Are some children just 'readers' and others not?

[Mumof3onetwothree]

I hear parents saying things like 'my son isn't a reader' as though it's a sort of personality trait and you cant do much about it. I loved reading as a child. I find these comments a bit frustrating and to me it feels as though they giving up on the child and they'll miss out. Is this true....are some children not readers? Or is it that they find reading hard and avoid it?
Maybe I'm just biased because I found reading easy and enjoyable.

Mine all found learning to read easy but none of them were readers despite lots of access to books at school, library , home etc

One of mine was a fluent reader at 4. He was reading the parental instructions on his reading books. He has been an avid reader ever since - 23 years on!
My daughter not so much but she enjoys reading too.

I think it depends on circumstances. For some reading might be a struggle, or they don't retain the information or understand what they are reading....so they don't end up loving it. Some they need to find a book they love. Many children are distracted by screen time. I admit, I allow my dc a lot more screen time then I should and I try to cut back. I always make they spend time reading. They go through phases where they will read loads (if they find a series they love) or a book they really enjoy. But sometimes if it is just an okay book they take ages to read it. I always make sure they are reading something. If I cut out their screen time, they would be reading a lot more. I also went through phases and still do. When I find a book I love, I read a ton. But then I can go years w out being really into books. But nothing is better then being stuck in a book. I especially get into books during my holidays because I read during travel/on the beach etc.

I loved reading, you’d find me under the covers with a torch hours after I went to bed. My dd who is 11 has not inherited my love of it. She will barely read anything and would balk at the idea of reading a book for pleasure. She can read and is good at it/understands what she reads, she’s just not bothered.

I think so. Both of mine are really good readers. But the eldest reads for pleasure and the youngest only reads because she has to for school.

My niece isn't. Her mum and I were bookworms and it was useful having a library at the end of our street. We were of the generation of making our own amusement but my sister and niece are always out doing or watching something or going somewhere on the weekend or school holidays. No time for my niece to amuse herself or be "bogged down" with reading.

Both mine could read from an early age. Either of them are big readers. It's a real
Sadness in my life. I love books. And I find it hard that neither of my kids do really. The worlds they are missing out on! They just don't enjoy it .

Yes I think some children are just not interested in reading. My nose was in a book all the time when I was a kid (still is) but neither of my sisters has ever enjoyed reading. We were all brought up the same.

One of mine is a reader, loves reading and will get through multiple books a week. The other is a good reader but won’t really read at home for enjoyment like their sibling. They have both had the same access to books and we read to them both every night when younger. So yes I think some children are readers and some not. I haven’t given up on my non reader by the way. I love reading and encourage them to read and am always looking for books that I think may ignite the reading spark!

Me and my exH are avid readers who have always encouraged our DS to read and provided plenty of opportunity to do so...he couldn't care less about it it's just not his thing. However he absolutely loves a history or science based podcast which I think sounds dreadful. Different strokes for different folks

Both of ours were. Was it because we read to them, discussed the books and pictures and they saw us read and it was just innate? One is an academic and has published their first academic book and is writing a novel, the other is an English teacher. Both love language.

I inhaled books like they were oxygen when I was a kid.
My ds was the same, though it's slowed down a bit (13yo now). He still loves reading, and it came easily to him.
My DD did not find reading came easily to her, we really had to foster her interest in it, subscription to the Beano was her gateway drug in the end, it managed to motivate her into working at it 😁 , but omg we thought she would never get there. She's now 11 and does enjoy reading (at last! But only certain books to her taste).
So, I've had one that was practically born reading and one that needed lots of scaffolding to get there.
If I was a gardener, and was comparing plants ease of nurture, I'd say one was a dandelion and one was a rare orchid.
Both now happily read, though other entertainments also compete for attention, so they don't read several books a week like I did (😢).

I was always lead to believe if your parents enjoy reading then you probably will.. true in my family.. my parents were avid readers.. myself and my siblings all read.. my daughters read and my Grandsons from age 9 to 18 all read..
Always ..always encourage reading... one of the best things ever.

Yes. I’ve got one of each!

Not everyone enjoys reading. I get more pleasure from making things (sewing, DIY etc)

My sister has always been a real book person and as a kid my teachers often compared me negatively to her - I suppose because we have such a strong idea that children "should" read.

I should add I could read fluently before I was four, am now an academic, and have read many good books- I just prefer creating things myself, as a hobby

Yes I think so. Our children both enjoyed sharing books and being read to u til they were teens. They rarely read independently.

Our 3.7 years grandchild is voracious, on Stage 3 already and loving it. (I’m a big reader too so it’s delightful to see).

I have one of each, both took to it easily but only one enjoys reading and will sit with a book/kindle. The other is more crafty and sporty.

I don’t think an ability to read and a love of reading are linked. I have one dd who struggles with reading (potential dyslexia or maybe just learning delays) but loves books and enjoys nothing more than being read to. Several of her classmates are highly capable but largely uninterested in books.

i do think the English approach to learning to read sucks a lot of the joy out of it - starts too early for many children, lots of pressure (perceived or real) around reading bands, and the reading schemes often are dreadful content wise. I understand why many children are turned off reading. I think fostering a love of reading is more valuable in the long run than rushing early attainment.

I was an avid reader as a child! Always to be found lying across my bed reading. I still love reading now but don't do it half as much. I tend to read when I am on holiday or soaking up the sun in my back garden.

All three of my children loved reading when they were young. Birthdays and Christmases all brought books as presents. As they got older though they fell away from it, sadly. Two of my three never read. One does occasionally.

My DC took a long time to learn to read. We had teachers say he would always have to use text to speech software. We found some books that he loved, read them aloud, used audiobooks, got him different kinds of reading support, and he eventually became a reader. He'll now happily read for hours as a 20 year old. I would say it's possible they just haven't found the right book.

Ds loved to read, dd is not interested, she doesn't even ask for a book at bedtime.

my eldest would be not a reader I think if he didn’t have a reader family. So we constantly make sure he’s reading new books for his school reader, when we go on holidays we take a few different ones since he doesn’t have his usual he’s more willing to try them. Sometimes we have to gently try for months then he finally tries it properly and really gets into it. Series are great for getting children like mine reading, he doesn’t like trying new books but once he likes one he’s keen to read all the rest in the series. We do minimal screen time so he does fall back on books, he wouldn’t if screens were an option.
so while ‘readers’ are always going to be readers, I was one, I don’t think all ‘not readers’ are not readers. Some just need more encouragement, of the kind only parents can give. Schools can’t do this level of support.

I have always been 'a reader' and still am.

Yes I do think some children are 'readers' and some just aren't.

I mean isn't that the same as adults anyway?

Yes. I love to read. My son (20) will get into reading for a few weeks then stop. My daughter (18) also reads but both mainly non fiction. I think it's something you love or not. My son is more of a 'doer' - gym, walking, kickboxing etc. Still he will read, but not like me who reads every night.

I love reading and read books to my dc when the were small. We always had lots of books at home and had frequent trips to the library. Out of 5 dc, 3 are readers and 2 are not interested at all. So yes, I think some people, including children are readers and some are just not.