Reading at home now DS is in secondary school

[SomePeopleSayImBonkers]

Wasn't sure where to post this, so sorry if people feel this is the wrong place.

My DS has recently started Y7. During primary school, he had a reading book sent home that we would read each night. Obviously at secondary this stops.

DS does like reading but if you gave him the choice between reading and the Xbox, the Xbox wins. However, I'd like to encourage make him read more or less everyday....but don't want to be too pushy.

Are there any others out there who can suggest ways to get DS to read, for fun, without seeming that it's a chore.

Time on weeknights can be short. By the time he's home, done any homework, eaten dinner and had a shower, there's not an awful lot of free time and I do feel that he should be able to play on the Xbox, if that's what he wants to do for enjoyment.

Should I get him to do 20-30 mins reading a day before Xbox? Encourage a time when we both sit down and read independently? ....Not sure what is the best strategy.

I just feel that if I don't do something soon, he just won't read....something I don't want to happen.

Thanks

My DS is at secondary school. We only let him play on computer/Xbox etc on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and one night during the week. We also restrict TV watching on the other nights. I recommend buying him game related magazines (beware some are 18+, although I think this is because they sometimes have free gifts of 18+ games, rather than the content, which may be a bit sweary, but probably nothing they haven't heard at school) or history magazines, etc, depending on his interests. You could encourage him to look in the school library for books and bring one home. Once their time is not consumed by electronic toys, they will either read or you could offer to play a board game instead. Games such as Carcassonne or Rummikub can be good fun to play with a teenager. A good way to implement a new way of life like this is to sit down and discuss with him and explain why you think he needs to spend less time on the video games now he is at secondary school. After a few weeks he will probably have forgotten the old way of life.

With my DD, buying her a kindle made a real difference to her interest in reading.

And would agree that magazines about something he is interested in might help. Or non fiction, if he has any interests?

Thanks for replies. Yes, getting magazines about gaming, etc is a good idea.

The problem will still exist that he would rather play Xbox than read. He does enjoy reading and has lots of books which he is interested in. However, he'd rather play on computers and have me read the books to him at bedtime.

This will change...

Ds has always had a relatively early bedtime but has half an hour (well 15 mins by the time he's got into pyjamas cleaned his teeth etc) until lights out which he has to spend reading (he's a big reader so it's not a problem but we've had this routine for years and it seems to work).

titchy - this is something along the lines that I'm thinking of introducing. I know it will take a bit of time and fighting to establsih new routine, but at primary school he used to read his school book to me just before bedtime, so the difference would be 15mins of independent reading....not a huge change.

Thanks!

This is our routine too, send him up relatively early but don't enforce lights out so he tends to read until he is ready to sleep. He does have a radio in his room so sometimes istens to football rather than reading but no computer, tv or games consoles so tends to push him towards reading. Games console only on weekends during term time so he is used to not having that option.

He can't play X box in bed, can he. Can you get him into the habit of reading in bed for 20 mins before he goes to sleep? You could either read with him, or have him read to you, just to start him off.
There are loads of great books for teenagers. Library will give you/him advice about what he'd like.

Ds (yr 7) is a massive reader but I would agree with the above advice about bedtime. We've always had the rule of 'quiet stuff only after 8' with lights off at 9. Ds can choose reading, drawing or writing and mostly reads (though does lots of all three at other times too.
It would really depend on your routine/bedtimes but I believe that at least half an hour before bed should be screen free time and preferably more.

Oh and I know you've not exactly described him as a reluctant reader as such, but I would recommend reading the first chapter of any new book to him, just to get him hooked and happy to continue. We sometimes do that with ds because although he reads avidly he can be reluctant to break away from his favourite genres!

Thanks for all your help. DS is currently in his room reading The Hobbit as I type!

Yes kitKatGirl1, he's not a reluctant reader, it's more the motivating him to read vs playing the Xbox.

