AIBU to ask how you motivate your kids to read?

[Sundiamond]

Posting here for traffic.

I have a very bright 9 yr old DS. But he seems to be reluctant to read new books - constantly dipping into old series. Over and over again.

I'm a writer/big reader. It drives me nuts. I know that it's my thing, that he might not be a reader.

But any thoughts on how to keep motivating him? I show him new books online, take him to bookstores. Get audio books. We'll buy new books, he'll try them and then give up. Says it's 'not his thing.'

If he is happy with his favourites does it matter?
My favourites at age 9 were the the Ramona Quimby books. I still have my copies over 30 years later and I still re read them every so often.

Maybe stop forcing it? Ds1 is, Ds2 isn't. That's ok!

Thank you all so much. lots of good thoughts here.

I do have to stop piling on the pressure, but find creative ways to encourage. I'll start reading with him again. And I will make a lot more time for us all to be reading in the day, not just at night. Plus, I think bring back going to the library so he can really browse.

For the posters who said 'stop forcing, it's not his thing.' That isn't what I said. I said that he was quick to say, 'that's not my thing,' about new books (without really giving them a chance).

He adores the Wimpey Kid Series, for the poster whose son likes that!

I agree that he might not end up being a reader, and that will be fine. But I also agree with the poster that it's important for things like comprehension, so I am keen to encourage it.

I remember reading tons of crap books when I was younger but I read lots of classics at school. It was only when I was late teens that I became a voracious reader, and now a published fiction writer. I hope a similar reading path for my son but I do know - before anyone feels the need to point it out again - that this is about the projection of my stuff and not about him.

Thanks so much.