This research was structured in order to describe the view that adults have of children's and adolescents' reading behavior, including: what they read, the reasons that motivate their reading, the participation of the social environment. For this, 45 mothers were interviewed whose children went to private elementary schools, according to the "Roteiro para Investigação do Comportamento de Leitura" (Guide to Reading Behavior Investigation). The interviews were carried out in the mothers' houses, recorded and later fully transcribed, and the data were submitted to qualitative analysis. The analysis of the reports shows that: 1) As a whole, children and adolescents read with frequency, in most cases to fulfill the school's reading assignments; their reading generates other activities which include story-telling, making comments and asking for help in comprehension problems; books and magazines for children and adolescents are the reading materials that are the most mentioned. 2) The family usually foster the activity in different ways, such as shared reading and the indication and supply of books, magazines, etc. The discussion includes a reflection on the family and scholl participation in the children's and adolescents' reading behavior and also on the influence of the activity in the socialization process.
reading behavior; children and adolescents; human development; education
