12 year old dd reads for pleasure for on average an hour at. Aibu to think this is the norm?

[Cheezepizza]

BTW this is not a boasting post. I know more kids will read much more, I'm just asking out of curiosity as I would like her reading more now that winter is coming in.

Both my children read more than that they are 16 and 11, they've always read a lot. But then they see me do the same.

But they like their Minecraft and some quizzes as well so they mix it up.

so relieved to hear this- thats what my 14 year old is like - he regards it as a chore
I think it varies - as a child i would have filled every gap with reading and had to be made to stop (i'm stll the same ) - one sister was similar the other never read at all- but reads quite a lot now -i'm hoping DS changes as well!
I think with all hobbies etc its a bout getting balance and doing a variety of things tbh

I'd say it's a little low for 12 if it's something she enjoys. Could you make her a reading nook or something to facilitate it more? IT's not that I think you should push reading just that these days it's really easy for kids who would otherwise like to be doing it to be distracted by flashier things when reading would be more beneficial to them, and maybe you could smooth the way a little. FYI I'm not anti-screens, we game and watch TV too, but I have been thinking about this as I would love to see my 9-year-old read more outside of bedtime, I read hours a day as a child and still do. He is a good reader but lazy about it.

So glad you weren't my mother....actually you can learn a lot from reading (books may contain information!) it does develop social skills such as empathy, and a solitary activity does not equals an inferior activity.

Reading, like any other activity, is subject to the law of diminishing marginal utility

Hard disagree.

Does it still count as reading when she spends 4 hours a day texting her boyfriend? Asking for a friend…

Well I have two children age 14 and 12 and we did exactly the same amount of reading with them when they were small, we kept up bedtime reading forever, they see me read and we have a house of books. The 14 year old reads for about an hour a day, if not more. The 12 year old reads for about 10 minutes and that’s if I make him.

They both have the same access to screens, my younger one would just prefer to be chatting to friends, going outside etc whilst the older has set up his own reading nook and has read around 40 books this year.

I don’t know. My husband said he was never into reading as a kid, and he didn’t have a computer. He just preferred going out on his bike, or making models, doing Lego etc.

Everyone has different amounts of reading for pleasure time.
Some people, including kids are bookworms, others barely pick a book up at all.
I wouldn't worry about it.

‘I would like her reading more now that it's nearly winter.’

In place of what? Our kids sports and other interests are all year round. They don’t suddenly start hanging around the house more because of a season change.

That's interesting reading, thanks for sharing

Completely normal.

Most.of my friends read that or more at that age.

Neither of my children (10 and 12) like reading (stories/novels/fiction) for pleasure. We still read a fiction book/story/novel together every single night, but usually they still want me to read to them!! (even my 12 yr old!!). I know it's a bit weird to still be reading to your child at 12, but he enjoys it so what the hell! They r only.young once! They can read well, just prefer listening to the stories!

I am not a big reader (of fiction books) and seems my children won't be either. It's fine!. I just don't like.reading fiction..I'll happily read academic papers, newspapers, fact based books. Occasionally ill read a true story.

My children will also pick up fact based books for pleasure - my oldest might read a cook book,.or pc manual,.or the week junior or something.

I think.there are.mamy variations on what is a normal amount to read as a child. Some love.to.read stories all the time,.others (like mine) would rather ride their bikes, play basketball, build something, read a fact book etc.

Reading stories is a.hobby, so not everyone is into it! Some.will.love it!

My plan? She went to the library after school yesterday to get a stash of books for midterm.. Mainly fiction a Lottie Brooks book, Phillip Pullman, Emma Carroll & Jacqueline Wilson.. She picked a book about the suffragates as they covered them in school & loves history. I just want to say dd would spend much more than an hour reading except she has a lot of extracurriculars, meets friends regularly & homework.
I can't understand the bitchy comments & quite frankly don't care. I mentioned winter as the weather will be shit & dds outdoor activities often get cancelled due to weather. I'd much prefer to see her reading than staring at a screen. Seems like I'm the minority.

I havent read every single post but none sof the ones I have read suggest anyone wants their child to be looking at a screen rather than reading, where are those ones?

Your use of the word midterm suggests that possibly your child is at one of the more expensive schools which might mean that your perception of what's normal is skewed

Isn't midterm only in the US? Maybe it's more pushy there 🤔

I used to read a lot, as did my ACs, and GCs when young. I think it’s a good thing - books fire the imagination. 👍

My 9yo loves reading and some days reads for 2 or 3 hours ( holidays/ weekends etc), but she doesn't have an hour in her day by the time she's done school/ after school club, sport etc. I Imagine by 12yo homework is much more too than she does now. So yes, I think it is rare for a 12yo to read for an hour a day.

Let her enjoy it, but don't pat yourself on the back too much. Being smug about something that comes naturally to your child is highly annoying - be in the baby years good eaters, sleepers, early talkers or walkers and in older kids - naturally academic/ sporty ones. These are things you have little control of as a parent and bragging about it will just make you sound like a twat.

My eldest barely read at all, turns out she was dyslexic

Youngest read for hours at that age. Room rammed with books, many hours spent looking for the latest series. She still reads quite a bit but on her phone. She's 17

They vary!

We're all different.
There is no 'norm'.
I read loads more than that at 12, some friends read even more, some less, some not at all.
Reading can be beneficial academically and for general wellbeing but so can many other activities.

A vast range of activities can fire the imagination.

It is normal for her. My 12 year old dd still plays with barbies after school for at least an hour, it is her quiet space and she seems to process her day through the play. Do other 12 year olds do that? no idea. Do I care? No

The absolute superiority complex and smugness some people have about kids reading is hilarious.

Imagination and knowledge can be gleaned from other areas..and yes, that includes the dreaded gaming and screens ( swoons in horror) .

I would go as far as to say understanding modern technology and the gaming world is a much more useful skill in the modern world.

A child is not ' better' than another because they read more . Not more intelligent, emotionally aware or well rounded, yet that always seems to be the implication.

We need to stop ' read shaming' kids and parents. It's no more a useful hobby than being sporty, tech aware or willing to help around the house.

Absolutely.
Very well said.
I said something similar but in a slightly more summarised form. 😬

I'm not sure if it's normal but it's lovely. Dd still enjoys doing her Our Generation dolls hair & would still play them with her younger sister. Personally I love it.

My kids can't read yet (too young) so can't comment on that, but it sounds good to me. I would sometimes be told to go to sleep as I'd stay up reading for hours into the night at that age, never did me any harm. I only wish I had more time to read more now, as an adult!

I agree.

I also feel if reading is forced it loses its enjoyment and they may be less likely to read for pleasure later in life. My eldest is dyslexic rarely read beyond what she had to for school, she hated reading it led to stress and upset. I stressed over it as her peers were devouring all the Harry Potter books and so on. She is in her late teens now and has discovered Greek mythology which she loves, the books she is getting through now for pleasure I would never have believed. My dh who is very successful with his career could probably count on one hand the amount of books he has read in his life doesn't seem to have impacted him in any way. I on the otherhand read every night and get through at least 3 books a month. We are all different