Kendall County Times

State Rep. Jed Davis (R-Newark) is launching a Kids Summer Reading Program. 

Books will be provided by Davis and awards will also be given.

“This summer ... let's encourage our kids to put down the screens and pick up some books. Why not read with your rep?!?!” an announcement on Davis’s Facebook page reads. “Anne of Green Gables or Rush Revere (series books) for ages 9 to 12. Various children's books for ages 6 to 9.”

The books are available for pick up at Davis's office. He encourages children to "read from wherever, launching June 1 and running through the summer.”

"Please rsvp for additional details by simply emailing…davisstaff@ilhousegop.org," the announcement reads. 

Excessive screen time for children has been linked to changes in the developing brain. A dissertation published by Denise Scairpon in 2021 found children aged 4 and 5 may suffer damage and see limited success in school if they use devices excessively, according to EdTEch

The amount of screen time for children has increased greatly over the past few years. The American Academy of Pediatrics has said children aged 2 to 5 should spend no more than 1 hour per day on digital screens. With the increase in screen time, the results of the development of children are yet unknown, Education Week reported.

The Reading & Literacy Discovery Center of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital has also released neurobiological evidence showing the negative effects of excessive screen time on children’s brains. 

“This is important because the brain is developing the most rapidly in the first five years,” said lead author Dr. John Hutton, a pediatrician and clinical researcher at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital told CNN. “Kids who have more stimulating experiences that organize the brain are at a huge advantage when they get to school. And it’s really harder and harder for kids to catch up if they arrive behind.” Brain scans conducted by that institute found disorders in the areas of children’s brains needed to appropriately organize learning.