Did you read a lot of fiction in childhood?

I read an article which claimed those children who’d read a lot of fiction during their childhood tended to have 10 traits. Now, I usually take this type of thing with a big dollop of salt, but I was a prolific reader of fiction during childhood, and I do have all 10 traits – so I thought I’d see what you thought about it my fellow bloggers.

Let’s start with a list of those 10 traits:

  1. We have a rich imagination
  2. We’re empathetic
  3. We have excellent communication skills
  4. We’re critical thinkers
  5. We’re lifelong learners
  6. We value relationships
  7. We’re comfortable with solitude
  8. We appreciate the grey areas
  9. We’re patient
  10. We’re open minded

Some of these seem pretty obvious traits you’d find in a prolific reader – the rich imagination, and being comfortable with solitude, in particular – but here’s the article which provides meat to the bones of this belief and, to my mind, puts forward a sound case.

My family is split – with my father and three children on one side being prolific readers of fiction, while my mother and one child were not. I can see most (if not all) of those traits in the prolific fiction readers, but not in those who weren’t.

Yet I’d have thought what we read would’ve had as significant an impact as how much, hence why I’m curious to know of your experience.

If you were a prolific reader of fiction in childhood, how many of these traits do you share? Do you have these traits despite not being a prolific reader of fiction in childhood? What have you observed in others you know?

© Debs Carey, 2025

26 thoughts on “Did you read a lot of fiction in childhood?”

Add yours

  1. I read whatever I could get my hands on as a child. I didn’t realize until many years later that reading was my safe place and a way to distance myself from all the turmoil in my very dysfunctional family. I see myself in many of the traits, while others I would want someone elses opinion on actually. I try to be empathetic and patient, but I wonder if others see me that way? Perhaps the traits aren’t confined only to prolific readers but are more enhanced, thus becoming more visible to others, than if a person chose not to, or didn’t have access and encouragement to read as a child?

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I read all the time as a girl and teenager. I like the list, it makes sense to me. I will own up to 9 of the 10. I’m not imaginative in the sense of writing fiction. My worldview is too literal to be imaginative— unless being creative in interior design or cooking counts as imaginative. [I may have talked myself into being all 10.]

    Liked by 1 person

  4. So interesting, Deb. I was a prolific reader of fiction, and I do believe I have all 10 of these traits. Maybe there is a connection. To clarify, I am not a patient “waiter” (as in waiting for something or someone); however, my solution to that is to always have a book on hand to pass the time.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I always had at least one book going at any time when I was young (and still do). I can’t imagine not looking forward every night to getting back into whatever I’m reading. I am forever grateful to my parents for encouraging me to read. I read a rather disturbing statistic about how few people read books anymore. It was shocking. I wonder if this lack of reading means that fewer people are developing those 10 traits? Yikes!

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I always read when I was a kid, and I never stopped. One of my joys now is to watch our grandkids completely absorbed in their books. Needless to say, I’d like to think that most of the items on that list relate to me!!😊

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I read a lot of fiction growing up. It just seemed the natural thing to do. I loved playing with the neighbor kids, but my mom did have to tell me now and then to put the book down and go out and play.

    I guess I have all those characteristics. It’s a matter of degree. I’d say I have only a fair imagination. Numbers 2-10 are slam dunks. How could anyone who has a custom of reading fiction not be empathetic, open-minded, etc.?

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Good point about the traits being more enhanced rather that solely seen in prolific readers Deb.

    I recognise your description of reading being a method to escape, even if I only recognised why I’d need to do so later in life.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Ally, you did (quite rightly in my not so humble opinion) talk yourself into being all 10.

    I’m glad you had the same reaction to the list as I did. I was so ready to poo-poo it, but it just made such good sense, and I couldn’t find a hole in the thought process no matter how I tried.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Autumn, I bet you’re a lot more patient that you think you are. Or at least surprisingly patient in some ways, while being totally reasonable in your impatience in others. I was a lot less patient in my earlier years, but appear to have mellowed with age 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. You see Christie, that’s the thing – the truly impatient do not seek a solution to their impatience, they just complain and make everyone else’s lives worse while doing so 🙂

    Like

  12. Janis, you went there! That’s the concern I had too. I do believe that people can still develop these traits, but that they need some influence other than fiction in order to do so. I am constantly surprised by the statistics demonstrating the reduction in reading. I mean, it’s understandable when you suffer with dyslexia or have to work multiple jobs so have no time, but I find it positively disturbing each time I come across people who don’t read fiction because they’re not interested. That said, I have one of those in my life (Himself) who finds non-fiction to be superior to fiction, as well as being dyslexic. He does lack some of these traits, but I provide the influence via our many lengthy discussions.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Jane, like you I simply adore seeing my grandchildren reading and getting so much pleasure from books. Their home is laden with books, despite their father being a dyslexic. It sets such a great example.

    I don’t doubt that those traits reside in you. Indeed, I suspect they will reside in most of my readership – we’re just those kinda people 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Nicki, I’d never found a way of explaining why I feel reading a lot of fiction is important – and finally this has provided me with the perfect argument.

    I am smiling at you saying you only have a fair imagination when you’re a published author 🙂

    Like

  17. Several times, I have been on a flight lasting one or more hours and notice another passenger just sitting there staring at the back of the seat in front of them the whole time. (I, of course, have a book.) I wonder what the heck they could be thinking about. I guess it’s possible they are thinking all sorts of creative thoughts. Or not.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Very interesting, this, and I did read the article.

    I read vociferously as a child and I only display a few of these traits.  My communication skills are rubbish.  I say the wrong things a lot of the time or sit there saying nothing, because I don’t know what to say.  Also, I’m not patient.  I have to be doing something all the time.  I fidget.

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Janis, I know on those occasions when I’m not carrying a something to read option that I allow my mind to wander with my thoughts. My understanding is that mental wandering can be beneficial in the right circumstances, but it can also be negative leading to mithering, catastrophising etc, so it depends hugely what kind of thoughts are renting house space in our minds at any particular time. Ergo, far far better to read a piece of fiction 🙂 But, in this reader’s views, it is *always* better to read a piece of fiction! 😀

    Like

  20. Rosemary, thank you for providing the balancing view. I believe you’re being decidedly hard on yourself by describing your communication skills as rubbish – you’re a writer. so they can’t be. I suspect you’re referencing social situations, so I wonder if it matters whether the prolific fiction reader is extravert or introvert in nature as to which/how many of these traits apply. Interesting food for thought 🙂

    Like

  22. No Mark, don’t say so. I am Taurus too, but I do have patience… if not all the time, and depending on why it’s required. Erm, does that count or have I cheated?

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Read loads as a kid…have maybe one of those traits naturally and have developed a bit more empathy as an adult. Sorry!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Interesting Caroline, you’re bucking the trend! I’m not entirely surprised to hear about the empathy as it is something you can learn, as well as having it naturally.

    Like

Leave a comment

A WordPress.com Website.

Up ↑