Reading at a Young Age

When I was younger I read books constantly. I wasn't allowed to watch television during the weekdays because my parents didn't want me to get into the habit of watching television every day as a teenager and adult. Watching television was a privilege, not a necessity or a time that I believed I should constantly be given. Books were my form of television and in my mind they told a story better than any TV show or movie could. I was given the opportunity to imagine the characters and setting in any way that I desired and I wasn't confined to a movie's interpretation. In elementary school, I excelled in spelling, missing only two words during my time at the school.  Spelling was something I genuinely enjoyed because it gave me a sense of accomplishment and I was always proud of myself. In middle school, I did well on all vocabulary tests, rarely missing the spelling and definitions of the words. High school is the same story. I believe that I owe my parents a thank you for limiting my time on the television and giving me the choice of what to do with the spare time that I was given after homework. They never forced me to read, but they did give me praise when I would figure out a word by sounding it out or when I would complete a short story. After they got me past the first steps of learning to read, I chose to continue reading for fun. It has never been something I disliked or whined over when a teacher would assign a new book to read. Honestly, reading in school is a treat for me because I get to take time out of my busy day to sit down and read a couple of chapters. I might not enjoy all books, but I do enjoy the peaceful time that they bring.