Share tips on encouraging children to read and WIN a full set of Wimpy Kid books!

[ChrissieMumsnet]

To coincide with National Literacy Week (8 -14 September) we’re giving away ten full sets of the international bestselling children’s book Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney. Share your tips on how to engage reluctant readers to be in with a chance to win!

If you’ve ever spent hours pleading, bargaining or even bribing your DC to read, or practice their reading, then you’ll know what a challenge this can prove to weary parents. Sometimes all you need is a little incentive; and to find the right books to start. The much loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series mixes words with black and white cartoons, which has often led to an improvement in children’s engagement with reading, even kick-starting their independent reading journey. Mumsnet and Puffin books want you be a part of the Wimpy Kid success story.

To enter our competition, we’d like to hear your stories and advice on how you helped a child to read; the more innovative, the better! And if Wimpy Kid has improved your child’s literacy (and perhaps saved your sanity!) then please share your experiences in the thread below. We look forward to reading!

This competition is sponsored by Puffin books. The publication of the ninth book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul is 5 November 2014.

Read to them daily and as often as possible when they are young.

Let reading time be warm relaxed and associated with a cuddle and special time as far as possible. Create good associations.

Choose books you are enthusiastic and talk about books being brilliant so they feel from when they are young that books are a doorway to a million different worlds.

Look after books and treat them with respect.

Take them to libraries.

Let them choose half what they borrow, you choose the rest.

Go to the library regularly if you can.

Talk about authors and their lives so they develop favourites.

Get child to email the author to say they love their book (my dd got two lovely replies from two fanTAStic authors/illustrators. They replied by email but that was still really wonderful to me.)

Make blank books when they are young with staples and rough paper, they love to make their own books at whatever level they are at. If writing slows them down, let them dictate.

Find books which reflect their interests. My ds loved the Tanghsen Tiger series in year 4 as he was interested in martial arts.

Capitalise on children's desire to have a complete set. Use relatives asking for what to buy them as an pop to say which number the child is missing etc.

Refer to book characters in daily life and ask what they would do in a normal life situation.

Create lists of favourite books

Give a child a chance to write book reviews, even it it's only a line.

Ask children to give a book a number of stars as a review

Show a child your favourite children's books, get them from Amazon, read them to your child and say how you loved the story and why.

Let them see you read, let them hear that you LOVE books, let them see that you look after them, let them hear that reading is a high pleasure, high status life enhancing activity!

Agree with others as have two boys that boys need identifiable characters and funny books win hands down. I have one avid reader and one reluctant (so far but he is only five). Avid loves Wimpy Kid and Horrid Henry. I have always been a keen reader myself and I think that helps. I think talking a lot about the books and showing a real interest (from the parent) really helps. Also my eldest loves making his own versions with of existing characters e.g Horrid Henry. Once they have a love of reading and can read themselves I think it is with them for life.

1. It is never too early to start! Even if it seems pointless to read them a story you don't think they understand, babies like listening to the sound of their parents'/carers' voices & will like looking at pictures, board books with holes in, lift the flap, etc.

Even if you are exhausted after a busy day, try to make time to read your dcs a short story, poem or snippet from a magazine/newspaper every day
(or at least as often as you can).

Relaxing bedtime stories (or alternatively Weekend lie-in/waking up stories) with lots of cuddles are the best part of being a parent!
Don't miss out!

2. Books found here
   You may not own a huge collection of books & reading material, but you can still introduce children to books in libraries,
   children's centres, community centres & even book shops.
   
   Most of these places have comfy seating areas that are child-friendly and you can take refuge in on rainy days.
   
   Show your kids the different formats for books + how to treat them with respect.
   Obviously, lead by example.

3. Games, fun & encouragement
   a) Encourage letter recognition on street signs, buildings, etc.
   
   If your dc's name starts with "P",

• What sound does the letter "P" make?
• How would you write "P" with a magic wand?
• Point out the "P" for parking or on other signs.
• How many other "P"s can they find? (e.g. in a particular word, on the way to the shops, waiting in a queue, etc)
• What animals, food, etc start with "P"?

Try this game with a different letter.

b) Encourage your dc as they start to recognise words like "no", "baby", "the", etc in a story.

• To build their confidence, pause and let them read out loud words that that you know that they recognise.
• If you are reading a story that rhymes, let them have a guess at the word that completes the rhyme.

c) Encourage your dc as they start to read out loud.

