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.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. We have lots of books and always prioritised reading but it seems as though my children might not be inheriting my love of reading. It's good to know we aren't alone...

If DC are below expected in reading at age 10, it’s very difficult to make quick progress or access other parts of the curriculum. Someone who finds it difficult rarely takes off and flies because they struggle over words. Many do find it difficult snd don’t enjoy it. Same way I didn’t flourish at sport. I’ve never seen anyone be good at tennis who couldn’t run. Usually they are all round good at sport.

All four of mine are bookworms. As are DH & myself.

One took slightly longer to get into it, so we pulled out graphic novels (bunny vs monkey type stuff) and now he is hooked... loves one piece etc. as long as he is (devouring) reading, I'm fine with that!

@justtidying Was slightly longer as old as 10 though? Novels indicates a great reader to me. Looking at some dc, novels are not accessible to them. In any form.

No, he is an avid book worm now, aged ten. This was about the age of 7. But have you tried reading manga with DC? Some kids feel intimidated by chapter books, especially if they are inexperienced readers.

It's really important to give them reading content that appeals to them, and to make it fun. Kids won't just read anything out of duty, they have to be curious and interested in the content of the books.

I spent my childhood either outside or reading. The first time I read to dc1, he was a newborn in a NICU incubator. Now at 9, he's a good reader with an excellent vocabulary but outside school/his current topic of interest, reading comes at the bottom of a long list of interests. We have a house full of books and he loves stories (listened to via audio book/yoto/me reading aloud) but he isn't inspired to read in the same way I was.

Dc2 on the other hand would happily bounce between spending time outside, drawing and reading.

My daughters 21 and 23 are one of each... one is an avid reader and final year of an English degree. The other only reads what she has to to get through her science based masters. Both are intelligent, both reasonably highly educated.

Access to books, ability to read, a family of readers who support reading and education has been the same for both of our daughters... one reads for pleasure, the other does not.

But I will say that I have worked bloody hard with a student over the last three years who is now 10, who was very reading resistant. He was full of bravado, and pretended to read, but couldn't. It held him back so much, academically. (I teach in a Montessori school, public school didn't work out for him, as he was bored, frustrated, ADHD and resistant to learning).

He refused all the 'baby books', and I had to really really really work on his parents with screen time (he had such high energy, they used this a lot to keep him entertained and quiet), and I had to be really tough with him, saying he wouldn't progress with kids his age if he didn't start reading (which I hated doing, but he needed very firm boundaries putting into place, to stop him playing the fool). In the last 8 months, he has really taken off and is now reading Minecraft chapter books and writing stories.

His spelling is awful and his reading is slow, BUT he has progressed so much and is now asking to go to the library. I don't think 10 is too old, but I do think that you are definitely running out of time to catch them as it's harder to find easier material in accordance with their interests... especially as this kid was super bright, but his lack of reading meant that his body couldn't keep up with his intellect.

It was definitely the hardest case I have ever had to deal with though...

@justtidying Most schools will see pupils who really struggle with reading despite the alleged wonder of phonics. I agree broader material can spark an interest but some dc will always find it difficult. All sorts of reading material are valuable and a varied diet helps a lot. That’s the issue with phonics for some. Boring reading books snd parents who barely read themselves. Nearly everyone posting here is an avid reader. Many dc don’t have this background. Not one to one intervention either unless PP funded.

Agreed!

I loved reading as a child but rarely read now. I was recently been libraries and noticed there seems a lot less availability of book than when I was a child. I think children have so many options for entertainment.