Why boys need books and reading

Why our boys need books and reading!

February 10, 2020

Fact: boys don’t read as much as girls. This reading gender gap is affecting boys’ performance in primary school and beyond, as shown by latest NAPLAN and PISA results.

If your son is a reluctant reader, trying to turn him into an enthusiastic reader can seem hopeless. Perhaps you’re thinking that the effort you have already made is more trouble than it’s worth. But consider this: the link between reluctance to read and poor literacy skills is like the chicken and the egg. Which is the cause and which is the effect? They are entwined – boost one and you will boost the other. Disregard one and the other suffers.

So a reluctance to read is something we cannot ignore in order to improve the literacy of our boys.

The Results

Nationwide testing, in the form of NAPLAN, did reflect an improvement in writing for the earlier years but we are capable of better. The performance of boys through to Year 9 showed that, far from catching up as they mature, the gap between boys and girls broadened as boys fell further behind.

Additionally, we can’t escape international comparisons, such as the OECD’s PISA data set, which placed Australia 16th in world rankings for reading performance.

So what can we do?

We need to build a culture of reading for our boys and here are some ideas/tips:

a) Good literacy is a prerequisite to study

Boys who think subjects like PE is an escape from literacy will be in for a rude shock. Not all of PE is physical – boys need to learn theory, the study of anatomy and complete assignments. Looking to the future, the workforce is rapidly changing and so we need to equip our boys with a good literacy grounding.

b) Fiction needs to be part of a boy’s reading diet

The aim is to give our boys a range of reading material – information books, biographies, comics, magazines etc. On the whole, boys tend to avoid fiction so you will have to try the upsell here! A great novel can be appealing in its sense of adventure and how characters show courage, react under stress, feel, think, behave or struggle with a problem. The aim is for boys to not only enjoy fiction but transfer the language/ideas that they read to their writing tasks.

c) Find books that are on their level

Make sure the reading material isn’t beyond your child’s reading abilities. The interest may be there, but if the book is hard to read, your child’s motivation will dwindle.

In a recent blog, I outlined the immense value of your school librarian – they are uniquely qualified to match boys with appropriate books and authors. Plus they can help to boost your son’s literacy!

d) Downtime to read

“My son does a lot of sport so he doesn’t have time to read.”

“Our family is just so busy that we can’t fit reading into our day.”

Sport and busyness are often the culprits for a lack of reading. Juggling schoolwork, sport, family duties and friendships often mean that reading is dismissed.

Why we need to have books for children.

Reading does take time. The child who likes reading will find the time to read. Similarly, the child who has never given books much of a go, loses the chance to read in the rush. So make time for your son to read each day.

e) Technology, gaming and computers

Boys are drawn to computers and the internet. This is why we need to harness boys’ attraction to computers to stimulate their literacy development. If a reading exercise involves the use of a computer, reading reluctance among boys is lessened.

The Last Word

Surrounding our boys with a variety of reading material – some of it challenging, some of it light-hearted fun, some of it computer-based – will help to encourage a positive attitude toward reading. Encourage your son/students to read until it becomes an enjoyable and permanent habit. Keep at it – you will not only hook them but he will be rewarded with academic benefits.