And no ProudNeathGirl, he most certainly can not play the Xbox in bed! lol

I explained that bedtime routine would include some reading before bed. He was fine with that phew. Speaking to him reminded him that his form tutor had asked him to bring in a book from home to read too! So that's sorted too!

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions

My DS and DD are in yr 6 and 5. they read in the morning after breakfast and before getting dressed. They have to do it and fill in reading records for school, and I intend for this to continue (not the reading records) once they go to secondary school, esp for DS, who will read for 20 mins max as that's what he's required to do!! If I ask him to read before bed I will find him 'reading' the Argos catologue

My year 7's read in bed before lights out, I'm trying to get them up there earlier as they are exhausted by secondary school. They've always read in bed so it has just continued the routine. I'm a bit mean and don't allow phones, DS, tv or anything like that in their bedrooms as I know that would take precedence over reading and I really don't want that. No big battles as yet but they are probably looming

Mine also read stuf like that dollybird. I've recently ordered 'First News' to be delivered every week - a child centred newspaper which they seem to enjoy.

I think that by 11 or 12 you either have a reader or you don't.
DS1 (16)never read fiction for pleasure after about the age of 10 and I am sad that he doesn't get the pleasure that I do. He will read scientific papers and magazines but never fiction.
DS2 (14) on the other hand always has a book on the go and probably always will, he will play computer / x box games but enjoys reading as well.
As long as his literacy is good I wouldn't worry. I'd still ration the x box but don't be surprised if he chooses not to read. You can lead a horse to water......

Have you tried audiobooks? My DS's one an avid reader and one not have broadened their reading choices through listening to audiobooks. Having listened to My Family and Other Animals in the car one has gone onto read other Gerald Durrell books, the other listened to a Hemming Mankel book about Wallander downloaded onto his ipod and then bought two more Wallander books from our local charity shop. You can join Audible for £16 per month and choose two for free each month if your really organised you can choose books you will all like and then you can listen as well. And you can do other things at the same time.

We have a deal with our daughter, she goes up to bed at 8.45pm to sleep but can stay up for an extra 15 mins if she is reading in bed. My daughter's school allow 15 mins for registration and dealing with any problems, so their tutor has asked them to bring a book in each day as there are often 10 mins am and pm with nothing to do.

My dd is in Y8. At her school they have one hour a fortnight time-tabled as English in the library where they can choose a book to read. They can take these books home if they want to. When they have finished reading the book, they go on the computer and answer questions or write a review. The computer then suggests other books that would be suitable for them to read next.
Reading the Hobbit sounds fine to me though!

Thanks again for the responses.

Hes now happily reading at bedtime. I tell him for 15 mins, but he's happy to read until I tell him to stop! Starting to wonder if the Hobbit is a bit above him, will question his understanding later!

He's been listening to audio books in bed for a while now. He's gone through all the Harry Potters, How to Train your Dragon series and now on Percy Jackson!

He's also taking a reading book into school, as his form tutor had asked, but so far he says that he hasn't read any!

Thanks again

OP look at the Audible website (sorry don't know how to link it in) there are thousands and thousands of books on it including fiction and non fiction. Literally something for every taste.

Thanks happygardening, will do!

The Hobbit is on our year 7 reading list (mine is reading it at the moment as well). He read all of the Michael Mulpurgo books, which he loved, but he seems to be enjoying The Hobbit which I thought he may have found a bit slow.

My DD, year 8, has been given a reading log, a list of authors and been told to read 8 books between now and Christmas. She should fill in the reading log regularly and at the end of each book write a book review. Her teacher this year is Head of English and the school's results this summer were 86% A*-C including English, so they must be doing something right.

It sounds as if you have got this cracked OP, but just to say that a friend of mine had success by giving her DS a fixed bedtime - but then allowing him an extra 30mins but only if he spent that time reading.

That way his choice was between sleeping and reading, and he stopped feeling resentful of being 'forced' to read when he would rather be doing something else.