Latest news with #MissRachel
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Are Children Losing the Ability to Read?
Parents are increasingly disinterested in reading to their kids — and it's majorly hurting the young ones' literacy skills down the line. In interviews with The Guardian, childhood literacy experts expressed concerns about shrinking rates of at-home reading, which occurs as the prevalence of so-called "screen time," or time using tablets or smartphones, balloons ever higher. Spencer Russell, a Texas-based former elementary school teacher turned literacy coach and influencer, told the website that gen Z-aged parents, or those born after 1997, particularly seem to have difficulty reading to their kids — perhaps because they were raised on such screens themselves. "I don't think we can divorce the role of technology influencing gen Z parents and their kids with the decline in reading out loud," he explained. "Screen time is replacing one-on-one, quality interactions between parent and child." "We see children who can sit still and focus for hours on YouTube or Miss Rachel," he continued, "but when you sit them down with a book, they move, wiggle, or scream and run away." It's well known that too much screen time can harm a child's cognitive development, and that effect may well be compounded by dropping rates in at-home reading. A recent HarperCollins survey, which found less than half of parents surveyed said that reading to their kids was "fun," may help explain that downward trend. The impacts of replacing reading with screen time has long-term educational impacts, too. "Books are a really rich source of learning new words, and if kids don't have that experience reading at home, they're likely to come to school knowing less vocabulary," Dawna Duff, a speech language pathology associate professor at SUNY Binghamton University in New York State, told the Guardian. According to a 2019 study, parents who read one single picture book per day with their kids provide them access to a whopping 78,000 new words per year. In the five years before those children enter school, that number jumps to a whopping 1.4 million words. Parents who don't read to their kids are, in essence, taking all those words away — and with jarring studies suggesting up to two-thirds of American 4th graders lack the skills to read fluently, it seems highly unlikely that the two are unrelated. A specialist in vocabulary education, Duff told the Guardian that learning words early "makes a big difference in how successful you're going to be throughout school" — and emphasized that parents needn't be perfectionists when trying to teach their kids new words when reading at home. "You shouldn't feel like you need to read every word on the page," she said, "or even any words on the page." Ultimately, any type of reading at home appears to be more helpful than not, and tailoring reading time to kids' specific interest is, per Duff, the best way to go about it. "We know one of the most helpful ways to read books is by having a conversation with children about what they're interested in," she continued. "Follow their lead." Add all this to the disastrous situation in classrooms, where fed-up teachers are confronting a deluge of AI slop from students who can barely read, and you have all the makings of an educational and intellectual crisis. More on reading: Business Insider Did Something So Stupid With AI That We're Reeling
NDTV
03-06-2025
- General
- NDTV
Study Shows Gen Z Parents Don't Want To Read To Their Children
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. A study reveals Gen Z parents find reading aloud less enjoyable than previous generations, leading to a decline in children reading for pleasure. In 2024, only 32% of kids read for fun, while screen time increasingly replaces quality parent-child interactions. Gen Z parents, born in the late 1990s and early 2000s, don't enjoy reading aloud to their children as much as their millennial and Gen X counterparts, a new study has revealed. The generations prior to Gen Z viewed reading as a fun and meaningful bonding activity and not just an educational task. A HarperCollins UK report reveals a sharp decline in children reading for pleasure, with fewer of them opting to choose books in their free time. The report shows that in 2012, more than 55 per cent of children aged 5 to 10 often chose to read for fun, but by 2024, that number dropped to just 32 per cent. The study also shows that many parents don't find reading aloud enjoyable. Only 40 per cent of parents say reading to their children is fun. In 2012, about 64 per cent of parents regularly read aloud to children aged 0 to 4, as compared to 2024, when only 41 per cent do it. Only 36 per cent of children aged 5 to 7 are read to regularly, while just 22 per cent of 8 to 10-year-olds are read to at home, according to the study. Only 29 per cent of boys aged 0-2 are read to daily as compared to 44 per cent of girls in the same age group, it said. The percentage of parents who say their children have too much schoolwork to read books has also sharply increased since 2012. In 2024, 49 per cent of parents of children aged 5 to 13 reported this, up from 25 per cent in 2012. About 28 per cent of Gen Z parents think reading is a more effective way to learn, as compared to 21 per cent of Gen X parents. The report reveals that Gen Z parents, who grew up with phones and digital media, are more likely to turn to screens for entertainment instead of books. Reading is "more a subject to learn than a fun thing to do," according to nearly one in three youngsters aged 5 to 13 in 2024, up significantly from one in four (25 per cent) in 2012. Spencer Russell, a former elementary school teacher and Founder of Toddlers CAN Read, asked parents last week, "Why aren't you reading aloud to your kids?" One parent said, "It's so boring," while another said, "I don't have time." According to The Guardian, some parents reported that it was difficult for them to get their children to sit still for long periods. One parent said, "He's always interrupting," while another said, "My son just wants to skip all the pages." Mr Russell said, "We see children who can sit still and focus for hours on YouTube or Miss Rachel, but when you sit them down with a book, they move, wiggle, or scream and run away. Screen time is replacing one-on-one, quality interactions between parent and child."