• They may like to play school with their toys or a younger sibling and "read" a story they know quite well.

d) Encourage your dc with their books from school.
As their books that they bring home from school get longer & they get tired of reading aloud all the time, you could try

• choosing a character to read the part of
• taking turns to read alternate pages
• letting them read a shorter page of text while you read a longer one

e) Encourage your dc to do the Summer Reading Challenge (at libraries during the summer)

• most libraries will put on various free events related to the Summer Reading Challenge

f) Take a break from reading and talk instead.

• You can still talk about what makes Horrid Henry horrid?
• Which bits were the funniest/ most exciting?
• What would you have said/done if x happened to you, etc?

If you've seen the film of the book (e.g. The Gruffalo, Matilda, The Spiderwick Chronicles, etc)

• What similarities/differences were there between the book & the film?
• Were the characters how you imagined?
• Do you prefer the book or the film?

4. Let them choose what to read! Whether it is that same story that you've read them 3 times a day for the last month, or a book below their normal reading level or a story that they have read to death or yet another book of a never-ending series, let them enjoy whatever they have chosen.

Having said that, there's no harm trying to introduce books they may not consider/have access to at school
Even after they have begun to read independently, they may still like to be read to.
I try to read a chapter of a book from a series & we read different parts, alternate pages, etc.

If it is a book I already know the ending of, I might become too busy to read the rest at a crucial point in the plot knowing that
the story may get finished independently.

I try to pick something that will appeal, with characters they can relate to or at least get interested in.
(e.g. adventure, animals, character of a similar age, etc)

Comics and graphic novels are great, especially for those who miss having pictures.

Don't forget non-fiction books too or country/travel guides if you're planning a trip somewhere or know someone from a different country.

5. Treats & Seats If you live near a £1 book store or The Works, buying a new book (annual, activity book, etc) could be a pre-holiday treat/holiday souvenir especially if you have a long journey planned. I've picked up old but untouched annuals/activity books in charity shops and these are often chosen for re-reading.
   Some book stores have a remainders/second hand section.
   Also, don't forget library book sales - lots of cheap youth fiction to try!

Another treat would be to go see the film, theatre production, author of a favourite book.

There are lots of children's book/storytelling events these days and also children's theatre at small venues can be cheaper than more plastic toys
if you are looking for birthday ideas.

Finally...Reading=Knowledge
Remember that once they can read, they will also be able to read graffiti in public places as well, so you may end up having some unexpected interesting conversations.

I struggled with my sons reading when he started school, I think he thought it would happen quickly. I found patience was the only way and letting him choose the books. O how much I disliked reading Biff and Chip, but we got there in the end, and now he is a great little reader!

I think there are two passions that should be cultivated in pre-reading children. Firstly a love of language. Children can get this through all the usual ways like parents reading to them, playing I Spy etc. I found teaching children naughty limericks or cheeky rhyming couplets can help. It gives them recognition of rhyme and understanding that language can be used subversively!! So, for example, I taught my 3 year old DS2 Colin McNaughton's rhyme:
Cockroach sandwich
for my lunch,
Love the taste
but hate the crunch!
Secondly I found with my DS2 that he was overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenge of reading as he could see that DS1 could do it but it felt so distant and impossible. So I approached things differently. I tried to cultivate a love of books as objects. So I got him to draw some really simple pictures which told a story- he needed some supervision. Then I cut them out and made a comic book with them and when he turned the pages and saw his story told in pictures he was delighted! He even named it 'The boy who lost his smile'. I also gave him a notebook and pencil for solving mysteries so now when he is lonely in the playground he takes it out and draws and traces odd things mostly dents in the floor and walls!

My child didn't like stories. Even if someone read a story, she started to run to play. But she like to look into shapes and animals. So we started to show animals and shapes in newspaper advertisements. Then she started to turn pages to look for them and eventually started to look at picture books. The best way to encourage children to read is trying with books with lot of pictures and few words.

My boys have all loved to be read to but have always started off being reluctant to read themselves. I would choose an exciting adventure story and read most of the way through before claiming to be too tired to finish the book. Without fail they would want to know the end so would read it themselves. I started reading less and less of it until they were reading the whole book. Sometimes, if I say I'm tired Ds3 (8) will offer to read to me.

Interactive books you can go through together are a good way to get interest. Finding topics that interest the child are essential & not too much text initially. Take them to the library with you & make it fun to choose books, also join any schemes your local library do to encourage reading with rewards like stickers etc. Set a good example by enjoying literature yourself, & being enthusiastic about what your child is reading and doing. Ideally start children at toddler stage to love stories and books & they will progress quite naturally to enjoy them.

My top tip is to find books that interest them- fiction or non-fiction, comics or magazines, it doesn't matter as long as they are reading.

