8yr old DD refusing to read at home.

[harryhausen]

I'm after a bit of advice, or just mull something over maybe.

My dd is just 8. She got a glowing report last year for her literacy levels - achieving (according to her teacher) a year above average for her reading standard. All great news. My problem is, she shows absolutely no interest in reading at home.

My career is in books. It's a huge passion for me. I've taken her to libraries and bookshops since before she could walk. We've always read a bedtime story etc. I've tried everything I can think of to find her something that sparks an interest in her long enough for her to pick up the book herself. Apart from a few half hearted reads of a couple of Roald Dahl's - I've drawn a blank. I've specifically bought her books that touch on her dog obsession but she won't even try them. I've attempted The Worst Witch, Enid Blyton, David Walliams.....nothing.

At the moment I'm reading her Harry Potter and she loves it, but when I suggest she perhaps reads a few pages herself she goes into a huge sulk.

Yet, her teachers say her reading ability is high. I really can't see how? In fact I'd much prefer her to have a bit more passion than be 'above average'. DH says I'm being paranoid and she's too young to have a real passion for reading but I think that's rubbish.

She doesn't go to a posh school, just a standard primary in a fairly average area. The school always comes middle of the leagues tables for our area. There's some real disadvantaged kids there, but some real clever kids too. She's happy at the school. The teachers aren't sure what to say about it as she's a goody two shoes at school.

Has anyone else had this? Am I worrying over nothing? I just want reading to be a pleasurable part of her life.

what about mr gum, captain underpants or anything else that is totally silly?

In your shoes I would take turns reading a page each and read for 20 mins an hour each night. Set a timer for 20 mins. Do it near bed time, cuddle up and have warm milk and a biscuit or two while you do it. Make sure to make it fun and use your daftest voices.

Some people love reading -some people don't. You do, she doesn't yet and may or may not do so in the future. You can't make people enjoy something.

If this was a sport we were discussing, most people would just accept that children don't always follow their parent's passions. Why should a love of reading be any different?

It is essential that she is literate, and it sounds like she is. So as long as she can read, and is reading (whether or not it is books) then don't worry about it.

I'm sure you've tried it, but I've found lights out now, unless you want to read for 20 minutes first, usually they suddenly are keener on reading.

It may be that you're offering books that she's not that interested in. My dc have different styles of books, and different reading styles.

Dd1: Mystery/adventure/spying type books. Lots of suspense. She reads a book once, then it goes away. She likes a series so she will read through the whole series and then move onto another. She may pick up the book again 2-3 years later, particularly if her friends start talking about it (as happened with Harry Potter) but not just rereading for pleasure. Doesn't like being read to, and hasn't for some time.

Dd2: Real life/gentle adventures/Chalet School. Won't read a book if it looks scary. She rereads and rereads. She'll get to the end of a book and turn back and start again. I have been very successful with her on taking a "scary" story and reading the first chapter, and her picking it up from there. But she does enjoy being read to, as long as she can finish the book on her own later.

Ds: Fact/fiction set in WWII: He'll read anything if the content looks interesting. So if it's about WWII he'll do it, even if it's well above his reading level. But he'd rather (most of the time) I read it to him. He flits in and out of a book, reads a chapter, then reads a different book, or will look something up in the index, or pick out the chapter that's most interesting. However if I took a book that I know he'll enjoy and suggested he reads it, he would not touch it. he has to pick it himself.

My mil says her 3 dc, the youngest she couldn't get to do any reading for pleasure as a primary school child. As an adult he's the only one who does read for pleasure.

What books have you illustrated?

Thanks again to everyone. It's made me see that I do really need to relax about it. I think I'm going to back off for now and continuing reading to her and we both enjoy this. Some amazing suggestions for me to think about though. DD is doing poetry next term so it's perfect to add some in with no pressure.

Fish fingers, bless you for saying. I'd love to read bedtime stories to everyone if I could!

I don't want to say exactly what I've illustrated as I'd like to stay a bit anonymous, but it's a fair few picture books and chapter books at the younger end of the market. It's my full time job. I'm very lucky