https://heypop.substack.com/p/how-john-steinbeck-tricked-his-kids
"My son has finally found his confidence as a reader. He’s comfortable in so
many other aspects of childhood. He can handle himself on the pitcher’s mound,
for instance, staring down a batter while facing a full count with the game on
the line. He’ll slurp a plateful of oysters or any other unusual food we put in
front of him, without hesitation. He’s sure of himself socially, able to hang
with adults or kids of all ages. But when it came to reading, he’d been full of
frustration and defeat, giving up at the first moment of struggle. Then over
the past couple months, he discovered a book series he loves, and my wife
gently and consistently encouraged him, and now he begs to read to us each
morning. I hope it lasts.
My wife and I are book lovers and collectors, so our son’s resistance had been
particularly dispiriting. We have a house filled with books, lining the walls,
taking up space, reminding us of their presence each time we pass through a
room. We want our kids to love reading as much as we do, and we’re still in
that golden moment in which our children shape themselves in our image, but
that won’t last long. Soon our kids will push away anything we slide in front
of them, and so persuasion may not be the best approach. Every parent knows
that for your kid to truly want something, that thing needs to be against the
rules and off-limits.
Many years ago, I traveled to Santa Barbara to interview the writer Thom
Steinbeck, eldest son of the great author, for a documentary I was producing
about
The Grapes of Wrath. Thom gave a generous and intimate interview,
sharing personal stories about his dad alongside shrewd literary insights.
I didn’t yet have kids of my own, but Thom told a story that day that has stuck
with me, and I promised myself I would steal this trick if I ever became a
father. My kids are still a bit young for it, but someday I’ll do it."
Via Esther Schindler.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