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
American YouTuber heading to M&D's for baby and toddler show
Miss Rachel Fever has 14.9 million YouTube subscribers and a reported net worth of around $10 million began producing videos in 2019 to help preschoolers with language development and has become a phenomenal success. Miss Rachel Fever, the American YouTuber who creates baby and toddler learning videos, is heading to Lanarkshire. The former teacher who has 14.9 million YouTube subscribers and a reported net worth of around $10 million began producing videos in 2019 to help preschoolers with language development and has become a phenomenal success. M&D's Scotland's Theme Park, in partnership with Wicked Entertainment, has announced details of a Miss Rachel inspired morning featuring two shows which sold out within a matter of hours. The family attraction has now added a further two performances in response to the overwhelming demand. The shows will take place at 2.30pm and 4.15pm on Saturday, July 19. Jensen Taylor Connelly, M&D's Director, said: 'Miss Rachel became popular during the pandemic and her popularity has just rocketed as people look to entertain their babies. 'However, we were taken aback by how quickly our initial two performances sold out. We're really looking forward to welcoming all the babies on the day, it will be great fun!' Tickets cost £13.95 plus booking fee, which includes entry to Krazy Congo soft play as well as the Miss Rachel performance, and can be purchased at Located next to Strathclyde Country Park, M&D's is one of Scotland's top visitor attractions. The Theme Park features thrill rides and family rides, as well as a host of activities, for all age groups.
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Going screen-free for a week urged by expert as they issue stark health warning
Experts say too much screen time may be reshaping children's brains affecting focus, mood, memory and social skills during key stages of development but complete elimination isn't the answer In 2025, you'd be hard pressed to find a family that doesn't incorporate a screen into their family life. Whether it's Miss Rachel whilst busy parents slog through their already packed and demanding days, or CBeebies Bedtime stories read by your favourite famous person. The digital world has become a normal part of modern-day parenting. Experts are alarmed about the time children are spending glued to screens. The first week of May marks the annual Screen-Free Week, encouraging families to take a break from digital devices. Even small changes make a huge difference. Screen time is complicated because screens are used both to educate, entertain, and even soothe tantrums, but what happens when this becomes the norm and not the exception? According to child psychiatrists, the impact might go far deeper than a squabble over who gets the iPad next, the Independent reports. Rewiring the default setting in our brains Dr Samir Shah, consultant psychiatrist and medical director at Priory Hospital Altrincham, says screen time is doing more than filling quiet moments; to put it drastically, he says it could actually be reshaping the way children's brains grow and function. "Research has shown regular screen time and excessive screen time can change both the physical structure of the brain such as areas responsible for memory and planning, and how different parts of the brain communicate with each other," he explains. The constant stimulation of being online has the potential to rewire the routes brains use to think, learn and connect. Dr Shah likens this shift in "brain network connectivity" to closing a road and sending traffic on a detour. Eventually, that new route becomes the default, but it's not always the most efficient or healthy. He warns that heavy screen use has been linked to real cognitive struggles in children, including problems with attention, problem-solving and multitasking. Adding: 'It is similar to only exercising one muscle group, and other important mental muscles like focus, delayed gratification and self-control can weaken if they are not used enough.' The impact of constant stimulation on the brain's reward system Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that is released into our system when we do something enjoyable. The chemical is known as the brain's 'feel-good chemical.' 'Regular screen use triggers the release of dopamine, which is the brain's 'feel-good' chemical. This then creates a cycle of craving more screen time to get that same buzz or effect. It is a bit like checking the door repeatedly and hoping for an exciting visitor.' And once that cycle starts, it can make real-world experiences feel a bit, well, underwhelming. 'Over time, real-world and realistic activities can start to feel less rewarding by comparison. This is why children and teenagers who use screens regularly struggle to maintain or build meaningful social connections.' The impact on mental health There is also a mental health side to all of this. According to Dr Shah, research shows that children and teenagers who spend over four hours a day on screens are more likely to report heightened anxiety and low mood. The relentless digital stimulation may leave young people with high dopamine levels but an emotional void, leading to feelings of restlessness and dissatisfaction. He explains: 'Less face-to-face and direct interaction means fewer opportunities and chances to practise important social and executive skills like empathy and resolving conflicts.' Are children's brains more vulnerable? Dr Shah described children's brains as 'sponges,' ready to soak in everything at an incredible rate. Critical periods before age five and again in the preteen years are when the brain is most plastic and most shaped by repeated behaviours. Too much screen exposure during these windows could lead to longer-term consequences. You don't just have to take Dr Shah's word for this; MRI scans of children with high screen time have shown notable changes in the brain. These include thinner regions involved in decision-making, reduced grey matter in areas linked to language, and disrupted connectivity in the zones that manage focus and attention. Dr Shah has reiterated that whilst this doesn't constitute 'damage,' it is indicative of heavy screen use leading to brains adapting in different ways, he says specifically, 'It can be seen as altered adaptations and disruption.' There is a middle ground According to Dr Shah, balance is the way forward. Eliminating screen time altogether is not the way forward. That could mean setting daily limits, prioritising screen-free meals, or making time for digital detoxes in the evening. It's also worth noting that how screens are used is important—scrolling aimlessly on social media isn't the same as a video call with a loved one.
