The One Gift Every Parent Should Give Their Child This Holiday Season

Reading prepares children to be able to write well, and the best way to prepare a child to learn how to read is to create a home culture of reading. New Africa/Shutterstock

Commentary

Because of the success of “Barbie,” one of 2023’s biggest blockbusters, the Barbie Movie Doll is a popular gift choice for children this Christmas. Other popular gifts include Lego, Spider-Man toys, Matchbox cars, and Play-Doh. For parents of young children reading this, I ask you to consider adding another gift to this list—a book. It could prove to be the best gift you ever buy your child.

Reading for fun is something millions of Americans, of all ages, used to do. Those days, however, appear to be long gone. Over the course of an average year, roughly one-quarter of American adults don’t read a book. Not one.

As for children, things don’t read much better. According to a recent report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a mere 14 percent of American children claim to engage in recreational reading on a daily basis. This figure represents a decline of 3 percentage points since 2020 and a staggering 13 points since 2012. Furthermore, the report highlights that 31 percent of children either never or rarely read for enjoyment.

A piece in The Hill, published earlier this year, outlined multiple reasons for the decline in reading for pleasure among children. Arguably the biggest reason, according to the piece, is the proliferation of digital devices and social media platforms. It’s a fair point. How is a book, no matter how absorbing it may be, supposed to compete with the rapid-fire content of TikTok? Commenting on the rather sobering NAEP report, Scientific American warned that a staggering 40 percent of U.S. children are essentially nonreaders and two-thirds are unable to read with proficiency.

Is digital literacy contributing to actual illiteracy? Perhaps. But the likes of TikTok and its many social media siblings aren’t going anywhere. We must learn to coexist. I say this as someone who grew up in a working-class household. Although we lacked many material possessions, my siblings and I always had easy access to exciting reading material, including, I believe, every single one of the many “Goosebumps” books.

Of course, some will say: “This is 2023, not 1993. Times have changed.”

They have. But books still exist, and reading for pleasure is still as important today as it was 30 years ago.

To be more specific, reading actual books, not digital files, is still of vital importance. This is an important point to make. Physical books provide distinct advantages and benefits over digital files. They possess a tactile quality that sets them apart. Unlike e-readers, traditional books offer a unique sensory experience. The printed pages allow readers to feel the texture and savor the unique smell of a physical book.

Moreover, the scientific benefits of reading an actual book are many. Studies show that people who read print books tend to absorb and retain more of the storyline than those who read e-books. Additionally, other studies have indicated that print readers also exhibit higher levels of empathy, immersion in the book, and comprehension of the narrative. Scientists attribute this phenomenon to the tactile experience of physically holding a book in one’s hands.

The act of visually and physically perceiving the progress made in the story aids readers in feeling as though they’re actively unraveling the narrative. Additionally, the convenience of easily revisiting and verifying uncertain information without losing one’s place, as opposed to having to scroll or click back on a digital device, is another advantage offered by print books.

Furthermore, research conducted on preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years old discovered that their understanding of the story was lower when their parents read to them from electronic books than when they read to them from physical books. The study suggests that this could be because the children get sidetracked by the electronic devices, making it more challenging for them to concentrate on the story. Finally, unlike physical books, electronic ones tend to induce screen fatigue, resulting in symptoms such as blurred vision and eye redness, dryness, and irritation.

Reading for fun can be incredibly therapeutic. This explains why bibliotherapy, a novel treatment that employs books and other forms of literature to support those experiencing mental health problems, tends to be so successful—especially with children. Reading fiction appears to be particularly helpful.

One fascinating study found that children who frequently read fiction had better social skills and tended to be considerably more empathetic than nonfiction readers and those who never read. A significant correlation between becoming absorbed in a story and higher empathy scores was also observed. Reading and responding to fiction, it seems, particularly when the themes are relevant and relatable, can aid young people in comprehending human nature and their role in the world.

So, this Christmas, do your children a favor. Buy them books and help them develop an appreciation for literature. They will benefit, and the country will too.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.