If your teens are voracious readers, how did you do it?

[Readingslumpp]

Currently very disappointed in my DCs (11 & 13) lack of interest in reading. Both were voracious readers in primary school but their interest has totally disappeared since starting high school. I’m a big reader and I really hoped they would stick to the habit too.

I've bought them books upon books. They don’t have electronics (apart from very basic mobile phones that they don’t use unless out and about). I’ve tried reading with them and reading the same book separately so I could discuss it with them. I’ve offered to read a series with them then take them to see the movie adaptation. Nothing works!

Their high school seems to try to push reading as a homework but other than that there doesn’t seem to be any initiatives.

Anyone got any tips that work for your DCs? Or what their schools do to get them reading?

Here are previous threads I've been on, lots of recommendations.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/teenagers/1803485-Classic-novels-for-teenage-boy?reply=40735879

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/childrens_books/4473211-DS-hates-reading-book-recommendations?reply=115056895

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/childrens_books/5063756-what-books-have-your-teens-loved?reply=134911079

My 12 year old is an avid reader and always has been. For us there are two key elements. Firstly I source books for her based on recommendations and her interests. I don’t just rely on school to give her books and I keep a steady supply at all times. Secondly, we don’t have a TV or other electronics so there is little alternative entertainment.

My 16 year old was an avid reader until she got to senior school. With school work, homework and the reading homework she had on top of reading her books for her English studies she just couldn't be bothered. She wanted to switch completely off. She has just finished her GCSEs and the first thing she did was pick up her favourite book - pride and prejudice. If the love of reading was there, it will be somewhere still. It may just be everything they have going on in school.

@Chookas I was a sahm with no money, family help all dead.. My dd spent s little bit too much time on TV but I did groups and stuff all on a limited budget. She did computer games as well and as she got older earned time thru work.

But nothing strict or precise.
My df was an astonishing reader.. I'd say dd has surpassed him.
She's 15, she's read about 10 novels by balzac, zola as well as some dickens. She's read many Russian novels including war and peace.
Covered Fitzgerald, Orwell, Hardy, Foster and so on.
Now she's into feminist books.
It's my passion and love of books and her background. Having access to TV, computer etc has not affected this.

I've got one that reads all the time. Her book case is bursting!
The other one has just started reading the last few months and has never had any interest.

I think it's just what they like and don't like

They see dh and I reading, a lot.
They always get a book for birthdays and Christmas in addition to anything else they get.
2nd hand book shops are a free for all where I will pay for as many books as they want. I never criticise their book choice and take the view that if they try it and hate the book it has just been a charitable donation and the book gets passed on again.
I always read every book they suggest I might like so I'm showing an interest in their choices.

Apart from that, absolutely no idea. Pure luck I think.

Limit TV? Although I guess that is hard to do if you didn't start there. Mine get bored so they end up having to read 😁

DS1 started reading more when we moved house, and he started walking to school each morning with the girl next door, who already was an avid reader. She suggested a book, and it's exploded from there.

DS2 took some persuading. Finally found him a series he loves, and he was off. He's re-read the whole series (about 20 books) several times.... not my idea of fun!!

So, I'd say you need to find the hook. How that happens is tricky!

I can second this. DS starts reading the day after school ends every summer. Senior school is hard work.
We are on day 3 of our holiday, and each member of the family is on their second book.
DS and I read similar books / book series, and we discuss it, theorise about it.
Kindle makes reading very addictive and expensive.

Same with my son. Millions of books in this house. Couldn't get him to read one iota.

Then he got a bookworm girlfriend and he magically loves books.

My non-reading son suddenly discovered books in his twenties. The rest of the family have always read, so maybe it rubbed off on him in the end.

My DS always loved books always read, he's 30 now, l did the whole queueing up at midnight to get Harry Potter books with him, still reads now lots.
My DD couldn't have cared less about books, it's not even like she gamed on consoles like my son, but now at 26 with a new boyfriend she's sending me links of things to read.sge realky seens to have fallen in love with books finally..
Me and my ex were /are very big readers there were always loads of books at home but l don't think it's something you can force, have you tried graphic novels? My DD did like them..

Read to both everyday since they were a few months old and able to focus. First the black and white books. Then the textured ones and then first words etc etc. One took to reading independently early, aged 7, one is severely dyslexic but has persevered and now aged 10 reads independently . The oldest is a teen and has several books on the go at once and has done since reading independently. I am proud of them both but consistently being around books and learning to respect them and love them was key.

It happens naturally. You can’t ’create’ a reader! DD was a massive reader (as am I) and absolutely devoured books when she was younger. Now aged 20 I genuinely don’t think that she has willingly read one in years.

At age 9-10 I very much liked the uglies and pretties books, and the midnighters series by Scott westerfeld. Though I got through them really quickly, and I read them as they came out so I had to wait 😂 I loaned them to a friend whose mother gave them back saying they were wholly unsuitable for 12 year olds. They were very good books. Also Artemis fowl, eager (the book with the self aware robot). You can potentially sense a theme here.

by 14 my reading dropped off a cliff. I was very much a pick a book and read the whole thing in one go. My problem is whilst I was always much quicker and a more advanced reader than everyone else my age, I have very low reading comprehension, so I barely remember what I’ve read. So my interest just plummeted. I don’t read nowadays apart from random stuff I come across on Wikipedia. I briefly picked up reading again 7-8 years ago, read a variety of serial killer/detective type stuff and I don’t think I’ve read a book since.

Eldest daughter like me, avid prolific reader. Younger not so much but has suddenly got the bug over last few years. My son wasn't a reader but suddenly got a taste for it a few years back and now is either reading or listening to audio books whilst driving.

Most of the suggestions on here worked until about 13.5. DD just isn’t interested at the moment. I am sure it will return - I was the same at 14 looking back. And agree, Tiktok is much more likely to persuade her than me!

This was my family 😅 raised exactly the same, Mum is a huge reader. So am I. DB (31) quite possibly hasn’t looked at a book since school.

Audible at bedtime.

My DS seemed to stop reading as he stepped through the doors of high school. He read about 4 or 5 books last summer of his own choice. Started school in Sept and got given his first set text which he hated and really put him off. I don't think reading is cool in his group of friends.