How do I encourage my 7yo to read more?

[Mynd]

As a bit of background, I'm a bookworm. I've been an avid reader since age 3-4, and had pretty much read everything in the house by age 8 or 9. When my daughter arrived, I launched straight into reading stories and my daughter loved it. We'd do 6 or 7 stories a night.

She's now 7 and, while she can read, she doesn't really see the point in it. She has no sticking power for finishing a book and is quick to lose interest in the plot. I'm at a bit of a loss. I've bought a wide range of reading material, covering all sorts of topics, in thr hope that something will kick off the interest. So far nothing has.

I've looked up how to encourage reading and the advice is always to read to your child. I still read her 3 chapters every night of Roald Dahl or whatever she wants. She also listens to her baby sister's story times as well.

Does anyone have any other ideas? Or do I just accept she's not going to be an enthusiastic reader? For the record, she adores writing stories, just not reading them.

Thanks!

I am tagging on because my 10 year old's the same. I feel it's a sort of laziness...some part of her concentration needs to be developed more. Like...they're used to instant satisfaction and their concentration hasn't developed enough yet.

I continue to read to DD at night and have been trying to find unputdownable stories which she then will carry on reading when I've finished a chapter.

It's working with her latest book....I've also decided to encourage DD to do things which take a lot of concentration like cross stitch and more crafts in general. This I hope will develop her sticking powers more!

Maybe I should ban reading. My own mother considered reading to be laziness, so I had to do it on the sly (up trees, in bed with a torch etc). I learned to be a speed reader from very young, in order to get through the book before it was taken off me.

Could be the way to do it, but somehow I doubt it!

Re attention, my DD has it in spades for things like writing, drawing and making little films etc. Just none at all for reading. I think her issue is that she'd rather make her own story than read someone elses. She hasn't realised yet that, once you can read fluently and easily, you can lose yourself in a story and imagine yourself in places... that's the magic I'm trying to trigger in her.

What books are your 10yo reading, Ajas? What sort of topic?

If she can't read fluently, she isn't going to enjoy it, the fact that she loves story indicates that she will love to read once she has that stamina. No need to try and force it, just provide her the opportunities to read.

Have you tried the 'daisy and the trouble with...' series? They are very easy to read and really build confidence. The library also run a summer reading challenge where they read 6 books and do some very easy clues and they get a medal (Dd2 did this last year and moved from the bottom reading group to the top group in the class as she started to enjoy reading), perhaps you could phone your local library to see if they are doing it? Or look it up online?

Yes we love the Daisy books, though mainly when I read them to her. And she asked to join the library summer reading challenge. I think the library really put her off though. The librarian insisted she had to take out 6 books 'to give a variety', but I think it totally overwhelmed her. She thought she was going to get one easy book to read and was instead presented with a handful. She's now refused to read any of them. :-(

Until about 3 months ago my seven year old son was very anti reading. He was perfectly capable, always amazed me with his ability to work out complicated words & would eventually read his school homework reading books, but that was it. Then suddenly he had fallen in love with Beast Quest books & is currently reading the 7th book. There are dozens. He loves them & reads every night & is proud to tell us how far into each book he is now.

I can only suggest those, or finding out whether any of her friends are reading & maybe trying something they like...

Read one sentence and let her read another. Keep at it OP. My younger DD was a slow starter but she got there this year. At 10. We think she actually might have Dyslexia and has just been tested. Waiting for results.