Fire Up a Reluctant Reader
It may come as no surprise that by age 8, many children, especially boys, are less likely to read for pleasure as their interests turn to friends, video games and other activities. Nevertheless, the case for nurturing a love of reading is strong. Children who read for pleasure acquire stronger vocabulary and writing skills and a better understanding of human nature and different cultures. Motivate your child to read by appealing to his personality and interests.
Read aloud.
Continue reading together even after your child can read independently. Model fluency, a critical reading skill, which enables us to read quickly and accurately with proper expression. Lack of fluency often fuels reading frustrations, which can affect learning as children advance to the upper grades where reading demands increase.
Discuss.
Together, explore a story’s themes and difficult situations. Invite your child to critique and discuss how the story applies to the world as he knows it.
Tell a story.
Recall a favorite tale or share a personal experience. Storytelling nurtures early literacy, helps with comprehension and reflects your values. Plus, research finds storytelling increases the overall well-being and happiness of families.
Consider non-fiction.
Explore different genres with your child. “Children often say they don’t like to read because they’ve only read things chosen for them by others,” says Helma Hawkins, director of Children’s Services at the Kansas City Public Library. “Find a subject your child is interested in and then find a selection of books or magazines on that subject and let her choose.”
A case of the funnies.
You may not care for Captain Underpants humor or Junie B. Jones’ grammar, but these books often leave kids roaring for more. “We read Junie B. Jones in the classroom and use the inappropriate things she says as teaching moments: ‘What could she have said?’” says Jill Conard, a first grade teacher at Holy Trinity Catholic School, Lenexa. “We talk about bullying behavior and ways to create peace-building.” If you’re unsure if your child is ready for a particular book, read it first to decide whether it’s developmentally appropriate.
Positive peer pressure.
Start a kids’ book club or see if your library hosts one. “Peers are instrumental in getting kids to read. If their friends are talking about books they like to read, that will motivate kids to read, too,” says Pam Rousselo, a fourth grade teacher at Holy Trinity. (The Kansas City Public Library hosts a popular weekly book club for boys ages 8 to 12, “Bobby’s Books for Boys,” at their Plaza branch.)
Fan the flame.
Hook your child onto a series or a specific author. Legions of young fans rally around series like The Magic Tree House, Harry Potter and Little House on the Prairie. Comic books count, too!
Subscribe to magazines.
Kids love to get mail! Kids’ magazines cover topics ranging from current events, wildlife and science to sports and fashion.
Motivate through incentives.
Set goals and reward your child’s reading efforts with a book of choice or a special outing or treat.
Tap the web.
School and library websites frequently offer interactive reading programs. Visit author websites and search for online companions to traditionally published books like the Magic Tree House series, which feature interactive, educational games to supplement the stories. Another online resource, www.GuysRead.com, offers ideas to inspire boys to read. www.Knowonder.com includes free, original fiction stories written by professional children’s authors, as well as non-fiction articles and opportunities for children to submit their own writing and artwork.
Mobile options.
Download audio books to your child’s MP3 player, and he can listen while he shoots hoops. Receive daily stories on your phone or iPad through a free app on www.Knowonder.com. “In your hand, you have (access to) a huge wealth of stories for when you’re sitting in a waiting room or on car rides on a device that (kids) want to interact with to begin with,” says Kevin Doyle, a staff writer for www.Knowonder.com. Doyle’s story, CHOMP! CHOMP! CHOMP!, will be released as a mobile app and hardback book this month.
Share your e-reader.
According to a 2012 study in the International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, upper elementary and middle school children, especially boys, read more books when provided with an e-reader. The e-readers provide privacy (no one needs to know your child’s reading level), they’re lightweight and the book is readily accessible at all times.
Get creative.
Carie Beth Russell, an educator and mom of two in Olathe, has her daughters rewrite dialogue, plots and settings by covering picture book text with sticky notes. “Ask (your kids) to draw while you read aloud. Visualizing the story is a skill that must be acquired,” Russell says.
Role model.
Set aside daily quiet time for family reading. Create a peaceful and cozy reading nook in your home with a comfy chair and blanket.
“Laugh out loud at literature. Cry. Let your kids see you be moved and transported by text,” Russell says. “Join a book club and let them see that you value books by the way you spend your time. Buy lots and lots of books at locally-owned shops and visit the library each week.”
Dads should make it a point to read in front of their children, too. Boys look to male role models when deciding if reading is a masculine activity.
Freelance writer and avid reader Christa Melnyk Hines, of Olathe, is doing everything in her power to turn her sons onto reading.