I picked up an old habit over the summer. I am now running two miles without stopping. Along with my new obsession comes a healthy curiosity. Do I run to the library and check out books on running to fulfill my need to know more? Well no, I take the easy approach. I subscribed to Runner’s World magazine.
Without prompting from me, two of my carpool buddies (new to the running thing) are also subscribing to the magazine. They look forward to their first month’s issue having read articles from hand-me-down copies. This example is proof others want to learn everything they can about a hobby. It is a shared human experience.
Do you have a son or daughter with a hobby such as gymnastics, football, basketball, knitting, drawing or sewing? Do they also balk at reading? Here is your chance to shine.
Subscribe to a magazine that follows a favorite hobby such as Sports Illustrated or VIBE. When the issue arrives place it in the teenager’s room and then casually walk away. Say nothing about reading it or how much it cost or “I was thinking…” merely walk away.
Reading magazines counts as reading. Who cares if the quality is questionable? It is the fact kids are reading and exposing themselves to different vocabularies and sentence structures without the pressure of test taking afterwards that has huge appeal. One can learn from fun, senseless reading, too.
I see you shaking your head at me. Your child’s hobbies are video games or talking/texting on their cell phone while in the home. Well, gamers will be thrilled with GamePro magazine. This monthly rag rates the latest games from every system and every genre. Packed with secret codes to advance players and thought provoking articles like “Versus Mode” where they pit game hero against game hero such as Inspector Tequila against Max Payne, will enthrall young readers.
Cell phone chatterers can find amusement in entertainment magazines. We at the library like to thumb through the pages of PEOPLE magazine. We look at the pictures and read the captions, but rarely do we actually read an article. Again, it may not be quality reading but it is active reading not before seen from that texting teenager. Sorry, I was unable to find a magazine for texting.
Consider magazines for those in your home who do not read. They could be the stepping stones to a reading future.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Magazines Anyone? (copy)
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14 comments:
Amen!
Good idea! And let your kids see you reading a newspaper, even if it's only the Sunday edition.
If kids read comics or graphic novels, I applaud it. Something is better than nothing. Hopefully, they will move up to books later.
Magazines (except those adult ones) are good reading also.
I'm preaching to the choir with you Tiffany! ;)
Ann, that is so true! I wrote in a Laura Bush grant that the pricipal would be seen reading a newspaper in the morning! Please, kids mirror him! :D
I totally agree Isabel, but I know my reading audience will not! They really believe reading isn't good unless it is a quality book like a classic! Makes me kinda ill, but I realize they haven't seen the light - yet. :D
Maggie why run when you can walk ? It's better on your constitution too...:-)
Who knew but I like running Paul. I walk 3x a week with a friend, but that doesn't burn any calories. It's time I got a little healthier, too. Running makes me eat better. I do not fast food on a run day unless I want to see the same meal twice. ;D
Glad I finally read this article. Well put, Maggie!
Ah, thanks Susie! I have some great running buddies! :D
Joggers may soon be banned in Billings Mags...
My parents never had a problem getting me to read, but I remember that it was like ARRRGGHHH when we (me and my two siblings) were going to learn German in high school (German is a mandatory language in the high school curriculum in Denmark, or at least it was when I went to high school). So they, my parents, let us subscribe to a silly German pop-music magazine, which came once a week. We had that subscribtion for years, we read it over and over again (they also had stories about love and sex and school and other things teenagers are interested in), and I think that is why I read German fluent to this day. Its a terrific idea.
Billings Montana? Why, Paul?!?
Yes, Louise! What a great testament to the power of magazines! We have a hard time getting the masses in Mississippi reading. My magazine suggestion mught be a little too lofty with money tight in many families here. But, there is always the library! ;D
I subscribe to a few magazines. I like fashion, particularly the interesting, beautiful sometimes odd looking clothes by major designers that appear in the pages of some magazines and I like interesting articles. Vogue and Elle magazine have both. The articles in these magazines run from Art, music, books to gardens, flowers, cooking and relationships.
Enjoy the running!
Amy
So true Amy. Flipping through Vogue I also like all the ads! Because I work at a college library, I get to check in all the mags we subscribe to and we have a fabo art department. If you ever get to a bookstore mag rack look for Communication Art, ArtNews or Print. I can find interesting things in them that entertain for hours. :)
Our oldest son's favorite reading material was Mad Magazine :-)
Glad to hear you've begun running again. I've been running more than 30 years, and I can't imagine ever stopping. By the way, what running shoe do you wear?
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