[Part 1] Why is 'children's reading' more important now than in the Showa or Heisei eras? 📚 Does 'paper books until age 10' protect parents and children?

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Strolling into a bookstore,
the book I picked up while wandering,
along with its cover, texture, and scent,
has taken root in my heart, now and always,
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Hello to all the moms and dads who want to make their children book lovers! 😊My name is Emi Suzuhara, and I write articles on 'Gentle Tricks to Guide Children to Love Books.'What are these gentle tricks?

What kind of articles have you written so far?
If you're curious, please take a look here.

Well, today's topic is,Why is 'children's reading' more important now in the Reiwa era than in the Showa or Heisei eras?that is the story.

Some of you might be thinking, 'Is that so? I think reading is good, but compared to the past, there's so much more entertainment, and kids need to learn IT skills, so isn't it not necessarily more important now?'

I understand why you might think that! 😊

However, I have been thinking about the relationship between children and reading for nearly 10 years. Now, while living with my 10-year-old and 14-year-old 'readers' and keeping up with the daily news, I realized something.

Perhaps because my children love books, the unique struggles of modern parents and children are being eased...

Could it be that I am being saved by my children who love to read?

That is what I want to talk about today.
This is just my personal opinion based on my own family, but I hope it provides some kind of hint for you. ✨

For those of you thinking, 'My child is already addicted to their smartphone' or 'They're already at that age...', if you are concerned about the relationship between your child and books, please read on.

Digital detox can be started at any time, and books are always right by our side!

📚 If you'd like, please check out these articles as well ↓↓↓

【Reading Parenting】The secret to a bookshelf that makes children want to reach outThe secret of the bookshelf—What are the five things there?

・Why'Reading picture books aloud' doesn't necessarily lead to 'book-loving elementary school students'—How 5 or 6-year-old detours might easily steal their 'desire to read' ↓↓↓

📖 Why does 'loving books' lighten the burdens of modern parents and children? The reason for reading now

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🔳 Chapter 1: Don't give up on parent-child mental health!

(1) Because it can be said that modern parental worries are almost entirely 'caused by children's digital dependence'

Have you ever told your child, 'Stop using your smartphone and playing games!' (or are you terrified that you will eventually have to say it)?

Is there anyone who doesn't have this problem at all?
Depending on the child's age, it's a headache-inducing issue. It makes you furrow your brow, doesn't it? 💦

'Gentle tricks to guide children to love books' In this magazine, I propose a grand strategy to make children love books during the early stages of life (from around 5 to 10 years old)! (Of course, you can enjoy reading at any time even after this period passes).

Children who have 'become book lovers first' are less likely to become addicted, even if they enjoy watching videos or playing games later. Or, even if they do become addicted temporarily, they have a place to escape to—that is what I believe.

For children who love books, reading is a form of entertainment or a skill that has already been ingrained (so to speak, an initial setting). It is not a substitute for smartphones or games. However,

- Children who were just given books for no particular reason, and - Children who have the actual experience of finding reading interesting

are completely different, so if you are interested in the latter state,
📚 If you'd like, please check out this article too ↓↓↓

- [Reading Parenting] Are you practicing 'making sense of things' ? — The moment a child gains true reading ability ↓↓↓

How does 'being a book lover first' exert power against digital addiction?
Why does it 'protect parents and children' in the modern age?

I will think about this. 😊

📚 If you'd like, please check out this article too ↓↓↓

- [Reading Parenting] Why does 'reading first' act as a deterrent to digital addiction — What happened as a result of organizing the 'order of encounters'

(2) Because children's sleep deprivation, mental health issues, and low self-esteem are social problems

First, sleep deprivation.
The danger that digital devices have a negative impact on children's sleep can already be called a fact.

As a parent, you can intuitively understand how bad 'not sleeping properly' is for a child's mental and physical growth.
However, for those who want to know more, I recommend the new book 'Children Mistaken for Having Developmental Disorders' (by Naoko Narita / Seishun Publishing / 1050 yen excluding tax).

Anyway, make them 'children who sleep properly' .
The content makes you keenly aware of a parent's responsibility regarding this.

When you read it, you might want to cover your child with a blanket and say, 'Yes, let's sleep, let's sleep right now, let's sleep already!' (laughs).

