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.

I’ve got one that would have read for hours for pleasure at that age - at 16 he just reads before bed - maybe just a chapter . The other DS has never loved reading despite lots of different books tried so doesn’t really read . DD would have read at 12 for hours but doesn’t read at all as a young adult

Why? What does winter have to do with anything?

Also, you can't make her do more "for pleasure". She's either reading for pleasure or reading because you're making her do more. It can't be both.

I would guess that a hour a week would probably be way more than many 12 year olds would choose to spend reading!
My 14 yr old might spend a hour reading after school. But he might also go to the park with his mates, slob infront of the TV, cook some cakes. Variety is good too.
It's great that she loves reading. Don't force it - that's when it turns in to a chore.

I used to read for hours on end at 12.
The problem was I would read (for pleasure) instead of doing homework which actually needed to get done.
An hour is perfectly fine.

I'm sure you must know that's well above average. My teenagers view themselves as keen readers but they don't read that much (nor do I and I read more than anyone I know). Less than a third of children read daily and there are campaigns to encourage children to read more that talk about reading 15 minutes a day.

What's your secret OP? Would love mine to do this.

DS would read all day, other kids aren't interested in reading at all. An hour a day is plenty, why would you want her reading more? There's a lot more to life than reading - as I'm always telling DS.

Yes, was normal for both my girls.

Dd2 read far more before she got her phone around 12. That changed everything. She would walk down the street reading before.

Me eldest rarely read when he was that age and older. I was a big reader so I did encourage. He is now embarking on a career as a writer. Go figure!

Don't fret. I loved to read as a kid as it was my escapism (much like TV is today). I would like people to experience that pleasure but if it's not pleasurable to them then what's the point.

It's great that she enjoys reading so much. Don't spoil this for her by turning it into something that's about goals and pressure.

Does it matter? If she's enjoying it that's fine?

But then it might not be for pleasure..

Exactly. It will become reading because my parent told me to

Welcome to humblebrag.com everyone, please take a seat whilst posters try and one up each other on reading times for their kids.

My son aged 9 reads 2 hours before going to sleep ....also reads at school and when he gets home doing homework. He's a little book worm. Very proud!!

I think a mean can be deceptive here. The median would be more useful.

I would say most readers divide into: "If it hadn't been wrenched from me at meal times I'd have starved" (a wonderful book review I read once) / holiday readers / pizza box instructions and GCSE books when needs must.

I'm the former and my students (16-18) think I am really weird. Also mean, due to my making them read AND learn new words.

Some kids read for pleasure (less than an hour, more than an hour), some kids game, some kids play sport, some kids cook. Nothing is better or worse than anything else. They are all different and enjoy different things.

Of my three teens none of them read for pleasure - two because they have always hated reading, one because she is too busy with schoolwork. They are all high achievers.

If yours wants to read more then great, why not? But I don't think it's something all kids need to do or even should do - doing more than an hour doesn't tick some magical box we should all aim towards.

Nothing like taking the pleasure out of something - especially for a child - than being 'encouraged' to do more of it

Leave her alone. She enjoys reading, she reads a good amount at the moment don't start policing her reading & turn it into a chore

Also, you can't make her do more "for pleasure". She's either reading for pleasure or reading because you're making her do more. It can't be both

Absolutely this.

I understand the bit about winter and think people might be being deliberately obtuse about that. Presumably in the summer DD was spending more time outdoors after school? I wouldn’t push her to read more though. A sure way to put her off. Just ensure she has access to books and other activities.

Same 🙄

For a 12 Yr old girl I would say Yes. For a boy of that age I would say 0 hrs is more the norm!
Thank your lucky stars! I suggest you don't push for more, leave it to her as she may push back and do less

Well it will probably be less pleasurable for her if you try and force her to read more. I think and hour a day is great. She's getting older, give her autonomy over how much she does things for pleasure!

I don't think it's a lot which is why I asked, I think it's an average amount of time.

But how do they fit in tutoring, learning Mandarin, sports, piano practice and chores?

<faints>