What's The Importance Of Reading A LOT of Fiction??

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  • October 1, 2012 at 4:15 am
    amandajhilburn
    Participant

    My son (age 10) has always wanted to read things that are non-fiction. I have to MAKE him read fiction, and most of the time he hates it. So…I’m seriously thinking about letting him read from science books, the Bible, and non-fiction library books for his reading everyday. Can anyone tell me a reason why I should MAKE him read fictional stories??

     

    Thanks,

    Amanda 🙂

     

    October 1, 2012 at 4:52 am
    MamaSnow
    Participant

    This article from Ambleside Online might give you some food for thought as you think through this issue:

    http://amblesideonline.org/BksCharacter.shtml

    HTH some,

    Jen

    October 1, 2012 at 11:18 am
    nebby
    Participant

    My initial thought from the title of your post is that there is no reason he shoudl have to read a lot of fiction. I think it is better to read a few books well than to zoom through a stack of them. And if there are a few favorites he reads over and over rather than expanding his repertoire, that is good too.

    But I am not sure I would give up on fiction entirely. I would also ask why he prefers non-fiction. Does he just not like the stories, etc in fiction? Or is he finding the reading of non-fiction easier and therefore he is really avoiding doing the hard work by reading non-fiction?

    If it were my son, I would require occasional good foction books that are relevant to what we are studying but then also try to find him good non-fiction books. I am thinking of things like 1776 or the Disappearing Spoon (on chemistry).

    Another question to ask I guess is is he able to narrate to you what he reads from non-fiction? If he can and the knowledge seems to stick with him, that woudl amke me more comfortable with it.

    Nebby

    http://www.lettersfromnebby.wordpress.com

    October 1, 2012 at 11:35 am
    Tristan
    Participant

    I have some kids who really love nonfiction – they want to find out information. So I let them! For example my 11yo daughter read most of the Apologia Exploring Creation science textbooks beginning at age 9. She would take them with her to quiet time, read, and enjoy.

    I think there is a place for each, and dropping either one entirely would be a mistake. I like that fiction helps us start to feel like we are a part of the events or topics we are learning about.

    October 1, 2012 at 11:51 am
    simple home
    Member

    My hubby has always been like your son. When he was a kid he hated fiction but gobbled up nonfiction. He loved to read ( and still does) accounts of different wars through the eyes of real people who lived it, so really, these are REAL living books!

    If it helps, have your son listen to a dramatic nonfiction on audio. These can really be fun and make him want to learn more and maybe even pick up the book to read too. Narnia, The Hobbit, Sign of the Beaver are just a few we have in audio that are mesmerizing for young boys.

    HTH!

    October 1, 2012 at 12:23 pm
    Monica
    Participant

    My oldest also loves non-fiction, but he also loves historical fiction. Maybe you could give that a try?

    Also, my son loves to read when he is involved in a book club. Right now he’s reading My Side of the Mountain as part of a book club.

    Or possibly try audio books when you are on a long car ride or at bedtime.

    October 1, 2012 at 1:12 pm
    Bookworm
    Participant

    One of my sons prefers nonfiction, too.  But I always made him read plenty of fiction anyway–or read it TO him.  In this article, Martin Cothran compares reading only nonficiton to breathing with only one lung:

    http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/fiction-false.html

     

     

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