The one thing I wanted to achieve as a parent is to instill a love of reading in my children - now dd1 (6) tells me she finds reading boring!

[emkana]

I feel genuinely crushed!!!

She turned into a free reader during Yr1, around Christmas last year. At first she read all the time, but then that petered out. During the summer holidays she wouldn't have read at all if I hadn't challenged her too. Since then I have always insisted that she reads to herself at night, but now this morning I said to her that she should only read if she wants to, not to put her off anymore? Is that the right thing to do do you think?

The books she says she likes best are those blooming fairy books (barf), but she has access to a wide range and we go to the library etc etc

I feel really upset about this, any advice?

It really botheres me that my Ds (8) hates reading.

It shouldn't but it does.

Moans and groans about reading the school book.

I take him to the library every week -always have . . .but all he wants is a Dr Who DVD.

I buy him comics as I don't care what he reads, just want him to read.

Wouldn't care if he was reading books for toddlers as long as he read something.

He always chooses a "where's Wally?" book from the school library ( no words!)

Have always read him bedtime stories -still do.

Loves bedtime stories but is too lazy to read them himself even if i read a book and then he reads to himself afterwards.

Teacher says he is a good reader in class.

Both me and Dh are both avid readers of anything -books, magazines -we're groaning under the weight of so many books.

I regularly re-read books I loved as a child. Comfort reading.

Do you think he hates books as i used to spend my happy hours breastfeeding with a book propped up on him?

Some people like reading. Others don't. My sister hated reading as a child and is easily the most intelligent in our family. She's just got the highest ever result - on record - for her Masters. I loved reading as a child, and struggled to pass a single 'O' level.

I have always given my children 2 bedtimes - a time by which they must be in bed, and a lights out time of 30 minutes later - which can only be used for reading. So they have the choice of going to sleep straight away or reading for 30 minutes, and they now both read for 30 mins every night in bed.

This way they have the choice of reading or not - so no pressure if they don't want to. Might be worth a try...

I'll try that one. Thanks!

Vulgar - i was going to post on this thread then read your post and realised mine would be word for word the same as yours (except my ds is 9)

I look back and thank my parents for instilling a love of reading in me. I think they achieved it by taking me to the library once a week and this was seen as a treat. I was allowed to spend as much time in there as I wanted and choose up to the maximum of 6 books myself (of course always chose the same one!). If I had done something naughty during the week my punishment would be one less book. This gradually taught me to value reading and books and you get such a variety at the library you can let your DC make their own choices. So I think the key is to make the trip to the library a treat and don't force the issue, it doesn't matter what books they choose, even a picture book can still keep the interest in books going and they can pick up 'proper' reading in their own time with no pressure.

I just think 6 is very young to "allow a child to choose not to read" even if they are already a fluent reader.

I also agree completely with Surry3mummy in providing a time for reading in the day. If sitting with a book has to compete with playing games, computer, listening to music, television, and all the other exciting things on offer for children these days; then it is unlikely reading will win at first, at age 6-7.

But once they are hooked on books they will choose to turn off the TV or the computer and read a book instead.

But when they are this age you need to help and support them in those choices.

In this house reading and visiting the library or a bookshop is seen as a treat, but that's because of the positive spin we have given these activities. My boys are 8 and 10, and if they didn't choose to read, I would be insisting (i.e. forcing) them to read at this age.

There are so many benefits.

beanstalk, that sounds great, but I feel that this is exactly what we've been doing!

roisin, it's difficult to know what's the right thing to do. Atm I do think I will back off. Took dd1 to library today for more fairy books... She started reading one tonight, and that was her own choice.

Will see how it goes.

The Bookpeople have some cheap sets of Fairy Books if you want Christmas presents

If it helps ds1 insisted on reading 'My secret unicorn' books at around this age, which I loathed and were pink and sparkly and clearly marketed at girls!

Don't worry - I was just the same - mine didn't bother much when she was 6/7 but she reads nonstop now - just keep trying different books.

what is a free reader?