Can reading be bad for kids?

[Lshppll]

Would like to guage other people's views. When we are at home, the only thing that my eight year old does is read (and screens but thats limited to one hour per weekend day). Doesn't do any puzzles, crafting, lego or anything else.

He is an only child and essentially the only way he knows how to entertain himself by himself is to pick up a book. Now I love reading but am a bit worried that he isn't really developing any other skills or interests.

Am also concerned that he's got into a pattern of passive entertainment i.e. screens ( but he barely has access to those) or books. He does so lots of activities out of the house and as I said he is an only child so no peers to play with at home.

What do others think? Should we try and limit his reading? Can it ever be too much of a good thing?

I was like this. Only child. Didn’t draw or paint. Hated building type toys. I just read (and swam and played competitive badminton- I am from Asia). But just read. I have turned out to be, I think, perfectly well balanced although I am a professor at a University…so maybe there is a link to my early and obsessive reading.

I don't force him to read non fiction, I offered it to him a few times.

He seems ok doing things outside the house but not inside.

Many people enjoy word games, board games, sudoku, chess, jigsaws and crafts; some find all these things a waste of good reading time and will only participate under protest, if at all. Don't try to force your son to be one type of person when actually he is another type of person.

It's all about balance. Doing ANYTHING "all the time" isn't good. Reading is a wonderful thing to enjoy. I always have. It can benefit kids in so many ways. But they also need to do things outside, with other people, being sociable and getting a bit of exercise. It sounds like he does plenty of that with his clubs, so he has a wide range of activities. With that being the case - I think it's fine if he chooses to read in his free time. It's better than watching mindless TV (which is of course also ok in moderation).

Can you link his reading to practical activities? Harry Potter interest? Visit the studios, or a HP themed shop or tour. Enid Blyton? Trip to Cornwall. Non fiction, trip to the museum /a science festival or something? Appreciate that some of these suggestions a bit much, but is there a local author nearby that might spark a local interest is what im
saying.
are there any clubs based in a local library that might be of interest?
a historical setting? Go visit it? A project/topic being explored at school? Find books to read around the topic then look for practical tasks related to this.
books are just the gateway to other worlds. A starting point of an adventure.
or get him involved in a Dungeons and Dragons type club if he’s into that type of fiction?

“When he is out and obviously can't read - he does tennis, football, beavers, swimming and a few other clubs. So does get plenty of exercise over the course of a day.”

Sounds like he has a well rounded, varied and balanced life. Moreso that many kids. I agree with others that reading isn’t really passive entertainment. I don’t think there is anything to worry about here.

@PotolKimchi I was the same but honestly really wouldn't want him to be an academic when he grows up. I certainly also struggled to shift from consuming to producing knowledge in the early years of my career. Perhaps that is why I would like him to be a bit more of a producer than a consumer of entertainment at home even if it is reading books.

One of my sister's was pissed off about my parents always reading, she was the thick one.

Reading for pleasure early in life is supposed to have many benefits later on, especially in adolescence when you are less likely to have mental health problems. I'm sure I've also read that it's the best indicator of academic success later on.
It sounds like your son has friends and does get to do other activities, so I would be pleased about it if I was you. Try not to worry anyway.

Honestly, I think you’re projecting your own insecurities about yourself and your childhood onto him. I was an obsessive child reader as one of a big family, so it’s not an only child thing. (I have an only child who is not much of a reader, and is very sociable, but also will only do things with friends if they’re things he wants to do, which I think is a good thing!)

As long as he's getting fresh air, exercise and opportunities to interact with other kids, I wouldn't worry. Make the most of it. I never thought my bookworm boy would lose interest in reading but now aged 14 he hardly reads and I mourn it.

I don’t know I feel when you’re immersed in a book as a child it’s an adventure in itself. The journey you go on with characters is pretty special and you don’t need to immediately go out and do anything “practical” in response other than actively engaging your heart and brain with the story.

I would have disliked all that for the most part - I just wanted to read my books. I didn’t necessarily want it to lead to doing related activities.

Those I did separately - football, hockey, tennis, athletics and French language club among others. As well as just socialising with friends outside as I was a 90s kid who was allowed to go out and play.

OPs kid is in various non-reading clubs too so I see no problem.

What does doing creative stuff look like? Is it a solo activity for him to entertain himself? Or is it a supported activity, the purpose of which is to spend time with someone enjoying yourselves?

If you were also a solo reader, you may not have experienced the second style. You sound like you were lonely.

My mum was a crafter and doer, always on the go. (Yes, residual guilt always niggles me because I'm a lazybones.) She was also actively interested in us. Because of this I knew I could always talk to her about what I was reading. When I asked her what crackling was, she made me the kosher version to try. When I talked about gingerbread house in a story, we made one together. She made me a life-size ragdoll, and got me to help her at many stages. We built Lego houses together to reenact some of the stories.

I would have happily read 24h/day, but my mum subtly, but actively, taught me to be creative. I loved the creative interactions with my mum. She rarely 'taught' me in any formal way. It was exploration together. And it gave me the confidence to do creative things alone.

My dad saved every single one of the portraits that my sibling and I drew of him. It didn't matter whether or not they were 'good'. He was delighted with each and every one. And that is vastly more confidence-building than any constructive criticism or judgement.

I loved reading so much I got a job in a bookshop and stayed with the company until I retired.

I think you are worrying unnecessarily. He sounds like a good kid.

A pity you didn't include the second paragraph in your first post. It's not as if he does nothing but read. He's mixing with others and active outside the home. That sounds fine to me.

I do think all children are different. My dc (young adults now) never read and never have although I always read to them when they were small and I am an English teacher!

One dc likes art and building and making things. Both love technology and gaming and that is more of a worry in terms of addiction and lack of exercise etc.

I think in the 90s and before it was much more normal for kids to be like this but now we are so used to them fidgeting with the latest new toy and tapping on screens, and going on endless trips and excursions and pricey group activities. We should be encouraging their ability to entertain themselves while their at home with books if anything , especially as it’s a good chance this may not last forever,

The only thing I’d suggest if you want him to do more creative things at home is giving him a notebook and pencils with the option of him writing and drawing his own stories. But if he doesn’t want to do that, that’s fine too.

I was like that too from a really young age.
I had friends and did other things but reading was as necessary to me as breathing,still is.
All that fuel for the imagination and vocabulary , i wouldn't worry.

What? Just let him be himself surely!?

One possible Downside that occurs to me is that too much focusing up close can cause problems with short-sightedness, afaik it can be mitigated somewhat if you also spend plenty of time outdoors focusing at distances.

I was like this as a child also only one. DM would find me asleep with the latest St Clares or Famous Five .My Nan read voraciously as well.As long as hes mixing with other DC,and getting exercise. I wouldnt worry.What sort of books does he like ?

Interesting to get other people's views on this. I guess I always assumed that kids read, but perhaps it's just only kids who do.

Just to add OP, as much as I was like this as a child all hell broke loose when I was 14-17 so enjoy it whilst you can!!

I grew up before screens. I read a lot. We went out walking and doing stuff, swimming, parks, etc.

I'm not the most sociable person, but I don't think that's because of reading so much. I think I read so much because I prefer my own company to others.

However, I hold down a senior position at work, make good money, have a lovely husband and daughter and a wonderful life. I have a small handful of good friends. I still love a few hours with a good book.

There are much, much worse things than a kid who loves reading.