I have three boys with three different learning styles and paths to reading. If you believe there is only one way to teach a child to love books, I urge you to have more than one child. And then try to teach them to read.
This great post and discussion at Imagination Soup (what a great name!) got me thinking about all the things I’ve done over the years to encourage my kids to read, from alternating reading pages with them (tip#1), to allowing them to check out ridiculous numbers of books (tip#2), to paying library fines larger than my tax bill (almost) (this is not a tip I would recommend).
Today we made our annual trek to the library to enroll in the library’s summer reading program (tip#3), the one where the library hands out t-shirts and coupons for ice-cream to kids (and adults!) that read a certain number of books over the summer. We proudly sport our library t-shirts from years past (tip#4), nodding to our friends with similar shirts in a knowing way, like members of a secret club.
In another recent sojourn to the library (“Mom, I’m out of books!” “Again?” Sigh), I came across a friend whose daughter had resolutely declared her intent to NOT read chapter books just moments before. EVER. Good daddy that he was, he had allowed her to pick out a host of picture books well below her reading level (tip#5), and they were stationed at the window, alternately looking out at geese and reading about the adventures of D.W.
Knowing that other adults can somehow influence my children in ways I never can, I swept in and announced that I knew of some books that she would like. Books with animals. TALKING animals. MAGICAL TALKING animals. Did she like magical talking animals? Yes, she did.
I scooped up a couple Magic Tree House books that Mighty Mite and I had recently consumed, and gave her a pitch (tip#6): “This is a book about magical seals. They don’t really talk, but Annie can understand them anyway.” She nodded, very slightly, because of course that sounds like an intriguing book, doesn’t it? I held up the second one, open to one of the wonderful pencil illustrations inside. “This one has a baby penguin that does something very special to help Annie. But I can’t tell you what it is. You have to read it.”
She wasn’t going to admit that the books were awesome (though she wasn’t fooling me), but I do believe they went home from the library with her (tip#7).
Putting the right books in little hands at the right time (tip#8), by whatever means necessary, is a key part of encouraging kids to read. Reluctant readers will be excited by a story, the pictures inside graphic novels (tip#9), or simply that their friends have read it. I’ve read to my boys, even when they could read it themselves (tip#10), scoured the library shelves with them (tip#11), and made more trips than I can possibly count to the library and bookstore. I have one avid reader, who literally demanded that I teach him to read at age four. Then I have two reluctant readers, who nonetheless read. A lot. One reluctant reader just recently converted to Avid status, once he was able to read Harry Potter on his own. And I’m sure that my final one will come along in time.
Resistance is futile, when Mom is determined.
Another good lesson to learn in life.
What do you do to encourage your reluctant readers?
p.s. In an attempt to model good reading (tip#12), I joined the library reading program this summer, for the first time. I want a t-shirt, too! Plus, maybe this summer I’ll whittle down that TBR pile after all.
Great job zeroing in on that little girl's preferences! That's something I strive for daily. I have the exact dynamic of readers (and library fines) in my household -all boys though. The only thing I tried (other than the "feed the book to your kid" blog I wrote) was to start a "book club" with one son that needed some special attention. I read the beginning of the book and get him excited about it, give it to him and have him tell me about it every day, then ask for it back and be a little competitive acting like I'm going to read past his book marker. Then "reluctantly" give it back and let him finish it but not tell me the ending. Then, to his enjoyment I read the end while he's on his high-horse already knowing what happens. This worked well until he went to his Grandma's once and left his book behind. I passed his bookmark hoping it would fuel him forward, but it bombed. He never picked it up again!
@Mary Competitive book reading! I like it!! (I think that needs to be tip#13) Thanks for sharing. 😉
Fortunately I don't have any reluctant readers, at least not yet. My main form of encouraging reading is to read to them at this point.
@Adam Yours are still little, and that's the absolute best thing you can do! 🙂 There was a time when I could recite Cat in the Hat verbatim (which was tested during a particularly nasty car ride in traffic in LA).
I am not sure what her deal was that day (she had been happily reading chapter books prior to that) but THANK YOU for stepping in and working your magic! You are awesome! You definitely had an impact. Thank you for taking the time 🙂
@Vicki I'm glad it worked out well! You know, the kids just get a bug in their bonnet about things sometimes. Mighty Mite is the king of that particular move. With you and Dave for parents, she has no worries! 🙂
Oh I totally cracked up when you mentioned Cat in the Hat. I can relate. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIPS. I am printing them out!!
One other tip I've run across, but this is just for beginning readers, is turning reading into a treasure hunt. It takes some work, but basically you leave clues around the house the kid has to read in order to find the next clue and eventually collect a sticker or some other prize. I'm brainstorming a way to make this work for my 9 year old.
@Margo Whoa! That's an awesome tip! My boys would do anything for a treasure hunt. The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play … 🙂 My 9yo loves the "create your own adventure" books, where each chapter leads to a different outcome – sort of like a treasure hunt in a book!
Love these tips, I'll adapt them for pushing, I mean, encouraging some of my high school students to read 🙂
@Charmaine I can't even get my 11 yo to do what I want – I'm doomed when he turns teen. Let me know if you figure out ways that work! 🙂
I think the key for us was keeping lots of books in their room from the time they were babies. We also almost always say yes to buying books or going to the library.
They have a wonderful aunt who picks up books at garage sales all year long and presents them with a HUGE box of books at Christmas time. There's always something in there that will pique their interest.
@Vicki I think everyone should have a book-giving Aunt. I try to be one of those. 🙂
Man, Susan, these tips are exactly what I need right now. I have a seven year old who has the ability to read well but lacks the drive and confidence to do it. However, I (try) not to be worried because she has a love of books. That more than anything will get her to be an avid reader… eventually, I'm sure.
@Jackee I'm so glad! I hope the tips help! Trying to not worry about the kids is something I do repeatedly and fail at. But it is true – eventually she will catch the reading bug, given enough persistence (on your part) and opportunity (on hers). One thing I've noticed with all my boys is that they go through stages, and age 7-8 seems a particularly "funky" stage where they're not so sure about the reading thing. This is independent of reading level at that age (at least for my boys)! There might be something developmental going on at that time, skewing their interests towards other things. Keep up the good work, Mom! 🙂
Great tips, Susan! My daughter is definitely the more reluctant reader in this family but she goes in streaks. She recently fell in love with a book from the school library that they don't have at the regular library so our bookstore special ordered it (out of print) and she's thrilled. It's over 200 pages but she's totally into this story so I'M thrilled 🙂
Thanks, Susan, for pointing out Melissa's post, and for adding your own tips! I'd just like to echo the sentiment that the earlier parents share a love of reading with children, and surround them with all kinds of books, the greater the chances that reading will become a cherished activity. Reading together truly is the greatest gift a parent can give to a child, and one that never fades.
@Dawn I know you are a hard-core reading advocate like me, so I appreciate your comment so much! Very well said! 😉
I LOVE this post, Susan!! This is such an important issue. 🙂
Susan,
Thanks for mentioning my recent post on Imagination Soup. I struggled and struggled to get my daughter interested in books. I echo your sentiment that determination is everything. Eventually with our helpful support and figuring what works for our kids, they will learn to read. And, hopefully love it!
Love your blog,
Melissa
@Shannon Thanks!!
@Melissa Thank YOU for making me ponder, which always makes me write. 🙂 I'm glad you're enjoying Ink Spells! Keep up the great work with that little one – it's never wasted! 🙂
Such a good post!! Thanks for redirecting me to it, I will definitely use some of the tips you mention!!
@traci Awesome! 🙂