Middle East Eye
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
StopAntisemitism account 'delusional' for demanding investigation into Ms Rachel, critics say
A social media account has sparked backlash and accusations of silencing humanitarian voices after publicly calling on the US attorney general to investigate children's educator and YouTube personality Ms Rachel for allegedly promoting 'anti-Israel propaganda'. In a tweet posted earlier this week, StopAntisemitism, a self-described watchdog organisation, claimed that Ms Rachel had become 'an amplifier of Hamas propaganda' since 7 October 2023, sharing content to her over 20 million followers that included an allegedly misrepresented ''starving child' from Gaza photo', and statistics they called false regarding Palestinian child casualties. 'Is someone funding Ms Rachel?' the post asked, before calling on followers to file a Foreign Agents Registration Act complaint with the Department of Justice. The post prompted widespread condemnation across social media, with many accusing the group of smearing a beloved educator known primarily for her children's content on YouTube and TikTok, and of weaponising the term antisemitism to silence valid criticism of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip. 'If they'll go after Ms. Rachel, what will they do to you?' asked one user, warning that the campaign represented an effort to intimidate and suppress voices calling for humanitarian aid in Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Another said: "people are so delusional that they'll tell you with a straight face that children's YouTuber Miss Rachel is Hamas before they'll admit that a genocide is happening to Palestinians". 'This should be an Onion article, but this extremist account that tars any support for Palestinians as 'pro-Hamas' is now actually coming after one of the most beloved figures in the United States,' another posted. As someone who at this point has watched a LOT of Ms. Rachel now with my nephew, she's the most inoffensive and uninvolved dramawise channel around. She made what like maybe 3 or 4 posts praying for children in Palestine who watch her. That's her great crime. Fuck off. — 🏳️🌈Matt🏳️🌈 (@Necroxis9) April 8, 2025 people are so delusional that they'll tell you with a straight face that children's YouTuber Miss Rachel is Hamas before they'll admit that a genocide is happening to Palestinians being live streamed in 4K across platforms — Kat (@katstreams_) April 8, 2025 Others noted that Ms Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has advocated for the welfare of children, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, with one comment reading: 'A woman who became famous by making content for children is against killing kids… and you are mad about that?? What's wrong with you people??' It's very telling that Zionism is a crime against children when its biggest enemies are apparently children's teachers, children's entertainers, and children's hospitals. — Glenn_the_Golden (#1️⃣ Noided Streamer) (@GlenntheGolden1) April 8, 2025 Among those defending Ms Rachel was the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), which issued a statement condemning the campaign as 'dangerously misleading and designed to silence humanitarian advocacy'. MPAC praised Ms Rachel's efforts to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling her message one of 'compassion, human dignity, and moral leadership". This is not the first time the educator - who has posted regularly about the record number of child amputees in Gaza and criticised Israel's blockade of food and supplies - has come under attack by pro-Israeli figures. Last May, the YouTube sensation said she was bullied after she launched a fundraiser for children in conflict zones, including in Gaza. Her fundraiser, which largely received support from her followers, also triggered a wave of online trolling and calls for her to remain 'apolitical'. 'I care deeply for all children. Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US - Muslim, Jewish, Christian children - all children, in every country. Not one is excluded... Any child suffering is on my heart,' she said in a response to pro-Israeli backlash at the time. 'To do a fundraiser for children who are currently starving - who have no food or water - who are being killed - is human.' Some users defended StopAntisemitism's position, with one commenter stating they had already filed a complaint: 'We stopped the 40-something Miss Rachel over a year ago when she felt so 'sad' for the children in Gaza. NEVER mentioning the children in Israel until a few days later.' However, the suggestion that Ms Rachel has ignored the suffering of Israeli children is not consistent with her statements on her platforms, and social media users pointed out several posts Ms Rachel has made in support of Israeli families affected by the war. In a widely shared Instagram post in February, she wrote about the four-year-old and nine-month-old Bibas children, who died in captivity in Gaza along with their mother. 'I'm devastated to hear about precious Ariel and Kfir, and their beloved mother Shiri. My heart is with the Bibas family, the Jewish community, and people all over the world who are grieving. We need to protect children always,' Ms Rachel said. Middle East Eye reached out to Ms Rachel and the US Department of Justice for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
