Reflections on Reading as a Kid
Finding insight from childhood books
What I find interesting from therapy is the insight gained from childhood memories. I often find moments stored away in a dusty corner of my mind covered in figurative cobwebs, which I’m sure had a significant impact on me—some good, some not so pleasant. Regardless of enjoyability, they sometimes help me explain who I am today. And from there, I consider whether I let my past define me or whether I created a unique path in life.
Considering how our past affects us, I recently asked myself, “what books do I remember reading as a child? How have those books influenced who I am today?”
Many of us can remember a character, situation, or concept that moved us in some way from the mandatory reading book in school. Those were the books we discussed in class where we thought more deeply about the characters and had input from our teachers that included their analysis. But if we look even a bit further, it’s fun to remember the books that we enjoyed for pleasure, even if it doesn’t provide a therapeutic breakthrough. Perhaps you might even remember one you forgot.
Looking back at the very first book I remember, I learned to read through a book about birds. I have since forgotten the name. It was a thin blue book that talked about all the different types of birds. Birds of prey, birds of paradise, hawks, peacocks, and everything in between. With English being my second language, it was with this book that I learned to read more fluidly. As a kid, it took me a while to figure out each word and my parents often told me I read like a robot. So I would have to read the book over and over again. Fun way to learn about birds I guess.
Another book I remember being glued to was one of those breed-specific books you find in pet stores for when you want to learn about a certain type of dog. I remember specifically having one about Dobermans. And it taught me many interesting lessons about dogs, training, and even some of their history. In reflection, I know both the book about birds and about dogs impacted my interest in animals as an adult.
At one point, when my mother was going to a night school to study English or for her citizenship, for whatever reason, I carried around an encyclopedia for kids. I don’t remember much from it. I can’t even remember how much time I spent within its pages. But as an adult, I wonder what other adults at the time thought about a kid carrying an encyclopedia.
I remember reading this study the other day. It said something about the critical age for children to become fans of a sports team being eight years old. More specifically, if a child of eight witnesses a championship from the team their parents love, that child will likely become a fan of that team for life. So it made me wonder what I read as a kid that might have influenced me.
For whatever reason, I was into fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. I enjoyed “Lord of the Rings” for it’s incredibly unique story. “The Hardy Boys” for their adventures together, many of which I’ve forgotten. “Animorphs” about a group of students who can all transform into different animals to save the world. As well as “Resident Evil” and the classic “Goosebumps” books. They make me wonder whether reading those books influenced what I enjoy now, or whether I already had an interest in those genres.
Looking back, I almost regret not taking more time to read books. But then again, some kids such as myself find it harder to enjoy them. Or perhaps even more sadly, they don’t find the ones that truly captivate them enough to want to read. This was a time before the internet really started to play a big part in many kids’ lives. Hopefully, we can all gain some benefit from reflecting on what we read when we were kids.