The Many Reasons Your Kids Should be Reading There are many reasons your kids should be reading, aside from the simple enjoyment of it. “What enjoyment?” you might say. “My kids would rather play video games. Getting them to read is like pulling teeth. I’m a parent, not a dentist!” (Unless you are a parent and a dentist) Getting your young gamer to read may be as simple as introducing them to books based on the games they love to play. (The books based on the games Halo or Minecraft come to mind) Why encourage your kids to read? We live in a very stressful time. That’s even more true for kids. Reading is great for reducing stress and tension. For me personally, reading was the ultimate form of escapism. Books are also less stressful on parents. They’re much quieter than TV and video games, and the batteries never die. (ebook readers aside) There are proven academic benefits to reading. Studies have shown that even a twenty minute a day reading habit can result in improved cogni