6 Year Old Reading Advice

[kaaphotographer]

Hi ladies,

I have a very 6 year old son who is an extremely capable reader. He is reading books for 8/9 yr olds at school and gets sent home a book a night. But he hates it. Or at least says he does. Am I worrying needlessly, my hope was always to foster a love of reading in my kids & for them to enjoy the magic of stories as well as the ability to read them. Do they all say this? Can you suggest anything to bring the love of it for him.

TIA

He doesn't have to read the schools books he can read his own. Go the library or book shop and let him choose a few that interest him.

He doesn't have to read the school books? Really? Doesn't he have to follow the reading scheme?

he must have finished the reading scheme surely? If he is reading books for 9 year olds he must be free reading now?
What does his teacher say, have you discussed it?
Library is your best bet here, librarians are great at finding appropriate level books.

As far as i'm aware he hasn't finished the reading scheme. The last book he had was a Yellow Banana book called Soccer Star.

I discussed it with his teacher earlier in the year and she said she thought it would be good for him to continue with the reading scheme but read what he likes in addition at home. However, after reading the school books he isn't interested in reading anything else.

He would far rather any other activity than read. I don't know maybe its just a phase i'm just sad he looks upon it as a chore rather than a pleasure.

Let him figure out for himself what he finds enjoyable.

He's a good reader, so you don't need to worry about this holding him back.

The reading scheme books are shite. My DC also finds them incredibly dull.

Ok so teacher has said he can read what he likes at home. So that's great.

My DS is also 6 and of similar ability. The fiction books he brings home are not great, but as he gets to choose his reading book himself, I have gently steered him toward bringing non fiction books home instead. He has chosen books about Mummies, robots, space etc and he seems to get on with them a lot better. He does still occasionally bring home fiction books and trying to get him to read them is like pulling teeth! Do you think your DS might prefer factual books?

Actually, itstheyearzero he might prefer factual books, I'll try to encourage him to do the same. Especially if they were about minecraft :-o

Heels99 yeah, he's always been allowed to read what he likes at home though. We try to provide him with a wide range of books to choose from but it doesn't really change that after reading his school books (under duress usually) he isn't wanting to read at all. He just says he hates reading.

I don't know if he's hearing others say they 'hate reading' or if he has just gone 'off' it for the time being.

Thinking further on this I might try some 'Play' books as he quite likes the theatrical element of putting on 'voices' for characters and if I read it along with him he might find that more enjoyable? I don't know.

As a TA with over twenty years in primary schools, provided he CAN read for for his age, or beyond, I don't think you should worry too much.

What is he like at writing? Can he write simple stories, or recounts of outings? And what about all the other subjects, particularly Numeracy, and PE and games activities, is he happy with them?

Children's 'likes' and 'dislikes' do come and go quickly sometimes, for no apparent reason that adults can see, though the child probably has his own reasons.

A BRILLIANT book, by Anne Fine, "Diary of a Killer Cat", has plenty of scope for 'acting' and is hilariously funny, with a subtle 'twist' (which may need to be explained to a 6 yr old) but I should think he might enjoy it.

Is he on to 'chapter' books yet, as I wouldn't have thought he would get through one of those every evening?

My DS (5) is similar wrt to reading, his teacher has said it's quite difficult to find fiction books that are the technically the right level but yet content wise aren't above his head/too scary - again he usually chooses non-fiction books now and is much happier as he can read about things that actually interest him (racing cars etc).

I got him the Guinness book of records for Christmas and he loves it, just dips in and out as he loves finding out that he knows stuff I don't (e.g. the height of the world's tallest man...)