Be a Reading Role Model!

Do you know that a survey has found that just 1 in 3 young people (aged 8-18) said they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025? This is a decrease of a third in the period since 2005. And according to The New York Times, the share of Americans who read for pleasure between 2003 and 2023, decreased by 40%. It seems that reading is on a downward spiral. How sad is that - and what can be done?

There is hope. Children, even when they confess to low reading levels, recognise that reading helps them learn new words or understand new subjects. And they like to read song lyrics, comics or short pieces. When books emulate or expand on a favourite movie or series, youngsters are also more likely to read.  

So... what can each of us do?
We can become Reading Role Models for our children, grandchildren and our community by encouraging reading as a daily habit - and setting our own example. Perhaps compile a personal reading list, and target to read a book a month. Or, if you are often on the go, get your reading kick via audiobooks. Start or join a Book Club and, most importantly, encourage young people to do the same - not just for reading pleasure but also for the social interaction. 
In today's world, perhaps we can come together through the written word?
An ancient Greek philosopher, Epictetus, had this to say about reading:
Books are the training weights of the mind.