Do computer games put kids off reading?

[buffythebarbieslayer]

My ds 8, is a bright boy who can read well. However he won't read to himself yet. Not chapter books anyway.

He'll flick through factual books and comics. He still enjoys being read to.

I'm not overly concerned. Some kids probably never become bookworms. As long as they can read and write well I suppose.

But I do worry that he is a bit obsessed with a computer game we allow him to play at weekends as a treat. Is this putting him off?

Do you have a bookworm? Do they play computer games as well?

[DontGiveAwayTheHomeworld]

Most games involve reading in some form, be it subtitles, tutorials or information about the setting. I don't think they discourage reading. I may be biased though, being a bookworm who plays video games myself!

He's only 8, and reading well doesn't mean he actually enjoys it.

[TeeBee]

Both of my boys love both.

[vrtra]

Get him some of the older final fantasy games (esp 7-9), they are child friendly and have more text than many novels!!

Game addict from about age 7 here. Also an avid reader. :) I think if anything games encourage more reading.

[iseenodust]

I think yes. DS likes, not loves, reading & will pick up a book when his tablet is taken off him but would never choose a book over a computer game. Games give constant 'hits/buzz/stimulus' and particularly for a child a book takes more effort for the reward.

I think playing some games is part of growing up and of fitting in with peers. On the upside DS (9) has just read three minecraft handbooks. However the games he chooses eg FIFA, clash of clans, tapped out, do not encourage reading at all IMO.

[fanjodisfunction]

I think it depends on the book, my eleven year old nephew loves computer games always playing on them. but he picked up my copy of hunger games and is now obsessed with reading the series and others like it.

I think it depends on exposure and if people in their lives are reading around them.

but computer games are here to stay and its easy to get hooked, but that's not a bad thing really its just what kids do now.

[becca41]

My boy is 8 years also he loves to read but stopped. After he got a 3ds. For Christmas. He has had it taken away for the last month his behaviour. Has improved and he reads more. He only gets it for half an hour a day normally but it is a power struggle all the time I wish I never bought it to be honest.
I haven't got probs with his reading as he is an excellent reader home and school.
I think if u want a child to read they won't so I stopped with the pleasure and we will read a book together we r half way through the Hobbit. At the moment

[petitdonkey]

My DS (10) is a very keen reader (level 5) and loves computer games. Which game is it that your son likes? We have bought DS all of the Minecraft companion books which he has devoured. I have also found that he does well when he gets into a series of books, Tom Gates, Skullduggery Pleasant, Young Bond, Alex Rider type of thing - he can whizz through them as he knows the format.

Another thing that has helped his reading is sending him up to bed but saying he can read as long as he likes - it gets out of the acceptable bedtime row but he just can't keep reading beyond 8:30ish if he's tired. He is also not allowed to leave his room before 7am so reads if he wakes earlier.

[myotherusernameisbetter]

It's entirely possible to be keen on both. Mine are now just turned 14 and almost 13 and they both read a lot. However given the option they will be on computer games/computer etc.

At weekends and holidays, they don't have access to computer games from mid morning until after dinner and then they get switched off before supper and bed - unless i have kicked them out for fresh air, then they will read in the afternoon and always before lights out at night. Novels, magazines (some about computer games :) ) factual books (1001 computer games to play before you die :o )

No1 son gets through 2-3 novels a week! Luckily he will re-read ones he has read before if he runs out) No2 son a bit less in terms of Novels but he is a fact junky and reads loads of non-fiction.

They have however always loved reading and from your son's age were always reading by themselves (No1 son read the first 3 Harry Potters by age 7) and would go and grab books from the age when they could crawl to get them. So, I don't think it is necessarily anything that you can force but definitely keep up with the reading to him and if he gets grabbed by a book that you are reading together, you could always find something urgent to do just as it gets to an exciting bit and suggest he carries on himself.....