One of my children has a specific language impairment. Watching him read is painful. He's never been able to relax, and the level of concentration required is about as much as it would take me to understand a page of calculations in an astrophysicists notebook. Worse, he lives with a family of bibliophiles. All of us love it, or more to the point find it EASY. He loves stories too, and always has done, he just finds the act of getting them from the page to his head laborious. I've thought long and hard about how to encourage him, and looked at other's recommendations. Here's a list of tips that I've found helpful. I hope at least one strikes a cord with your reluctant readers.
Make it fun
Right from the moment you decide to read together, make the thought of books exciting. If you're lucky enough to have lots of books to read in your house, let them chose the story, maybe even a play a game as you search for it. Then they'll feel in control. If you're off to the library, build the trip up into a fun event. Arrange a playdate with a friend where they lend their favourite books to each other. Anything you can do, no matter how little to reinforce a love of books, is to be encouraged.
Make it a regular part of your day
Psychologists love their routines. There's stacks of research to show if you want to change behaviour you have to make a plan. Build reading into your family's routine, it doesn't matter when, bed-time, after tea, first thing in the morning. Whatever works for you as a family. Your child will love the one to one attention. If reading has already become a battleground due to enforced homework, and you're thinking, no they won't! Think creatively. Take it back to basics, what can you do to make it enjoyable again? If you need a sticker chart, or a promise of console time then do that. Practically any kind of reward is good, the best is a promise of more time with you. (but please don't use food, that could set them up with a lifetime of trouble).
No matter what your child chooses to read, encourage them. Graphic novel and comics are still reading. My Mum was told off by her teacher friends for taking out a subscriptions to a comics for my brother and I. Even as I child I wondered what their problem was? I was choosing to read wasn't I? Not watch telly? A child's choice to read, now has to compete against the megaliths of Playstation, Nintendo and Microsoft. Who cares if there's a lot of pictures with the text?
Use technology
Use social media for inspiration or ideas. Publishers make a splash when new books are released, and deliberately try to generate excitement. Let their marketing do your work for you.
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Remember not all screen use is anti-reading. Some games use a lot of text and can be a sly way to get them reading independently everyday.
If your child has a tablet, get them to download books they'd be interested in reading to it. Some children much prefer reading from a screen.
Talk to your Librarian
Libraries in Britain have a whole data-base for children who are reluctant to read or have a specific challenge like dyslexia. Who Knew? (I hope this is worldwide endeavour but I don't have first-hand knowledge of other's countries libraries). Ask for help and your child may discover a whole new world of stories that are easily accessible.
Share the joy
Never be afraid to enthuse about books to your kid. Tell them what you loved as a child. Or even better, read your favourites to them. Inspired by your passion, they may well love them too. If it's not their cup of tea, don't be despondent, they will remember your enthusiasm, and want to search for their own stories that fire their imagination.
Get down with the kids
Story-time doesn't need to be traditional - it can be downright silly if you want. Read in a treehouse, hanging upside down. Set a scene, if you're a Gruffalo in a woods, make those woods, get in the garden or create one in your house. Use silly voices whenever possible. Get right in character yourself. You can even use props. Ask your child to become a character, anything that makes it interactive. My favourite tip is to change the name of a character to your child's name. There's nothing like it to get their attention!
Never ever get cross with them
That is, in relation to reading. I don't live in a fantasy bubble land where parents never get cross with children in general. No matter how frustrated you are by their reluctance to read try not to show it. If children associate reading time with conflict it will make them even more reluctant and undo all your good work.
If your child has a tablet, get them to download books they'd be interested in reading to it. Some children much prefer reading from a screen.
Talk to your Librarian
Libraries in Britain have a whole data-base for children who are reluctant to read or have a specific challenge like dyslexia. Who Knew? (I hope this is worldwide endeavour but I don't have first-hand knowledge of other's countries libraries). Ask for help and your child may discover a whole new world of stories that are easily accessible.
Share the joy
Never be afraid to enthuse about books to your kid. Tell them what you loved as a child. Or even better, read your favourites to them. Inspired by your passion, they may well love them too. If it's not their cup of tea, don't be despondent, they will remember your enthusiasm, and want to search for their own stories that fire their imagination.
Get down with the kids
Story-time doesn't need to be traditional - it can be downright silly if you want. Read in a treehouse, hanging upside down. Set a scene, if you're a Gruffalo in a woods, make those woods, get in the garden or create one in your house. Use silly voices whenever possible. Get right in character yourself. You can even use props. Ask your child to become a character, anything that makes it interactive. My favourite tip is to change the name of a character to your child's name. There's nothing like it to get their attention!
Never ever get cross with them
That is, in relation to reading. I don't live in a fantasy bubble land where parents never get cross with children in general. No matter how frustrated you are by their reluctance to read try not to show it. If children associate reading time with conflict it will make them even more reluctant and undo all your good work.
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