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Next is mental health issues.
I don't think anyone denies the influence of smartphones and social media on this anymore. It's not just that negative information enters their eyes, but dopamine is released in large quantities by watching videos endlessly. They say there is a danger of eventually falling into a state of lethargy. Oh, it's scary 💦

But it is something that is actually happening (or starting to happen) to some children now.

There are also research results showing that no matter how much they study, children who watch too many smartphone videos see their academic performance stagnate—which is a waste, isn't it?

What I am re-reading right now is

These two books alone make me tremble, thinking, "Children's brains are being destroyed..." But I'm glad I read them.

I won't say that all of a child's mental health issues are caused by digital devices.
However, it can be said that digital addiction is likely to cause mental health issues.

It is a fairly well-known story that Steve Jobs did not give his own children smartphones or tablets. He must have known better than anyone that they could become digital drugs.

I would like to write about these new books in detail in a future article.

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Next, regardingself-esteem.

There seems to be data suggesting that children who read are more likely to have higher self-esteem.

Personally, I have these realizations 📖

There seem to be many others as well 😊

However, more than any logic or anything else.
For me, just comparing the vacant eyes of a child immersed in a smartphone with the sparkling eyes of a child immersed in the world of a book—I can tell instantly. Which one is more alive.

The latter's eyes are like jewels. So every time I see that, I think, "I don't need diamonds" (though I'd take them if given).

If there is an environment and opportunity, wouldn't most children have eyes like that? ✨

📚 If you'd like, please check out this article too ↓↓↓
Make full use of libraries and bookstores let's

・[Reading Parenting] There is a miracle that only happens when you "buy" books—the amazing effect of "buy it if you like it" and "having it at home"" even if you borrow it at first ↓↓↓

(3) Because "giving it to them, letting them get hooked, and then restricting it" is truly an impossible game

With a child's immature brain, it is difficult to follow rules like "smartphones and games until X o'clock" with self-control. Isn't it fruitless for parents and children if adults expect that and get frustrated, asking "Why can't you follow the rules?" (I'm sorry to those who are trying hard).

No, because I think it's an incredibly difficult thing to do 💦

It's impossible for me. In that case, I'll delay the encounter. First, I thought, let's spend time at home reading!

Having books right in front of them at any given moment.
Having books that (mostly) match the child's preferences.
Having enough books to choose from is also important (long live the pile of unread books).

When this habit exists at home, there are fewer arguments between siblings over 'which game to play' or 'which show to watch'.

(4) Because you can watch over them until they grow to an age where they can keep promises about smartphones and games.

So, at what age, if things go smoothly, can a child's brain actually keep promises about smartphones and games?

This might be a difficult question even for experts. It depends on the person and the family. Since it's said that the human brain continues to develop until around age 25,it would be problematic if someone said, '...well then, at 25'.(laughs).

In our home, we let our eldest daughter have a smartphonewhen she was 12.We shared the understanding that 'the smartphone is something
the parents are lending to the child,' taught her about the dangers of society, decided on rules together and stuck them on the wall, with my nagging in full force 😝 (I don't mind if she hates me for it).

Then, it seems the awareness that 'I must follow the rules properly' does indeed work. Occasionally, when I warn her, 'It's about time to stop,' because she's gone over the time limit, she'll make a sheepish face and say, '...o-kay'.

I feel growth in the fact that she feels guilt (harbors complex emotions). It's not like this in early childhood, is it?'Why must I follow the rules?'The awareness that 'we certainly decided on the rules together' is, in my experience, perhaps difficult until they reachat least this age.That is my realization.

Of course, our family's example isn't everything. But when enjoying digital entertainment at home, I think it's reassuring toestablish 'basic home entertainment' first, not limited to reading.

Things like crafting or handmade projects, or puzzle games. Collecting things that don't cost much (sticker collecting was popular a little while ago 💮. When I was a child, I collected pretty stationery).

There are also children who like cooking or baking, and indoor exercise or musical activities are also great because they use the five senses♪

By the way, I'm asked this occasionally, but both my eldest and second daughter love games (laughs). They also love game-streaming YouTubers (like that loud-voiced person from Hokkaido 😆). However, we have principles: 'read books,' 'keep to the time,' and 'sleep at night'.

📚 If you'd like, please check out this article too ↓↓↓
Let's train your reading muscles!

・[Reading-based Parenting] Practiced in our home! How to raise a child who can read novels before they know it What is 'book selection that isn't magic'?

