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

[Sinalley1]

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.

We did Harry Potter audiobook on the school run. That was the gateway drug to reading.

My son was not as interested in reading as his older sister who loves books and reading. He read the usual Captain Underpants/Tom Gates etc but didn't want to read books at the next level that my daughter loved. Just said he didn't really like reading.

By chance when we were out shopping and chatting over lunch, we realised at age 11/12 (16 now so can't quite remember) he had a different preference for books. My daughter loved Harry Potter / a series of unfortunate events and stories that could be make believe.

My son wanted 'real' fiction. I don't think he realised this until we 'grilled' him over why he didn't want to read. Once we realised this we shopped for different books.

His favourite was Wonder by Palacio. We then bought books that were stories but could be real characters. I chose those with boys as the main characters. Eg When I was Joe series by Karen David (but he was about 13/14 when I got that series?)

Not sure if that helps but it was a real lightbulb moment for us.

I have a child of a similar age and what I find gets him reading is picking a book I know will appeal to him and reading it to him for a chapter or two. Then when we are on the underground or waiting for an appointment etc I ask him if he wants to continue the book we started. The answer is almost always yes.

There was some research showing boys that see a male PE teacher or similar reading will change their attitude to reading. Do you or dh know any slightly macho blokes who wouldn’t mind coming around to your house for an hour and you say you have to do x, bloke says no worries I’ve got my book, let me know when you’re done and he reads for half an hour? 😆 I’m serious! Luckily for me my brother is a builder who reads which often surprises people.

Maybe the books are too young and not exciting enough for him? Try the Skulduggery Pleasant and Alex Rider series. Or maybe he wants funny books instead?

What's he doing apart from reading?

He doesn't really like fantasy. He really likes 'real' life stuff - Tom Yates, Treehouse series, Wimpey Kid. Well, he likes...then stops liking. He liked Captain Underpants...then stopped.

He loves football. He loves board games. He likes drawing and making things. He loves the TV and games on Ipad but we limit both. He's only allowed ipad games at the weekend for a short period.

He starts and stops most things, to be honest.

But he's 7, so starting and stopping is not an issue. Just back off a bit, maybe he can sense the overwhelming pressure to love what you love. He really doesn't have to.

I know @saoirse31. I'm sure it's all about me. I'm very hard of myself, something I'm aware of, but trying not to pass along.

I also have very little idea of what a 7 year old 'should be', if that makes sense

My dcs (who were never big readers) have an allocated time for reading. I know lots of people won’t agree with this, but I’ve always stressed that they have to read for 15 mins at least before bed. They can read whatever they want but they have to do it.
I wasnt too forceful about it but said it’s part of their education. The school stresses it too.
They read all sorts. Dinosaur facts, football annuals, wimpy kid.
Choose your own adventure books were a hit at that age.
They were never into Harry Potter but loved me reading it to them and have now really got into reading.
Ds1 raced through Percy Jackson and maze runner series and ds2 is on the third book of a series and they often read into the night.
I never thought I’d see the day.

Allow half hour 'extra staying up time' when reading only is allowed or its lights out... bet he takes you up on it 

I have a DD almost 7 who is also an excellent reader and I'm a writer too so I get it. What I find is that if the house is flooded with too many books she will actually shy away - same principle as if there's too many toys.

Leave one 'easy' book like an Enid Blyton adventure in the loo, is my tip, and the rest should sort itself. Don't talk about it or force it elsewhere.

Subscribing to a comic also sounds like a really excellent idea.

I suspect it is all about you : I feel your pain, not as a writer but as a total bookworm. My sister and I read tons, we didn’t really have any other hobbies, just reading. My mum was the same. It never occurred to me that any child of mine wouldn’t be the same.