Also, be a reading household. if they see their role models (mums and dads) read, they are more likely to.

my top tip is, if they do not like reading books, don't make them.

ds refused to pickupo a book, but was quite happy, insistent even, on getting homework from me. initially it was matching 4 cvc words to a picture, progressing onto reading sentences getting more and more complex and adidng in written responses.

he was happy to read books that he could already read then.

dd learned lots of reading skills very early. she enjoyed looking at books while she was a few months old. she would model following the print with a finger... she liked it when the cockeral crowed and jabbed my finger onto the relavent word to get me to say it again. (picture book with few words) she liked reading names of people and when one would grab my finger again, jab it on the paper and demand name... for me to write. she was distinguishing mummy, from daddy very early. she was however abook destroyer, so getting her interested in reading required finding as many bath books as possible for her to look at. top tip for those whose children eat/rip books... use bath books instead.

I think the best way to encourage reading is to choose brilliant books.
It's easy to be enthusiastic about something that is fantastic.
There are so many brilliant children's books out there, but also some very average ones.

I've had lots of recommendations from Mumsnet. Libraries are so fantastic also. We have new books every week for my youngest.

The way we encouraged our DC to read is by reading lots ourselves. And also by getting Wimpy Kid books, which the older one adores.

My girls are avid readers and have had no problems at all but my son is a very reluctant reader so I have to incentivise him with the withdrawal of things he loves (like using the ipad) until he has read a little bit of a book he might like. He as got better but is still slow so we spend time together reading together.

We got DS1 a cheap e-reader so if he wasn't tired he could read without disturbing DS2. Both have been enthused by the summer library challenge and choosing their own books at the library.

I love books and reading. My children see books around the house and their parents reading them. They see the enjoyment we get from them and so it is not a chore or effort for them to want to read or look at their books. They see it as an enjoyable way to pass their time. So my advice is if your struggling to get your little one to read, pick up a book yourself. After all our little ones want to be just like us x

Accept that your child will probably go through phases. My daughters will devour books for so long, but then may go a few months reading very little at all. Don't force reading - it's supposed to be a pleasure. Let them see you enjoying and talking about books. Visit and browse libraries and book shops, and hopefully they'll become a lifelong reader.

I loyally read every night to my baby/ toddler/ pre-schooler but when ds started reading his own books at school, he wasn't that interested. We would read them but split up even a pink band book over 2 or 3 sittings. Slowly he improved. A year later I bought a set of dk StarWars books. I told him that every time he went up a reading level he would get to choose one of these Star Wars book. He read more as he wanted to own the StarWars books and started to move through the bands quite quickly. Whether this progression would just have happened anyway is difficult to know, but he seemed much keener to read whatever it was he bought home from school so he could get the next book. Now he is very happy (slowly) reading books like Flat Stanley from school and has more choice of interesting (to him) books to read.

My son is only 6, but already a keen reader. The school learning to read books were really dull and didn't encourage him to find books a source of fun at all. We managed to find some American books for early readers which were non-fiction style superhero books. We also found some LEgo reading books - Both of these helped him to realise that books could be fun, and could be about things he was interested in. He's currently discovered the beast quest books, and we are encouraging him by giving him a new book everytime he gets a star for reading t school - he's got 24 so far and is loving the fact his bookshelf is filling up nicely ( the books needn't be expensive to buy - we've sourced almost all of ours from e-bay or charity shops) He does love a trip to the book-shop though which we reserve a special treat.

Fortunately he is currently passing on his enthusiasm to our 3 year old daughter who is already starting to love and collect books.

My tips are reading aloud every night so we can explore books and stories together. I try and read her stuff that she would find too difficult, but will read her anything she chooses.

Finding books that my daughter loves with no censorship .... Yes I mean you rainbow fairy magic series! This series allowed here to read and pick up reading "chapter books"

Finding books like Ottoline that have drawings on. It's pages of text that put her off. She read all of the funny claude series. I realised my daughter is put off by small font and pages of writing. Books with drawings and not every page covered in writing attract her.

If she is finding a book difficult we read it together.

If we are near a big bookshop I take her to explore the books, speak to the bookseller and buy her a new book.

Find that having some type of social book club style event works - for family DCs anyway! We have a book that we all agree on (we don't mind rereading childhood favourites or new children's fiction come to that!) and then we sit and read as a family for half an hour every evening and then when we've all read the book we hold a little party/get-together and talk about it and then (if it's been made into a film/drama series) we will watch it on TV to round off the experience .