📚 Please feel free to check out this article as well↓↓↓

[Reading-based Parenting] Even Jobs didn't give his children smartphones early on...! A story about how I realized the importance of a 'foundation for reading' all over again after my first-year junior high daughter got a smartphone↓↓↓

(5) Because the negative impact of digital on children is almost certain

It is a fairly well-known fact that Sweden, an IT-advanced nation, has stopped using digital textbooks and is returning to paper textbooks. It must be a situation serious enough to force a change in national policy💦

The positive effects of paper and handwriting on the brain are also, I believe, almost certain.

Besides that, when I watch the news every day, there are many topics like SNS regulation for children, or whether AI will cause a decline in thinking ability in children (humans).

I, for one, gradually get tired, wondering, 'What will happen in the end?'😂
Is being at the mercy of this kind of information the fate of Reiwa parents?

The same goes for the episode where Steve Jobs didn't give his children smartphones. The same goes for what is written in the masterpiece 'Smartphone Brain'. There is no doubt that smartphones are devices created for adult business. AI is also business. It's fine for adults to use them with understanding, but it's a different issue when it comes to children.

That said, it's a path we can no longer avoid.
I've decided to spend my time reading books written by experts until I can come to terms with it in my own way, thinking, 'Well, I'll do this.'

It calms my heart🌱

📚 Please feel free to check out this article as well↓↓↓
Introducing two books that are highly convincing about why 'humanity is important' in the modern age

・[Reading-based Parenting] 'In the AI era, children should start with reading, right?' 'Why?' 'Well...' Here is the new book that cleared up my confusion about how to convey it! ↓↓↓

(6) Because it is an era where it is easy to become digitally dependent when you are bored at home

I remember the atmosphere of the Showa and Heisei eras, but I have never felt as much as I do now that 'reading might become a broad foundation for everyone's heart'. If it were a while ago, I don't think I would have made such a proposal so enthusiastically.

In the past, 'home entertainment' was diverse for everyone. It varied from person to person.

If you were bored at home, you might have had no choice but to watch the same TV shows as your parents.
You might have read your favorite manga or magazines. If you were in middle or high school, you might have listened to the radio.
You might have made things or written letters to friends.
Some kids practiced the guitar or other instruments (I, for some reason, played with a ukulele that was at home—haha).

Of course, I think there are still kids like that today.

But without even thinking about it, more kids have started touching their smartphones or playing games during 'little bits of spare time.' You could even say that's the majority now.

I hope you'll read books if you'd like 😊 especially if you haven't found your own personal form of home entertainment yet.

Books are the pinnacle of human entertainment, capable of catering to every interest. I wonder if there's even a genre they don't cover?

They cater to every reading level, from beginner to super advanced!

📚 Please feel free to check out this article as well ↓↓↓

・[Reading-based Parenting] To the children. First, become 'yourself' before you touch smartphones or AI... because it's comfortable, that's better.

Well, that's all for today!
To be continued in [Part 2].

Here is the preview for [Part 2] 📚

Thank you very much for reading until the end. 💕
I pray that many people will have wonderful reading times. ✨

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For children to feel books are close to them,
to pick them up, read them, and get excited,
it really has to be paper books.
You can even sleep with them.
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📚 If you like, please also check out this article ↓↓↓

・'Kids, go to a new bookstore for an hour and pick out two books based on your own intuition, go!' is more fulfilling than you'd expect✨ It's also recommended as an easy hands-on learning experience!

・[Reading-based Parenting] I prefer paper books. I'm good at finding 'what you like,' and here's why...

・[Reading-based Parenting] How wonderful would the future be if every elementary school student had a 'favorite author'?

・[Reading-based Parenting] Something I want you to believe above all else: 'I'm not good at it myself, but I want my child to read...' to the moms and dads who wish for this ↓↓↓

・[Reading-based Parenting] If you'd like, I want you and your child to try this: repeating the 'choose 3 books out of 10' process will reveal not just 'favorite books' but 'the essence of what you like' ↓↓↓

📚 I tried reading the same book as my child ↓↓↓

・A story about how my child and I both wondered where Mizuki Tsujimura's 'Ah!' moment was in 'The Snake Man of the Rainbow Library' [Reading-based Parenting]

・[Part 1] & [Part 2]
My second-year middle school daughter's adventure through the works of Yukimushi Kanno began with 'a book she liked three years ago'