(29) Having a 'stack of books' from around age 5 was the shortest route to becoming a 'child who reads' - To the mom I met 10 years ago -

Continuing the letter.


“Using the books at home to build a habit of 'reading' before getting immersed in digital media”
...is the topic I am discussing.


Until the lower grades of elementary school, children can spend time happily at home without videos or games.
Putting aside the 'everyone is watching' or 'it's that kind of era' mindset for a moment...
I would like to cherish the time when they can easily encounter the joy of reading.


・Click here for letter (28).
(28) Living with a 'stack of books' from around age 5 was the shortest route to becoming a 'child who reads' - To the mom I met 10 years ago - | Emi Suzuhara (note.com)


Today

“I asked my 6th-grade daughter about 'books, games, and videos,' and she answered seriously”

...is the topic.


Now, Shiori-san.

This is sudden, but today I asked my eldest daughter, who is currently in 6th grade, the following questions.

“Hey, you enjoy books, games, and watching videos every day, but could you tell me about the appeal of each and what you think about them? I made a questionnaire, so could you type it out?”

“Sure.”

--So, here are my questions and my eldest daughter's responses (the text has been slightly polished).

■ Thank you for your cooperation with this questionnaire
-What are games and videos to a child who reads books?-

I believe you enjoy books, games, and watching videos every day.
However, isn't the enjoyment of each slightly different for you?
Therefore, I would be happy if you could tell me your honest feelings.

〇 Question (1)
What is 'reading' to you?

Also, please tell me its appeal and what you think is good about reading.

〇 Response / To me, reading is the most interesting thing in the world.
The appeal is that it makes me forget the time. However, it doesn't have as much addictiveness as games. Forgetting the time might have a bad side sometimes, but it just means I'm that immersed in the world of the book.
Also, it's fun to read while imagining things, and while you have to experience the whole world in a game, it's also interesting that you can re-read only the parts you like in a book.
If I had played games before getting hooked on reading, I might have ended up thinking 'games are the most fun!' or 'entertainment is only games and videos.' Games are made so that anyone can find them interesting, so everyone gets hooked on them immediately.
Also, another appeal of reading is that you can acquire the ability to read kanji just by reading.
And, I think I gained reading comprehension skills. When you have reading comprehension, it's very useful when writing essays in class, and since there are many questions in modern tests that ask you to 'write your thoughts,' it's convenient then.
Also, since there are many books in the world, it's interesting that you can choose books that suit each person and recommend them.

〇 Question (2)
What do you want parents (adults) to understand about reading?

〇 Response / I don't want to be forced to read. If it's a book an adult forces me to read, I'll get bored halfway through. It's not interesting to read with a bad feeling. Also, I don't want them to change the book I want to another one saying 'this one is more educational.' I want them to buy the book I want as much as possible.

〇 Question (3)
Please tell me how you feel when you finish reading an interesting book.

(It doesn't matter if there is a specific book title or not)

〇 Response / I would like to write about my favorite author, Yoru Sumino's work, 'I Had That Same Dream Again'.
At first, I thought this story was a 'time-leap' story. The protagonist doesn't time-leap, but something like that was happening. However, I was surprised when I read the final chapter. The development was completely different from what I had imagined (please check the ending for yourself). Even if it's not a book that surprises you, when I read a good book or a book that moves me to tears, I want to spread it to others along with my own impressions, saying 'try reading this'.

〇 Question (4)
Do you remember the first book you felt was 'interesting even though it was almost all text'?

〇 Response / I think it was the 'Nazono Mami' series I read in 2nd grade.
* 'Science Detective Nazono Mami' series... The first volume is 'Science Detective vs. School's Seven Mysteries' (Written by Midori Sato, Koji Ishikawa, Rima Kitaki, Tomoaki Tanaka / Illustrated by Kigi / Asahi Shimbun Publications)

〇 Question (5)
What is the appeal of 'games' to you?

〇 Response / The appeal of games is that even in one game, there are various modes and a rich variety of ways to play. You can experience a world you are interested in, and I think it's good that anyone can start immediately. There are also games where it's not a spoiler even if you look up what you want to know, walkthroughs, or tips on the internet in advance (if it's not an RPG), so I think it's good that there are various ways to enjoy them.

〇 Question (6)
How do you feel when you are told 'stop now' while playing a game?

