Summer Time Book Worm

I was that kid! My suggestion to you - leave it be. I would point out that reading when company over is rude unless both are reading. That is the only thing you've said that is worth dealing with.

You can make a set of rules for him. For example . . . no readiung when company is over, and no reading and multitasking. If he is suposed to be doing something else, then he must finish the task properly before reading. Other than that, I would let him read; reading is great for him!

If he is complaining about not being able to read because of chores or company, I would have consequences set in place. If he truly has 0 minutes spent on any other activities, then I would think about having some family time or something where you can play fun games or do an activity together to get him moving.

You can also think about the type of books he likes to read. Does he like historical fiction? Then watch a documentary about the same time period he is reading about or visit a history museum. Does he like fantasy? The have him create a story to be told with his legos or as a play with friends. If you google the title of the book he is reading (or the series name), with the word "activities", lots of information should pop up.

I don't understand the problem, I guess. I read all the time as well. I like that he's climbing a tree and reading outside. As a kid, I would rush through my chores as quick as I could so I could get back to reading...and I still do. I'd much rather my kid be reading than playing video games, that's for sure.

My oldest was a lot like this. When she joined Reading Olympics in 3rd grade she had already read about 80% of the books before she got the list. Fast forward to high school...she hasn't read a book all year voluntarily. She is all about her extracurricular activities, friends and parties. Now instead of sneaking books to bed, I have to take her phone so she is not texting until all hours of the night. 😊
I never punished her for reading but I did have conversations about having a balanced life.

I love to read and so does my ten year old son. I wouldn't have a problem with the reading in itself. I would explain that it is rude to read a book in front of his company, and that is not acceptable. I would also insist that if he wants to read on a nice summer day that he do it outside, and also insist that he participate in activities other than reading. Otherwise, if it is down time I would rather reading than tv or video games.

ETA: If you want balance, then make sure there is less down time. Plan an activity or outing each day where there won't be time for reading.

You lucky person! Your kid likes to read! Celebrate!

I wouldn't try to inhibit his reading. I would brainstorm some summer projects, activities and trips you think he would like and print out the list.( i.e. run through the sprinkler; bicycle to Josie's; build a sand castle; put on a play; write his own book and make illustrations; learn how to play kickball; hunt for fireflies.) Then excitedly talk about options for the summer and have him add items to the list. Of course, put reading on the list, but he will see there are other options. (Of course, do not put watching TV on the list!) Then, as the summer flies by, try to do at least several of the small options. Also, have some long-term projects that get worked on daily. He will see he has other options to reading. Some even complement the reading; these could expand his enjoyment of the books he reads, and help him understand the story or information better.

And yes, do discuss how one interacts with a guest. Perhaps the above list could be created with the category, "Things to do with Cousin Albert and other guests." Point out that reading should not be on that list unless they are reading aloud together or using a book to consult about insects or animals or the planets, or some other topic together as they investigate something in the backyard, or consult the book in order to create a puppet show. That will show him how to use books with people as a jump start to activities.

Perhaps you could even start a neighborhood book club. For the first meeting, supply the same book to the kids in the club, read it together, and then talk about the book. Have supplies that they can use to extend the experience themselves, like costumes, paper and markers and the like.

I can't wait for summer vacation!

Sounds normal to me. The summer after 5th grade I read constantly. I read quite a bit through middle school and then got into music. I would spend HOURS in my room listening to records and tapes.
Is your son unhappy, or is this something that makes YOU unhappy?
There's a big difference.
I had friends, got good grades, ran track one year, was a cheerleader for a few years and was heavily involved in drama in high school, so I don't think those "reading" years affected me negatively at all. My son has followed a similar path, he loves to read and listen to music but he loves video games most of all.
Like me he has friends, and found a sport (track!) but is happy and satisfied spending quite a bit of time on his own, doing his thing.
I guess I just don't see the problem. Unless your son seems unhealthy or depressed I would just let him be.

Heh...I'd still be like that if there was time!

Some people aren't good with being bored or downtime. He sounds like one of those people. He is not good at filling his time, so reading is a fallback. Does he have any other hobbies? Perhaps, he could find one. Is he creative, at all? Downtime is a good time to spend painting, writing, drawing, creating. Does he enjoy going swimming at local pools? That's a good way to spend time in the summer.

I am a veracious reader. I read a novel a day as a child. I would be in my room with a flashlight till all hours. The difference, is I'm great at down time. I can think of something to make, to be creative, etc. Being bored is wonderful for me, because I get ideas and fill the time easily. He probably just needs help gaining the skill of filling time and getting creative.

