How can I help get my DD (y2 age 6) to want to read more?

[MyCatIsAStupidBastard]

So, first day back at school and immediately back to the excuses of why she couldn't possibly read her school book (or a couple of pages at least)...

'I don't want to'
'I'm tired'
'I'll read it tomorrow'

Almost every night last year it was a fight or cajoling or, well, just something. And it is very wearing, on all concerned.

She is behind on reading, not massively but enough for it to be noted in her end of year report. She's not daft, but isn't top of the class either (not a problem to me, I just want her to be happy and try her best). She loves a bed time story and has been read to everynight since a very small child.

Unless it comes easily she isn't a child to keep at things, so because she wont practice reading, it isn't coming as quickly as she would like and it becomes a vicious circle.

I realise that it will become a bit of a bogeyman for her if I don't get on top of this (not wanting to read, putting it off, only doing it after being told off, or cajoled, or whatevery) and help her in more effective ways than I am.

Things I have tried so far:
-Buying an English study book for her (actually worked quite well initially but once it got harder she stopped)
-Encouraging her to read some of the words in her bedtime story - she usually argues with this
-Bribery
-Telling off - I know, I know, shouldn't have, but I aint a saint and my patience is therefore not divine.

Any tips on how to encourage reading and to give her the extra support she needs without making it some big issue, would be great please.

Blimey, rambling there a bit.

Sorry.

Nutshell is, just want to help her read and encourage it and stop having the difficulties we are.

That sounds hard. What are the books sent home from school like?

My eldest dd is a year younger and v strong willed. I can imagine this kind of scenario with her. I would just continue to read to her every night from the books at home, letting her choose and encouraging any effort she made to read independently. I would give her the chance to read her school book every day, but not force her and let the teacher know if she was making excuses.

Do you go to the library? Maybe going together could be a fun thing to do and see what kind of books interest her.

She may be a bit old, but the Book People do a set called Red Nose Readers - something like this may help? My dd loves them.

Here they are Red Nose Readers

How about forgetting books and using magazines or books that are based on her favourite TV programmes - this way she is already interested in the subject and also familiar with the characters / topics.
Did this with my reluctant reader DS started with The Simpsons Top Trumps!!!!

Also silly books - joke books silly poems?!

I have a dc of the same age. I go for serious bribery. Or rather I did and now his reading is very good, having been very behind. As his reading got better, there was much less resistance to doing it. Now, he sees a book that interests him and begs to read it. No ticks or rewards needed.

A tick chart that gets a tick for every book read. Depending on number of ticks/what time of year it is, the reward can vary from a decent size toy to a small treat (the first time, we did 5 ticks - small reward, 35 ticks - very big prize). He knew what he was aiming to win from the outset.

Library Library Library Library.

Oh, did I mention the public library? They have early readers series in ours, and simple picture books (like Cat in the Hat) are often easy reads, anyway.

Some kids it's still a bit of a struggle (casts sidelong glare at DS2). But still he reads while he's there.

And don't diss comics, I'm a big fan of comics to get them reading. Calvin & Hobbes!!

Agree with director. Every Saturday, give her some money to spend on a book/comic/non-fic book of her choice. Even if you hate it. It's her choice. Leave her to it for a bit, then start asking questions. Get her to read funny bits out. She'll get there. I've done this with parents before. Also, the Guinness book of world records is always good for getting them started. Even if every week she buys another rainbow magic fairy book nonsense!

The way we got my DS to read every day was to do our usual stories (with his younger sibling) and then say that he could read with us for 10min after that - so he got to stay up later! He loved being able to stay up a bit later. Not necessarily ideal given it delays bedtime and they're tired while reading - but has made it not a struggle.

Thank you everyone.

I do think the books are a bit boring from school, so I will discuss that with them.

I like the idea of the library too. Dr Suezz (sp?) is a good idea too - Cat in the Hat etc. THere is a book called 'I'll teach my Dog 100 words' by him that she loves.

WIll try the comics more - I really dont mind what she reads as long as she just does.

I could try getting her to read to DS as well (he's 3). She loves the idea of being the teacher.

I just need to make it fun for her (and bribe her where necessary) don't I.

OP you could be describing my DD1 (yr1 5yo) to a tee. She hates reading (although loves being read to) & trying to get her to read is a daily battle.

She guesses her way through most books & like your DD, unless things come easy to her she won't persevere so most nights I end up pulling my hair out with her. I've tried library books & comics but she doesn't seem interested in anything .

Unfortunately I don't have any answers though so I will be watching this thread with great interest.

I found reading in the morning suited us better, we got up a few minutes earlier to make time, but DD was not so tired and therefore more receptive to giving it a go. Then evening reading was all fun, with me reading to her. Are the Apple Tree farm books still around? We loved those, easy words, and very busy pictures to discuss.

