I confess. I didn’t always enjoy reading. In fact, until my mid-teens, I loathed the notion of (gasp) reading for fun.
Understandably, the words “I don’t want to read” can be daunting to a parent, as reading skills develop with practice and weaken without use. Fortunately, my mother and teachers developed a system to sneak reading into my regular activities. Now, as a young adult, I enjoy it and live a rich literary life!
Here are 10 techniques that kept me reading:
1. Audiobooks. My mother strategically invested in a series of audiobooks, so I could follow along as the books were recited. Although I preferred to listen to the audiobooks without reading along, this activity stimulated my enthusiasm for literature, familiarized me with famous literary texts, and strengthened my vocabulary. (Check out our Scholastic Audio Facebook page for more great ideas!)
2. Coloring books. My parents bought me literary books disguised as coloring books, knowing I’d read as I color. I loved to draw, and I naturally ended up reading the text around the pictures without realizing it. Many kids need that extra physical component, and “8 Great Ways to Get Kids Reading” suggests plenty of methods to add that element to your child’s reading routine!
3. Word games. My closet was always stocked with crossword puzzles, Scrabble-esque board games, and digital word games. Don’t get me wrong, Scrabble is no Junie B Jones, but as mentioned in “10 Non-Book Ways to Get Your Child to Read,” it is a tool to get a child to read words, apply them, and thus enhance his or her vocabulary. (If only reading Apps were available when I was a kid!)
4. Picture books. This might seem absurd, but I loved WORDLESS picture books. My mother would sit with me and ask me to create a story that fit the illustrations. Although this wasn’t really reading, it did spark my imagination.
5. Incentives. My teachers encouraged me to record the number of pages I read and the amount of time I spent reading. When I reached the goals that were set for me, I would receive a prize, and my next reading expectation would be increased. Although I had ulterior motives, I reached those goals! Incentives can materialize in a variety of ways other ways too, for example, through reading buddy programs, as described in “Silent Reading Incentives.”
6. Reading together. We know that reading to a young child can positively influence their cognitive development, but when is it appropriate for adults to stop reading to children? I enjoyed being read to late into my childhood because this gave me the opportunity to multitask (jump rope, color, and play) while enjoying a nice story. (Not much has changed; I often find myself juggling various activities simultaneously…I think it’s a personality thing.) Although I had the ability to read on my own, my parents continued to read to me simply because I enjoyed it. Here are some video demos on how to read to your kids in every age group, including pre-teens!
7. Reading in public. Children often want to emulate their parents. Mine always made the point to read in our living room, despite the distractions they would encounter there. Reading is something that I grew up seeing, so it is something I understood is important.
8. Offering options. I didn’t have a favorite genre, nor did I have a favorite book, so my bookshelves were always stocked with lots of diverse options for when I decided to give in and indulge in a good book. For me, variety was essential. Check out “What Kids Want to Read” to find the right options for your child!
9. Encouraging freedom. I was encouraged, prompted, and influenced to read, but I was never forced. Reading should not be an edict. It is a privilege.
10. Being flexibile. All these techniques were developed around my love for art, my aptitude for problem solving, and my auditory and kinesthetic learning preferences. Reading does not have to be done from a book, it can be woven into the activities that a child enjoys and is good at. Understand your child’s learning personality and ask them what they like. There is always room to add a few words!
Do you have any to add?
- Naomi Ducat
Images via Simon Cocks and Alan Cleaver
