Teenagers who read are better students, but what is happening to our teens?

Research clearly shows that teenagers who read for fun have a greater vocabulary, understand the consequences of risky behavior, develop stronger social skills, and can process more complex ideas.

Teens who read inevitably will be more successful.

However, the American Psychological Association published a research paper, finding that in today’s digital media age, less than 20% of teens read books, magazines, or newspapers, but 80% of teens are on social media daily, sometimes for hours at a time. Only 2 % of teens read newspapers sporadically (Source: Psychology of Popular Media).

Teenagers are not yet less intelligent, but they certainly have difficulties to focus, comprehend complex issues and losing one important skill: critical thinking.

If this trend continues, what type of future are they looking at?

My solution: I encourage you to read to your child - and even read aloud to your teenager. Yes, reading to our children, and thereby fostering the love for reading, is one of the most important investments into their future.

Follow my hashtag #ReadToKids