〇 Response / I watch the time and stop by myself, so I want to think 'you don't really need to tell me,' but it's a bit addictive, so when I've been playing for too long, I think it's okay for you to warn me.

〇Question (7)
What do you want parents (adults) to understand about games?

〇Response/ Games aren't bad in every way, and it's not like you'll become less intelligent if you play them even a little, so I want you to let me play them to a certain extent. However, I want you to tell me if I'm playing too much, but I don't want you to just say 'no' to everything. Regarding games, playing too much puts a strain on both the body and the mind, so even if the child rebels at the time, I think you should properly warn them.

〇Question (8)
What is the appeal of 'watching internet videos' to you?

〇Response/ The appeal of watching videos is that you can easily enjoy them just by watching and listening. My favorite people (YouTubers, etc.) upload many videos, so I can just watch the videos of people I like and not watch the posts of people I don't like, which I think is convenient. It's also appealing that everyone can enjoy them if you connect them to the TV.

〇Question (9)
How do you feel when you are told 'stop now' while watching a video?

〇Response/ If I have to stop in the middle of a video, I'll be very curious about what happens next and I think I'll rebel even more, so I would appreciate it if you waited for me to stop on my own or told me after the video is over.

〇Question (10)
What do you want parents (adults) to understand about watching videos?

〇Response/ Regarding videos, there are fun ones and boring ones, and good ones and bad ones, so if it's a bad one, I want you to stop me, but if I'm watching something that isn't particularly bad, I want you to leave me alone as much as possible. It's something that can be enjoyed by everyone, but it can also be enjoyed individually, so I would be happy if you could leave me alone when I want to enjoy it by myself. Also, watching too much is not good, so I think you should warn me if I'm watching too much.

--Thank you very much.


----End of questionnaire----


That is the end of the questionnaire.
I thought she might find it troublesome... but my eldest daughter answered very seriously.

By the way, in our house, my eldest daughterpurchased her first home game console and one favorite software when she was in the third grade of elementary school(however, after consultation, we decided on a game with content that is easy to break off, saying 'that's it for today' instead of an RPG). Since then, she has been playing for about 30 minutes every day.

I was watching the situation quite closely regarding video viewingbut there was a channel I wanted to recommend, saying 'This is interesting!', sowe started watching it together on the TV screen from the fifth grade of elementary schoolFrom there, she currently enjoys about three fixed channels for 30 to 40 minutes a day (my second daughter also watches along with the flow... that's a common sibling thing).


Children who are used to reading can read books to kill time or change their moodsoI personally think that even if they start enjoying games and watching videos, their tendency toward addiction is low... By the way, my eldest daughter loves TV anime, movies, and manga, and when she is at home and has free time, she enjoys various things, but she says,

'If there is nothing left, I will eventually re-read the books in the house'so it's okay.

--Books seem to be the foundation of entertainment and the last bastionas well.

<Bonus>
The following is a version where I also asked my second daughter in the second grade of elementary school.
She said, 'Ask me too,' so I will record it.


■What is the appeal of reading to you?
The fact that I can kill time as much as I want. The more things I have to read, the more I can choose from, which is fun.

■Aren't books with only text boring?
If there are a few pictures, those characters will move in my head, and if I imagine it myself, it will emerge, so it's fine.

■Do you remember the first book you felt was 'interesting even though it was almost all text'?
'Jikanwari Danshi' (Timetable Boys). My big sister was reading it, so I was curious and read it, and it was interesting.
* 'Jikanwari Danshi' series (Written by Mitsuba Ichinose / Illustrated by Noto Eno / Kadokawa Tsubasa Bunko)

■What is the appeal of games to you?
It's fun to be able to move things that are actually on the screen with my own will.

■What is the fun of watching videos to you?
It's fun to be able to see various people doing interesting things.


--That's all for the second-grade daughter version.



Today, I asked these questionsalso with the meaning of having my children verbalize how they feel about entertainment at home.
I am grateful for my children's cooperation.



The letters continue.


<'Did you realize there are books in the world?' Knowing Miss Sullivan's feelings>





・Click here for letter (30).(30) Living with 'piled-up books' since around age 5 was the shortest route to becoming a 'child who reads' - To the mom I met 10 years ago - | Emi Suzuhara (note.com)

・Click here for letter (1).
(1) Having books piled up since around age 5 was the shortest route to becoming a 'child who reads' - To the mom I met 10 years ago - | Emi Suzuhara (note.com)