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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if anyone else’s DC is not into reading?

63 replies

Notintobooks · 01/07/2023 19:05

I’ve always been a reader, DH isn’t, but our DS (2 and a half) isn’t hugely interested in books. Every now and again he’ll have one he latches onto but for the most part during the day he won’t sit still for long enough to read. He does read with me as part of the bedtime routine but doesn’t seem very interested and often just kicks the book Hmm or messes about!

OP posts:
HawdMeBack · 01/07/2023 21:51

Notintobooks · 01/07/2023 21:21

Obviously being read to 😂

I am surprised (although this is MN!) that so many people have started screeching that he’s 2. We’re encouraged to read books with children from an early age and like I say, loads of parenting advice focuses on reading, whether to improve language skills or to teach a concept. It really isn’t a problem, he’d prefer to be on the go, but after trying to read to him tonight and noticing his eyes glazing over I wondered if we were alone! It would seem not judging from the endless yelps of ‘HE’S TWO.’

Of course, if I’d started a thread ‘AIBU not to read to my child because he isn’t interested’ I’d also be flamed, so …

You've brought out all the viragoes tonight OP!

I asked the same question here a few months ago (my DS has just turned 3), and got the same irrelevant, shitty replies as you're getting.

FWIW, my DS isn't interested in stories yet. He likes to flick through books and talk about the pictures (making up his own stories) but doesn't have the attention span for being read to yet.

Original poster
Notintobooks · 01/07/2023 22:00

Good to know I’m not the only one with the shitty replies, although sorry you had it as well! I don’t know how many times I can point out that I haven’t said I’m worried, have said the opposite, but I suppose some people can’t read very well …

OP posts:
HawdMeBack · 01/07/2023 22:14

Notintobooks · 01/07/2023 22:00

Good to know I’m not the only one with the shitty replies, although sorry you had it as well! I don’t know how many times I can point out that I haven’t said I’m worried, have said the opposite, but I suppose some people can’t read very well …

My favourites are -

'He's 2 FFS' - that's correct.

🤣🤣🤣 He's 2 🤣🤣🤣 - again, that's what I said.

'You're the one asking if it's odd' - No, I didn't.

None of the above answers your actual question. Some folk are clearly bored, angry (and possibly illiterate).

forkshoo · 01/07/2023 22:52

I read the title and was going to post about my reluctant 7 year old (she can read, but doesn't enjoy it).
You're talking about a 2 year old. Good grief get a grip.

babbscrabbs · 01/07/2023 22:56

It can change massively as they get older, and fluctuate. My oldest was book obsessed at that age but age 10 he only dabbles in reading.

You can only influence so much - keep reading to him, read in front of him, let him choose books, go to the library etc.

Sweetchildofmine19 · 01/07/2023 23:15

To be honest though you have had a lot of nice replies, with advice (mine included) but you seem to just be ignoring those so……….

georgarina · 02/07/2023 05:11

Do you have a library nearby? A lot of them have kids' rhyme times and then he can choose books to check out. He might like that

georgarina · 02/07/2023 05:12

And not a weird question - lots of kids like books at 2

WandaWonder · 02/07/2023 05:36

At two I think my child was still chewing books possibly or using them for Frisbee

nexus63 · 02/07/2023 05:38

my 35 year old son has never liked reading, my dh and i were called into the school and told by a very stuck up teacher that maybe if we read at home then maybe my son would, when i told her we always read and had lot's of books at home she was surprised, years later i gave my son some paper backs to take to iraq with him as i thought he might get bored but he just gave them away. i would not worry about your son as he is still very young and when the time he might take more of an interest.

connie26 · 02/07/2023 05:51

Both my DCs enjoyed having books read to them when they were toddlers. Now they're teens, one is an avid reader and the other isn't interested at all.

TheNinny · 11/07/2023 22:02

My DD went off books at around 2.5, she’s now 3.5 almost 4 and has only recently come back around to them. I did persevere with reading to her but there were nights when we didn’t. She preferred to listen to music/rhymes and fall asleep to that. Now it’s a bit of both. I have to search for books/topics that interest her somehow.

Jobalob · 11/07/2023 22:16

As pre schoolers mine loved books but by about 5 had no interest and wouldn’t read a thing apart from wimpy kid and where’s Wally. I’m an avid reader and it really bothered me. Eldest got 88 for English GCSE middle got 77. As a young adult eldest reads loads from fiction to non fiction, history books and all sorts. Middle is 17 and the other day bought herself 4 books, 2 novels. 2 history books. Youngest is 13. He reads Snapchat

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