By The ability to enjoy reading does not only depend on how much we practice. It seems that there are also hereditary factors that are beyond our control. In this article we will tell you why.
Reading is one of the areas to which parents and teachers devote the greatest effort within their educational work . Children are encouraged, motivated and invited to read regularly, with the aim of being able to benefit from all the advantages that this activity offers: from improving academic performance to accessing all kinds of knowledge or letting their imagination run wild. However, not all children seem so receptive to these proposals, and it is not just a question of the child’s stubbornness. In fact, the love of reading is, in part, a question of genetics.
This is an inescapable reality: there are children who enjoy reading and devouring one book after another . Others, however, resist doing this task and it is more of a punishment for them than a moment of leisure. Normally, we attribute these differences to the stimulation offered by the environment. For example, we consider that the habit of reading is not being adequately encouraged at home or at school . However, there is a genetic component that we are overlooking.
The taste for reading is a matter of genetics
The dichotomy between genetics and environment is an open debate that affects practically all spheres of personality. And studies with twins have proven to be one of the best ways to analyze the influence of each element. In this case, research has been carried out to understand more about the predisposition to reading (that is, why some children choose to read more than others) and the results are striking.
When comparing groups of twins and fraternal twins, it was found that the latter are more likely to have different reading tendencies. In twins, however, the similarity in this predisposition is greater, and this is directly due to genetic factors. But why does this happen? It seems that the key lies in reading ability.
Generally, those children who read the most are also the best at it; and we assume that it is this greater practice that confers greater skill. However, the direction seems to work in reverse: children with greater reading ability read more because they enjoy it more. And this ability is highly heritable .
This is easy to understand, as for children with lower reading skills, books are not as accessible or enjoyable. On the contrary, they can be a struggle when trying to decipher texts, understand and organize their meaning. These effects are more visible when we think of children with dyslexia (for whom reading is a challenge) or with ADHD (for whom staying focused on reading is a challenge).
And what about the environment?
The above findings indicate that genetics have a lot to say about the taste for reading . But what about the environment? Does this have no influence? Well, one of the most relevant factors in this regard is the quality of teaching and how teachers approach learning to read. Thus, it has been seen that this influences, but only to a certain extent.
That is, if children do not have good teachers, their potential will not be realized. However, with excellent quality teachers, genetic factors determine to what extent reading skills can develop . And this is something that is beyond our control.
However, this does not mean that we should just ignore the issue and leave everything to genetics when it comes to reading. There are important contributions that can be made if we want a child to develop a passion and enjoyment of books:
- Apply good teaching methods . As we said, the quality of teachers and the educational process is of great importance, as they can hinder the development of children’s natural potential.
- Foster a love of reading and writing in children at home and at school. Although not the determining factor, these types of environmental influences have been shown to affect both children’s skills and enjoyment.
- Provide opportunities to practice . The amount of reading can also foster a love of reading and help improve fluency. Therefore, it is always a good idea to encourage children to read frequently.
Ultimately, research has shown that a love of reading is not merely a result of how much a child reads, but is influenced by their abilities and skills in this regard. Since these are hereditary, we cannot push beyond a certain point marked by genetics. However, we can positively influence it by taking advantage of the impact of the environment in which they grow up, both at school and at home.