Not a waste.

Next time he says it is....does he watch tv? Tell him that anything other than TLC and the History Channel and Discovery Channel is a big waste of time then.

We can learn morals and other things as little children (and as we get older) from stories. Hansel and Gretel? And other folklore do have lessons behind them. As we get older, those stories need to become more elaborate to keep our attention for those who still read. The novel came to existence.

And reading doesn't always have to be for growth, long as you reached your goal in reading-being entertained...or having your mind expanded....then it was not a waste of time in my opinion.