At The Story Room we are frequently asked for ways of encouraging children to read and for tips on what they should be reading. Encouraging reluctant readers to read for pleasure is sometimes an uphill struggle but it is worth the effort when you see them reading because they want to and not because they have been told to. So how can you encourage a child who does not want to read, to pick up a book for pleasure?
Don’t be too prescriptive about what your child should and shouldn’t be reading. There is a lot of snobbery attached to what some consider to the ‘right’ thing for their child to be reading. You may consider the classics a great read but if your child doesn’t want to read them then don’t force them. They may find the language tricky or the story unappealing. Your child should be allowed to read whatever they enjoy reading, even if you think it is below their reading level. As long as they are reading and enjoying what they are reading, leave them alone. By all means introduce them to new authors and genres but allow them to choose. If they have chosen the book, they are more likely to read it.
Here are some tips to getting your child reading for pleasure!
- Lead by example. Make sure that your child sees you reading, whether it be a newspaper, magazine or a book. It is especially important for a boy to see male members of the family reading.
- Talk about what you are reading with your child. If you are reading a book summarise the story for them in a child-friendly fashion. Children are naturally curious and will want to know what happens next. Talk to them about the articles in the newspapers and magazines that you read.
- Take your child to the library and spend some time reading and choosing books. Graphic novels have changed over the years and now you can get books for Young Adults that have been re-written as graphic novels. They may be appealing to boys in particular. Encourage them to take out a wide range of different types of books. The ones they don’t like, return to the library. The ones they like you can read together, to start with.
- Give your child time. Start off by reading to your child. A good tip is to start to a sequel e.g Harry Potter, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Mysterious Benedict Society etc. You could read the first book to them and then encourage them to read the next book independently.
- Reading does not have to be confined to fiction books. Try non-fiction books and magazines.There are great magazines for children on the market at the moment. If your child loves football, buy them a football magazine. If they love nature and exploring, buy them a nature magazine. You can get quite good deals on magazine subscriptions. One of my favourites is the National Geographic for Kids (it has pages about books too and book reviews … so you never know….).
- Have a book with you at all times. If you keep one in the car you can read to your child if you arrive early at your destination. Books are great for passing the time in waiting rooms or whilst waiting for siblings.
- Children love being read to. Read and enjoy books together.
- Buy book tokens as presents, so your child can have the pleasure of roaming a bookstore and choosing from the delights on offer.
- Keep an eye out for author visits to libraries and local bookshops. Meeting an author and having a book signed is a way to enthuse a child to read the book!
- Don’t pack away books that you consider too young for your child; Children as old as 12 can still enjoy stories with pictures in them. Make sure your child has a wide range of books available to them, somewhere accessible.
- Ask your child to read to younger siblings!
How can we help?
At The Story Room we are dedicated to encouraging children to read. We discuss books in our workshops and invite children to talk about what they are reading. We read extracts from books and poems and promote new books that are being published. We work closely with local authors and run workshops with them. We encourage children to send us book reviews and run book clubs for all ages. We love what we do and hope our passion for literature is passed on to each child that comes to write with us.
We hope our tips help!
The Story Room
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