Q: Why is it important for kids to be comfortable with reading?

A: Studies show that the most important predictor of academic success is the amount of time children spend reading books – more important even than a child’s economic or social status.

Q: What does that have to do with their future achievement?

A: Getting a good education is not as optional as it used to be: Two generations ago, 60% of jobs involved unskilled labor; that number now has fallen to less than 20%. Students who read well, do better academically, and that leads to better jobs and overall more confidence and success in life.

Q: Why all the recent attention on males falling behind?

A: Since many of the jobs lost in recent years have been in manufacturing, construction and sales – work traditionally dominated by men – unemployment has hit males far worse than it has hit females. Males with higher education are less susceptible, but the number of males being accepted by universities is falling compared with females (currently 57% females, 43% males).

Q: And this has something to do with boys reading at an earlier age?

A: The majority of reluctant readers are boys, and an estimated 40% of boys are reluctant readers. In fact, on average, boys are 1.5 years behind girls in reading and writing, from their toddler years right into their teens. This gap is worldwide and growing. It is also easily resolvable.

Q: So how can we help our kids to do well in reading, school and life?

A: They need more support around reading and writing – for boys especially, starting around fourth grade. (Hundreds of tips in Jump-Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life, from which this is adapted.)

Excerpted from Jump- Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Life, by Pam Withers and Cynthia Gill (Viva Editions). All references (footnotes) contained in the book.