If your child hates reading, I understand. I’m a former teacher and current author. I taught 4th and 5th grade for six years. Ironically, I grew up hating reading, too. But my perspective on reading finally changed in my adult years. Here are nine things you can do (that I've also done) to get your child interested in reading:
Identify their interests
The more you know about your child, the more likely you'll be able to find books on those topics. You can download the form below, print it out, and have your child answer the questions so you have a starting point on what kinds of books to get.
Ask your local librarian or your child's teacher what books they have on these topics. Or do a quick search on the Internet. (If you're a teacher, this form is also perfect for helping your students.)
2. Encourage them to abandon books
If your child starts reading a book and gets bored, tell them to put it down and find a new one. It is a waste of time to read a book you don't like. Time is precious. And we shouldn't spend it on reading books we hate.
Sometimes I'll read the first page of a book, and if I am not immediately sucked in, I put the book back and search for a new one. Sometimes, I'll give the book a chance and read 60 pages. If I find myself dreading each page, or if I start going on social media to avoid reading, or if I start finding excuses not to read, then I know I've found the wrong book and need to abandon it.
Reading should not feel like a chore, and if it does, then get rid of that book. It's not the right one for you.
3. Read aloud to your child
Reading aloud to your child is the best way for them to hear correct fluency and fun character voices. A lot of times, struggling readers will read slowly and robotically. But when an adult reads aloud, children hear the correct way to read a sentence.
Reading together is also a bonding experience. Your child will feel supported if you read to them, and they'll feel like they don't have to do it alone.
You can also check their comprehension and help them understand the story better if you explain things as you go. A lot of times, schools will have assigned reading or school-required books (As a teacher, I had to require my students to read certain books), and kids will hate it. That is the perfect opportunity for you to read aloud to your child. Take the burden off your child so they don't develop a disdain for reading even more.
When I was growing up, my mom would read to me, even in high school! That's how long I struggled with reading. So, even if your child is older, it is still beneficial to read to them.
4. Find books with illustrations
Illustrations are a great way to break up a text. They help kids with comprehension, and they provide more white space in a book.
For me, I always hated seeing a ton of text in a book. It made it feel impossible for me to read. But illustrations gave my brain a break from having to read.
If you find books with illustrations or books that are graphic novels, you'll be more likely to help your child love reading.
As an author, that's also why I included over 35 illustrations in my novel Sincerely, Diary.
5. Show them what you read
If you read books, articles, audiobooks, comics, blogs, magazines, forums, etc., show it to your kids. It's important for them to see that reading comes in many different forms. It's especially valuable when kids see you reading because you're setting the example. If you say reading is important, then make sure your actions back it up.
6. Have them watch a movie
This might sound contradictory, but hear me out. If kids watch the movie before reading the book, then they might be more interested in reading the book because they'll know what happens, and they won't have to stress so much about reading comprehension. The movie will give them the confidence they need to complete the book.
A lot of movies are different than the books, so just prep your child with that info beforehand, so they know it will be different. Something I did as a teacher was I had my students compare and contrast the book and the movie. Your child, of course, doesn't need to do that unless that sounds fun to them. Remember, reading should be fun, not a chore.
One movie that stays pretty similar to the book is Holes. So, if you want a good movie/book recommendation, I'd suggest having your child watch that movie. The book is written by Louis Sachar.
7. Look for short books
Sometimes a thick book is intimidating for kids who hate reading. A low page count helps kids feel successful because they believe they’ll finish that book quickly.
Whenever I'm searching for a new book to read, I look to see how thick it is and how many pages it is. Many times, I gravitate toward children's chapter books because I love the short length. I feel like I can read them quickly.
Keep that in mind when searching for books. Kids who hate reading usually want short books.
8. Let them read below or above their level
Lots of schools are adamant that kids read books at their level, but I disagree. As long as you feel the above-level books are appropriate, I think it's fine. What matters most is finding books your child is interested in.
The one thing you need to look out for (if they choose an above-level book) is inappropriate content or language. However, I've seen even children's chapter books and picture books with content I disagree with, so it's always best to check out the books beforehand or look at reviews or ask trusted friends if they've read that book before.
My son had to read decodable books for homework. If you're not familiar with decodables, they're basically books with simple words and simple sentences to help beginning readers learn how to read. For example, one of the books might say, "Pat sat with his cat. His cat went to lap. Sip, sip, sip."
My son got so bored reading these books. He started to hate reading. And sometimes the books tried to have such simple language that the story didn't make sense. I couldn't even comprehend them unless I looked solely at the pictures. At that point, I told my son he didn't have to read them. He could just choose a picture book, and we would read that together instead.
Levels aren't important in my opinion. They're just a guide to help you know what age group the book is targeting (or how difficult the vocabulary and sentence structure are). I’m an adult and I still read kids' books because they bring me joy. Kids' books are way below my level, but I love them.
Find the books that bring your child joy. Remember, the goal is to develop a life-long love of reading.
9. Find books by the same author or similar books
If your child finds a book they like, get them more books by that same author. That will keep your child reading because they trust that author's style and stories.
If the author doesn't have any other books published, then check Amazon’s “Also bought” section. That will tell you what other customers bought who also bought that book. Scroll down to the bottom of the book's product description page on Amazon (close to where the reviews are). It should look like this:
This is a screenshot of the "Also bought" section from my book's product page on Amazon. So, customers who bought The Baby-sitters Club also bought my book Sincerely, Diary.
If your child is not interested in reading, and you want them to like reading, I hope you'll try these nine tips. One last thing I tell myself whenever I find myself avoiding reading is good things require discipline. Sometimes I don't like working out. And sometimes I hate eating my vegetables. But I still do them anyway. The same goes for reading.
I need to stop scrolling on social media or watching TV, and I need to sit down and read because it's good for me. It's good for my brain. A lot of times, if I have a good book, and I'm not reading it, it's because I'm distracted and not staying focused. I need to get rid of the distractions and focus on the great book I found.
Good luck, parents! I hope this was helpful.
Sincerely,
Maryna Doughty
Author of Sincerely, Diary
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