3 posts shown.
On my mom's side, every single mother taught their kids to actually value books—buying them, taking care of them, and reading to us constantly. Honestly, I’m pretty grateful for that. We all had to plow through the required school reading lists, and sure, not every classic was a winner, but they definitely left an impression.
Honestly, parents really ought to prep their kids before school starts—set some expectations, explain what’s coming their way, and all that stuff.
The same goes for reading assignments. We should be telling them that they'll actually get the chance to dive into some great stories, which can lead to cool discussions about how fun it is, or how a good book serves as a perfect escape from homework or a way to wind down before bed.
One of the biggest things parents can do for their kids is just foster a genuine love for reading. Whether it's reading to them at bedtime (or whenever they feel like it), buying them books, or taking them to the local library to pick out their own titles... to me, that’s what actual parenting looks like.
Look, people don't read just to pass some high school exit exam. You read to actually become literate—to travel through different eras and places without leaving your couch, and to basically get inside someone else's head to see how they think. It’s a way to experience things you haven't lived through yourself (thank God for that!!), to have a laugh, unwind, or learn how to actually empathize with people.
Sure, there are plenty of people who hate reading and won't pick up a book if they can help it, but at least through required reading, they’ll pick up better grammar, expand their vocabulary, and gain some general knowledge.
Maybe we just need to update the reading list, but we definitely shouldn't stop treating literature as something important.
Honestly, for whoever asked that question... OH MY GOD.