Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for suggestions about how to encourage kids to read?

59 replies

Sinalley1 · 01/11/2018 07:57

I have a nearly 8 year old DS. His reading is excellent, has been for some time. We read to him and he will read on his own. He goes through periods of getting excited over books - Tom Gates, Captain Underpants, Dogman series etc etc - but almost always, he'll get two books in and then he loses complete interest. I repeat, complete interest.

I find it really frustrating. He has so many books that he was 'DESPERATE' to have, and yet has never read.

I'm a writer, so it's my weakness. If he expresses interest, I'll get the book for him.

Clearly, it's not working. What can I do to encourage his reading without becoming that pain-in-the-ass parent who destroys her child's love of books by being pushy?

I'm sure the suggestion will be to leave him alone, let him come to it, but I do find it hard.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sinalley1 · 01/11/2018 20:00

bump

OP posts:
Uggywuggy · 01/11/2018 20:05

I’m sure you already do this, but modelling that behaviour is good for kids (i.e., reading yourself). Take him to the local library and let him choose the books himself. I loved doing that when I was young. Beyond that, I have no idea, sorry!!

NamelessEnsign · 01/11/2018 20:11

Does he enjoy audiobooks? There are some truly wonderful audio editions out there now.

My DC (6) loves listening to audio (morning and evening) and recently is doing a lot more reading of print books too (and is shooting up the reading levels).

I’m a publisher so was also very keen to encourage reading!

Biscuitsneeded · 01/11/2018 20:16

I would do a bedtime reading time whereby you read a chapter or so to your DS and then say he can either turn his lights out and sleep or have 15 minutes more if he wants to carry on reading. Both my DSs loved being read to, and the associated cuddles, and sometimes I could get them into a book by reading a chapter here and there and leaving them to read the rest...

MeanTangerine · 01/11/2018 20:20

"I love to hear you read"

Taking turns reading a page aloud - do daft voices.

I wouldn't lose heart that he gets bored 2 books into a series. 2 books is definitely giving it a chance!

MeanTangerine · 01/11/2018 20:22

Oh, and when you hear him read, be absolutely positive and non-critical. If he mispronounces a word, ignore it. If he stumbles over a word and asks for help, tell him the answer and that he gave it a good go. Shedloads of praise.

Todayissunny · 01/11/2018 20:24

I agree with biscuits. I have an 11 y.o. and i still read to him at bedtime. Then he reads by himself afterwardswhen he gets into a book he finishes it in no time. . Also -- dint buy him tell whole series of books. It's putting him off - maybe he feels overwhelmed seeing a pile of books to get through. Maybe series are just not his thing. And - why buy books? Is there not a library near you?school? Can you get ebooks through the library?
I also think Tom gates is aimed at older children (it might be easy reading but can he relate to the topics?). I've never read it but I work in a library and it is usually older kids reading it.

PhilODox · 01/11/2018 20:24

Read to him
Let him see you and his other parent reading
Value books and talk about what you're reading, and what he's reading
Take away his toys only half joking, no screens mean my DC read loads

Sparklesocks · 01/11/2018 20:24

Could you try comics or graphic novels? Kids often get into them because they don’t feel like they are reading in the same way as with a novel - but still read!

Thingsthatgo · 01/11/2018 20:25

I’d let him read anything he wants. My 6 year old isn’t keen on chapter books, but will read comics like tintin and loads of non fiction. He also loves trips to the library and will pick a whole bunch of books in one go. It doesn’t matter at all if he doesn’t like them or gets bored because I haven’t paid for them!

PhilODox · 01/11/2018 20:25

Tom Gates is perfect for 8 and 9yos, btw!

SmileEachDay · 01/11/2018 20:26

He doesn’t have to read an entire series all in one go! He can always come back to them....

I’m an English teacher. One of the best ways of encouraging reading is to read yourself, and have books available to him. Do lots of paired reading - my son loves this, where he reads a page and I read a page. Read to him. Get him to make up his own stories. My boy loves us both reading the same book (or him reading a book I read as a kid) then us going head to head with questions about it,

But don’t be frustrated that he’s not ploughing through a whole series. He’s even allowed to read a couple of chapters and abandon a book. It’s not an endurance test...

MakeItRain · 01/11/2018 20:27

Just keep reading to him. Read him endless stories and do it consistently every night! Make it a cosy time for both of you. That way the stress is off but he's getting this constant message that reading is a lovely thing! Don't push his reading to you. You know he can do it. He doesn't need to "practise" he just needs to really get how lovely books are!

BumsexAtTheBingo · 01/11/2018 20:32

If he really wants a book but then doesn’t read it often I’d use the library a lot then it doesn’t matter so much if he goes off books before reading them.
Other ways to encourage reading are comics like others have said or kids newspapers if you think they would interest him, fact or fiction books about subjects he’s interested in, books of films he likes, books with activity bits in, joke books, choose your own adventure etc.

chocolateworshipper · 01/11/2018 20:33

Remember that he doesn't need to read fiction. If he has any interests, try getting him related non-fiction books. Having said that, has he read Gansta Granny by David Walliams? If not - try it!

Todayissunny · 01/11/2018 20:34

@PhilOdox. I have just checked on the publishers website. Tom gates is aimed at 10+. A nearly 8 y.o. might be a bit young.

Original poster
Sinalley1 · 01/11/2018 20:45

Thank you all so much. Really helpful. We do read to him every night and our house is filled with books - I am published - and he knows I spend my days at my desk 'writing.'

We write stories together, he likes making and reading comics - we do lots of book stuff but it's not really getting us anywhere.

Maybe audio books is a good thing to encourage. He did really like listening to some of the Road D series but that was years ago.

I'm about to start another thread about him - it's probably all linked

Thanks so much

OP posts:
SmileEachDay · 01/11/2018 20:49

we do lots of book stuff but it's not really getting us anywhere

I’m interested in what you mean by this? Where do you think it should be getting you?

Bonkersblond · 01/11/2018 20:52

Have the same issue with my DD 10, I still read to her most nights in the hope she may carry on by herself, sometimes she does, more often than not she doesn't, we currently have a Junior National Geographic subscription which she seems to enjoy.

Original poster
Sinalley1 · 01/11/2018 21:02

By doing a lot of book stuff, I mean finding ways to encourage - it's not getting us anywhere - I mean, he doesn't seem to want to read

OP posts:
Todayissunny · 01/11/2018 21:02

OP it sounds as if you are doing everything right. Kids also have phases of reading a lot and other times being too busy (and tired) with other things - Just like us. Don't drop reading to him though.I think it's important to keep up the habit.

Original poster
Sinalley1 · 01/11/2018 21:03

Yes, I agree it's phases

I know it's also about me - it's my passion, reading and writing, and my life's work.

OP posts:
LittleBirdBlues · 01/11/2018 21:08

Sometimes kids might go through a phase of not wanting to do what the parents do! Is suggest taking the pressure off for a bit, it might just put him off. It's supposed to be fun after all. Maybe your anxiety to encourage him to read translates as pressure for him? (I don't mean that in a critical way, just from experience with other topics. If you model reading, ie you enjoying a nice book as a treat and not as. Chore, he will eventually come to see it that way too)

Todayissunny · 01/11/2018 21:18

My passion too (the reading anyway). IF he is having an off reading phase try to encourage him to read simple fun books. Things easier than he usually reads or comics. Make sure he had a set reading time - with my boys is always been bed time. Books with pictures between the text also more enticing.

megletthesecond · 01/11/2018 21:20

Recipe books or kids newspapers.
It's hard though. My dd doesn't read often, I've been trying all the tricks for a few years with little success.