He's 10. That's old enough to teach him to start taking responsibility for his day.

So have him write out a daily schedule. That schedule should include a healthy amount of physical activity, reading, chores, playing with friends (with no books), family time, etc. And then help him to stick with it by explaining that your job as a parent is to teach him how to be a grown up. Grown ups have to balance work and play in a healthy way.

ETA: I love to read and carry my Kindle EVERYWHERE. It's right next to me. Eating lunch without a book in my hand feels soooooo awkward.

My daughter CAN be like this, but it depends upon the book. Lately, she has been quite engrossed in the book she is reading. She has neglected to put away clothes and things like that, because she can't seem to put the book down. Usually, she is pretty good about getting to the end of a chapter and stopping to do whatever is asked of her.
She is almost 12 (for whatever that is worth).

But, she is just really engrossed in this particular book. I have some authors that I am that way about also. Not every single book I read, but the ones by this particular author, yes, I will read until my eyes close and the book falls on my face. I am like you, though, and do not like the idea of punishing for reading "too much"... but you can make rules about manners. And it is impolite to read at the table, or when you have a guest, or when someone is engaged in conversation with you.
And there is nothing wrong with saying, hey, you've had your nose in that book all morning---time to go run around outside and let your eyes rest.
Actually, my eye doctor has told me before that you need to take breaks from the computer screen and focus your vision on something a distance away.... rather than the same 24 inches away your computer screen is. I would imagine the same thing holds true for books, except that most people don't stare at them as long as they do a computer screen. In your son's case...maybe he needs to rest his eyes and focus further than reading distance away...

Books on CD.. Or down load them to your ipod and let him listen to them while doing chores.

We are a family of readers. We can hardly wait for Road trips so we can listen for hours at a time. We sit in the living room, working on projects.

Our daughter reads aloud to us in the car. Right now she is reading David Sedares's new book.

I have a book worm too. Is there any way you can have a "reading allowance" time? Like he can read for xxx amount of time, then he has to spend an equal amount of time playing outside, or doing something else? I would never (personally) discourage reading as long as the material is age appropriate. But there should be a balance. I don't think it's a silly problem at all. There are worse things he could be focusing on. :)

It almost sounds like he's reading as an escape and a way to retreat from his life and socialization. I would plan activities with other people where books are not allowed. He can read at home, but when company is over no way. We have a neighbor girl who does this and from my observation, she is a little awkward socially and reading is her way to avoid the discomfort of interacting with others.

My son who is 11 is a reader as well... I hate to say it, but when his teachers aren't looking....He has a book in his lap and sneaks a read..

His English teacher saw him doing it and asked, "are we boring you...... "
He's been teaching himself different languages and when the books is a pocket size language book, he shoves it in his pocket and brings it everywhere we go.. he brings books to school, in the car and yes.. has read when a friend was over. thankfully, it was a friend who also likes to read... I don't know that I'd make your stop reading, I do think it's a GREAT habit and nowadays, with kids loving t.v. and video games, gotta love a reader..
My son will attend summer school for month, plays chess, the accordion and we ll go on a ten day roadtrip, but he will still be allowed to read as often as he chooses..

It's great you have such a book worm! Sounds like me at that age. I'm trying to get my almost 7 year old into the habit of reading more this summer, but he's still learning, so it's not as fun for him yet.

One thing that may or may not have been mentioned is that he could be using his reading as a way to escape his everyday life. I'm not insinuating that there's anything going on at home, but maybe he prefers the worlds in his books to the real world. I only mention this because I've only recently discovered (through therapy) that the reason I read so much as a child was because it was my own form of escape. Riding my bike to the library, shutting myself up in my room with a book, daydreaming about the worlds I read about were all ways for me to cope with what was going on at home with my siblings and parents. It wasn't anything super bad. It's just that I was such an introvert and had a hard time coping with arguments and yelling. Of course, I'm writing as an adult now, so all that reading helped me find a passion I truly enjoy. Just my two cents.

I think the only things I would worry about are his relationships with his friends and his reading taking precedence over responsibilities at home, like his chores.

Set a time for reading like they do in school, for example, after dinner my nephew can read as much as he wants until he goes to sleep. Plan activities for the rest of the time so he's otherwise occupied, like outside. Take him to your local library, most have summer reading programs for kids. Don't discourage his love for reading, just balance it with other things. I read 21 books the summer I was his age, one of my best summers ever. I still love to read, I'm a reader :)