · 15/04/2024 14:59

14 and 15 and the older one was always a total book worm until about 13 - he does read sometimes but not fiction, only autobiographies or fact books. Younger one has never been a massive reader despite encouragement!!

mondaytosunday · 15/04/2024 15:34

Older than yours by some way but son will read only things like sports biographies, though occasionally a novel but prefers non fiction. My DD has to read loads for her schoolwork so mostly things related too that (history/politics/some art/psychology books). She doesn't really have time or headspace to read for pleasure, though she read Little Women recently (she's trying to work her way through the classics).

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