Being able to read comfortably is necessary for getting through life in practical ways, but the benefits reach much farther than that. Reading builds knowledge and skills that lead to empathy, creativity, and self-confidence. Plus, it can be a source of great enjoyment and personal satisfaction.
In the adolescent years, it’s important to not only be able to read the words but also understand the meaning behind the words and form their own ideas and opinions. Below are some strategies to help your adolescent think critically about the books, magazines and news stories they read, watch, and hear.
Most people understand that reading is a fundamental skill, but you may not appreciate all the far-ranging benefits that come along with strong reading ability:
Reading leads to improved concentration and memory skills.
Reading ability is related to listening and understanding, which all lead to critical thinking and analysis skills.
Reading often leads to an expanded knowledge base, making people aware of diverse people, places, ideas and historical events.
Reading improves empathy and theory of mind skills, i.e. the ability to think about why people behave as they do. Theory of mind improves both self-regulation and social skills.
All of this also leads to self-esteem – a young person who is confident in representing their thoughts and opinions in speech and writing.
By the adolescent years, much of the hard work around learning to decode words is done – but even independent readers need support processing what they read. There is so much information coming at your tween/teen. If they don't have the skills they need to make sense of it all, it can be confusing and sometimes frightening.
Adolescents begin to develop deeper reasoning skills and formal logic, allowing for more complex thinking to occur. Their thinking is impacted by a wide range of factors from social pressures and self-esteem to the digital world they live in. A deep desire to fit in and find their place can allow them to be highly influenced by what peers do and say. That’s why it’s so important to help them develop skills to think about what they hear and read. Good critical thinking skills allow them to process information, consider the sources, identify biases, and form opinions for themselves.
Encouraging your tweens/teens to discuss what they’re reading can also be a source of connection. While they’re pulling away at this age, and reluctant sometimes to discuss the details of their own lives with parents, talking about what they think and feel about what’s going on in the world gives you an opportunity to understand their perspective – and gives them a chance to hear yours. Despite the reluctance to open up, kids this age still need to know you’re there, and hear your views on the world to help the develop their own beliefs.