Guess what.., they aren’t! Ds1 enjoys reading and reads way above his age, always has. But there are lots of other things he would rather do - playing fortnite, spending time with friends (usually playing games), etc. DS2, I could see him being more of a bookworm if he didn’t have other distractions like his brother and the PS4. They’ve both worked their way through the series you mention (aged 10 and 7), getting ds1 to move up a level - the Harry Potter or Artemis fowl or Michael Morpurgo for example - is going nowhere.

For us, we have an added push as we are living abroad, with both boys in local school so they don’t get much / any English there. Reading English books is really important to keeping their English language progressing outside school.

So what we do is impose set times for reading. During holidays / weekends, if they are at home and have nothing else on, we all have a ‘reading hour’ after lunch. They can read what they like - ds1 favours non fiction, and is working through the Scouts Outdoor Skills manual learning about mushroom identification and fire building ;-) while DS2 has got into Jacqueline Wilson (Tracey beaker is prompting a lot of discussions!) as long as they read. DH and I try to do it too. Then every bedtime, tv etc are off by 7:30 and again we all read for 30 minutes / hour before bedtime. Sometimes I read to them, sometimes we all read our own things. Then in bed, ds1will usually zonk out (he’s a lark) and DS2 will read himself to sleep.

So yes, we impose regular reading time, but we let them read what they want. We talk about books, trying not to preach or lecture (I often fail at this!) and they regularly see DH reading.

Ooh yes, we also do easy books in the loo and have subscribed to a few science mags and a comic!

My 8 year old is an avid reader and I was determined he would be as I love reading. We go to the library weekly, he gets to pick a few books at Waterstones as a treat and I've signed up to the Phoenix weekly comic which he loves and can't wait for it. It's a fun comic, but also topical. It's 9.99 a month which I was at, however it's relighted his reading passion.

Lots of great suggestions, thanks all.

@girlsnightin - I will say, however, that you can't 'be determined' a child will be anything. That's my whole point. It's not really what you're doing, it's who they are. I do loads of stuff to encourage reading and it doesn't happen in the way I'd like

Let him read whatever he wants to read - mine loved the Minecraft books.
Visit the library regularly rather than buying lots of books.
Read to him at night.
Try easier things like Enid Blyton.
Watch film versions of books to get him interested e.g. Harry Potter.

I think you're overwhelming him. Sorry. Dd1 is 9 she is top of the class for accelerated reading but I only buy the book if she's read it already from the library and wants to read it again. She gets a few paperbacks from the chazza now and then too. Now she knows she can order books in the library we are all good

I would carve out time that is reading time. Make it a pleasant, everyday habit. I'd start with high interest books (choose quality - he can choose to read crap anytime), a special & comfortable spot, special snack/treat, and a timer. 15-20mins a day for a month. Immediately after which he comes and tells you/an adult about what he read.

After that month he'll have built a good daily habit, made some good headway through good books and had some practice with stamina.

I think there's definitely a way to 'force' reading time in a pleasant way - I prefer scaffolding and supporting to forcing, to help build neural pathways and lifelong habits. Reading is so important.

Also, he is still very young, I wouldn't panic yet. I would just be diligent. :)

We have actually decided to clear his room of the bookshelf - which is toppling over with books. Put up a bookshelf with a few on, put the rest away. For those of you who have said that it's overwhelming, I agree.

I am also going to 'enforce' a certain period of time reading. It can't hurt. He can read whatever he wants

And I'll subscribe to a comic, that's a great idea

I am sure I'm overwhelming him or he picks up on my strong desire to have him read.

I know, I know, I know.

Scaffolding and supporting. I like that, thanks

We’ve had this too. The teacher set my DC a challenge to do Reading Bingo. She printed off a bingo sheet with lots of different items on it - any line completed was a house point, plus 10 bonus points if the whole grid was completed. It was really successful.

The challenges were things like:
Read a non-fiction book
Read a newspaper article
Read a book set in the past
Read a book that your parent enjoyed when they were younger
Read a book published over 50 years ago
Read a poem
Read a book based on a true story
Read a book set in a different country (or planet!)
Read a book with an animal in it