Originally posted May 6, 2013 on The New American Dad:
This past weekend, I had the great pleasure of attending the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) New England conference in Springfield. There were so many great lectures, panels, and workshops that inspired and motivated me as a writer. One that struck an especially poignant chord with me was a workshop on writing for boys with author Greg Fishbone. His Galaxy Games book is an example of the type of reading boys often love, and he had many thought-provoking insights into the gender gap that exists in literacy today. In short, his presentation reminded me just how important it really is for all Dads to be (as he coined it) superheroes for their sons.
First, let’s agree that this gender gap is real. Not only is it real, but it is spiraling in a vicious, stubborn cycle. Just google “gender reading gap” and you will have plenty of articles and studies to support it. There so many factors fueling this issue that it is hard to attack just one. Biologically, boys read differently than girls. Their brains physically and emotionally interact with language in different ways, which is why many boys prefer big action books with competition and world-saving acts, where girls tend to gravitate more to deeper books with more dialogue and emotion. Girls develop as readers earlier and quicker. Boys know this. They see the girls reading book after book as they fight to catch up. They will catch up, but often stop striving for that goal too early. At each grade level, fewer boys will identify themselves as “a reader” and reading for pleasure becomes “girly”. I see it in my classroom every day. Then there is the market. Often, parents of boys in my class complain that they cannot find any books that appeal to their son. It honestly doesn’t surprise me. If more and more girls are reading for pleasure as they get older, and fewer and fewer boys, what would I want to market and sell as a publisher? Why print and sell to a shrinking audience? As a result, I walk through the book fair at school and see many books my female students will love, and a few my boys might enjoy. We have biological, economic, and cultural factors all working to propel this perfect storm of reluctant readers.
Does this hold true for all boys? Of course not. Many boys today are voracious readers and devour books at a steady clip. They constantly expand their skill and learning through language. But, sadly, they are the exception, not the rule.
So, what is the solution? Simply put, we need to become the superheroes Mr. Fishbone spoke about. I know this point is similar to a post I made a few weeks back, but I honestly can’t repeat it enough. Dads need to be readers. They need to read to their child and with their child on a routine basis. Their kids need to see them reading for pleasure at home. Dad needs to take them on trips to the library, the book store, maybe even an author event. Dad needs to start or join a book club. This holds true for every child, but it is extremely important for boys. There is a vast shortage of positive male role models who are readers in our society. Every Dad out there carries the responsibility of changing that. I carry three burdens myself, needing to be this superhero of literacy as a Dad, a writer, and a teacher… but it is a responsibility I am happy and thankful to carry.
Finally, you need to put that superhero cape on as early as possible. I teach students who are 8 and 9 years old. Most of the boys come into my room already convinced that they are, or are not, a reader. If they have learned to not like reading, it is extremely difficult to break that view of themselves. Some days it feels impossible. Our children start to interact with language even before they are born. They start on that reader or non-reader path before they ever set foot in a classroom. Be the superhero of literacy your child, and especially your son, needs… and start today.
Want some ideas of book suggestions? Check out (click) this great site: Guys Read