Turning Down the Noise: Reading and the Development of Spirituality in Children

Abstract

The Noise—technology and electronic media—is undeniably integrated into the fabric of American life. The enchantment with the Noise begins at an early age as parents of children ages 6 months to 6 years report that 83% of their young children spent an average of 117 minutes per day using all screen media. Students ages 8–18 report 8 1/2 hours of exposure to the media each day with only 43 minutes spent reading. Youth who use the media as their frame of reference often ignore their spirituality and experience emptiness and alienation. The author offers a variety of ways that reading to and with children can counter the influence of the media on children and foster their spirituality.