Noomininoo - at least we know we aren't the only ones!

I am assured that it will get better by friends whose DC had been the same (I really hope so anyway!)

DD1 gets tired and distracted in the evening and her mind wanders off and then she can get narky. We read school books after breakfast and it does seem a bit easier for her.

here they are
Woolly the sheep lived with us as DD's imaginary friend for a couple of years, and always appeared when we were on holiday or going somewhere new for a while longer

Same position. Few answers. Library complete failure - DD definitely prefers bookshops. We have lots of books at home and I'm reluctant to buy more as she buys them, reads a chapter then loses interest.

I think she thinks that reading is boring - she would far prefer to be doing gymnastics/running/any sport really. Will have words with her new teacher if we have the same reluctance this year. I'm worried she will get further behind. Reading seems the way they judge how well they are doing at DD's school.

Mine will show great interest in one topic/type of book, think I've cracked it and then lose interest.

I now won't read her a bedtime story unless she reads to me first. Working so far, for a month.

What books does she enjoy? I don't mean books that she reads, but ones you read to her? Read one page and then stop, let her read at least some of the next page. This is how I got dd back into reading, which she had loved (but that love was beaten out of her in reception). We used the Rainbow Fairies, and though I loathe them, I will always be grateful to the ghastly things for that!

DD found the school books so unutterably dull that I read them to her. That way they didn't put her off reading forever. I know it was bad, but it worked.

My dd was just the same. She is now 10 and takes a book everywhere. I don't think she enjoyed reading at that age as she found it hard. We would read to her every night books that were too hard but that she liked to keep her interest in books. The tried some familiar books together, maybe a page each. I have also subscribed to a reading programme over the Internet for younger ds who is motivated by computers, reading eggs it was called.

JUx - that sounds like a good idea with the Rainbow Fairies (she does like them). WIll give that a go. I know she wants to read as I will often find opened books in her bed where she has clearly given it a go.

I'll have a look at Reading eggs too.

Thank you

SandyCloud, that was my motivation too! Just as long as dd could experience the fantastic thing that a book is, I didn't really care whether she read them herself or not. I read the books she brought back from school so that she knew what went on and could answer questions if asked, but they were dire, and the idea of her struggling (or not, in her case) to read them with such little reward was ridiculous.

Once she cottoned on to reading you wouldn't see her without a book. She is 13 now and reading is one of her main occupations. She has been invited to join an elite reading group at school.

She just took off and flew and was one of the first to get onto free reading.

I really do believe that the slog of learning to read can be massively ameliorated by people reading fun books to the child.

We used bribary with my DD (just turned 7). I'd buy a pack of 6 Moshi Monster cards (75p) and she got one for each book she read -it mostly Biff & Chip that she liked. Her teacher said she'd inmproved the most in her class in Yr 2.

I now have the same struggle with DD and writing. She would much prefer to draw than write. It was her birthday last week and I when I said about writing thank you letters, the moans and groans I got was unreal.

What about audio books? Listening to the first book in a series may then encourage her to read the others. eg "How to Train Your Dragon" has about 10 books in the series now.

Also the Usbourne Puzzle books because they have just a little bit of reading and then a puzzle for a "reward".

Bribery here too.
If ds2 wants to watch tv or have screen time after school then he has to read his school book.

At bedtime he is also allowed to stay up and read like his older siblings. Only rule is he can't talk to his siblings and must stay in his room. During this time he tends to read books that interest him rather than books that he can read and I can hear him trying to sound out little bits like the name of a car or speech bubble in a comic-very cute.

6 is still very very young, if you think about it.

My DC didn't start reading "for fun" until 9 years old and 7 years old respectively.

I tried to encourage them by buying some comics, and giving them 15 minutes to read in bed before light out. They'd rather read than go to sleep! Once they got bored by the comics they started looking at "normal" books.

Also, we read 10 minutes every (school) day with them from school books. sometimes re-reading the same book. I used to set the kitchen timer on 10 mins. That makes it less daunting for them. You could even start with 5 minutes, and a star chart with a small reward at the end (mine got a mini lego figure or match attack cards after 10 stars). Then it becomes habit.

You have to find whatever interests them. For my three it is anything to do with tractors and forage harvesters, owls, classic cars, cars in general, lighthouses.

We have found a subscription to What Car? has done wonders for reading enthusiasm.

Mine also do a lot of reading on the web - while googling and using wikipedia to find out about tractors, forage harvesters, owls (you get the picture).

Pretty much it doesn't matter what they read, as long as it is something they are interested in. It gives them the idea that reading is a valuable tool to them.

We have tried taking ours to the library but I think it intimidates them - they are unwilling to really engage. Even if we bring an armful of books home, they often stay unopened until I realise they are overdue and rush them back to the library. The only exception to that is a book on birds that DS has insisted we get out for a second time this week.