We're all bookworms in our house ... but my kids 9 and 6 go through phases. They'll read LOTS and then not so much. I think the key with kids is to encourage independence and fun whilst reading, whilst being there to share if they want to read aloud too. We're never too old for bedtime stories ... My nutty character voices always have them up in arms! They LOVE silly stuff, things they can easily imagine, things that make them smile and even laugh - things that challenge their senses and broaden their vocabulary and if there's a series of fab books - all the better!! I know our household would love a large dose of Wimpy Kid! :) #fingerscrossed

Firstly enjoy books yourself ............. let children see
Read all notices to them, instructions etc. which you see during the day, hopefully this will make them realise reading is important.

But have fun, pick funny books with funny pictures and enjoy. Sit by them, give them cuddles, have set times in the story to do actions, these will be the books they bring to you to read

It can be a challenge to get DS (nearly 7) to read his school reading books but he's more keen if I pretend to be really excited about hearing them too. He's reading a series about space adventures at the moment so I keep telling him that I want to know what happens next and pleaaaase can he bring home the next one?! Not sure how long this will work for!

Find books that you really enjoy reading together. I love Roald Dahl and will happily read these to DS, doing lots of silly voices and it's fun for both of us.

Finally, buy a reading lamp for your DC! I recently bought DS a bedside lamp and he's suddenly really keen on reading to himself before going to sleep. So I read to him, then he reads a chapter and turns out his light. It also means that he can read the stuff like Beast Quest without me having to read it too...

i think starting early is key.reading to the kids in bed has always been a helper with each of them.it gets them interested.it helps them associate a good time with being read to to wanting to explore more for themselves.
picture books and kids book have always been popular,give them what they want with the pictures and once able to read their imagination seem to grwo to want words and the stories with it.
id always advice sitting down with them and reading to them and then asking them to have a go.being expressive.dont hold back on characters its only you and them so make a bit of a fool of yourselves together with bringing the books to life.
if you have a library take them and let them choose a book.
be a role model.read yourself.they always wanted to compete with the sister who had her head in a book contatnly!!they wondered what they were missing.
time.dont shut them away with a book to keep them quite.this will then be associated with bad times,punishment or mum and dad shoving us away.make the book an enjoyable thing,a treat,something to want.

I am an avid reader, and often have several of them on the go at once. There are thousands of books in our house: fiction, non-fiction, old books from my childhood, picture books, comic style books (like Calvin and Hobbes), reference etc. so from since they were born, our three children have always been surrounded by books.

My two daughters (one is in yr 1 and the other is in yr 2) were both able to read fluently before they started school. We read to them every bedtime and frequently during the day, almost from the start. The eldest is a real bookworm, and even before she could walk or talk, we'd often find her sitting up in her cot, trying to 'read' her board books in the dark! I started to teach her to recognise letters - using actual names, not phonics - from about age 2, just a few letters at a time, matching them with people we knew (M for Mummy, D for Daddy, F for Figaro (our cat) etc). Eventually this built up to showing her the actual words, like Mummy, Daddy, Figaro and she could recognise about 10 or so words by the time she was 2.5. She seemed really keen to do these, often bringing me her little bag of words to do with her. Then someone told me I was doing it all wrong and she'd be super confused when she started school because of the whole phonics thing (she was actually doing phonics in nursery anyway) so I panicked and stopped what I was doing and tried to do letter sounds with her but she just didn't get it and got quite upset that I didn't do words with her any more. When she turned 3 I gave up and got my old Peter and Jane books out and started to teach her sight reading (as she was so desperate to read). This gave her a massive boost and then I was gradually able to work phonics in too. She's hugely into reading and never without a book. Her reading was excellent when she started school and she read (of her own accord) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory during her first school summer holidays (when she was 5).
My second daughter, although she loved being read to, wasn't as keen on doing any reading herself so I never really did much teaching with her - didn't see the point in trying to force her beyond learning her alphabet (which she happily learnt). She is extremely competitive and tenacious though and one night (when she was 3), in the bath (where we had lots of foam letters), she grabbed an F, an A and a T, stuck them to the bath and said, F A T (sounds, not letter names). That spells FAT! DH and I were absolutely flabbergasted! She basically taught herself to read by listening to us working with DD1. She got on much better with the phonics method and although she is still an advanced reader (currently at about yr 2 level), she doesn't often pick up a book for pleasure - except in the car or in bed. She does enjoy our weekly visit to the library though!
DS is almost 3 and I haven't done much with him at all, other than read to him and make vague attempts to ask him to recognise letters. He doesn't really seem very interested yet, so I won't press the issue. He does love to look at books and be read to though so I'll just wait until he's ready to take things further :) Most of the books he most likes to look at are ones that have either photos in (rather than illustrations), or heavily feature trains or construction machines. I do think using children's interests is key in encouraging them to read - so many 'learn to read' texts are just so dull and insipid!

Wow! Sorry for the 5-tome post!