Coaxing, bribing and threatening won’t cause your child to read, but a healthy dose of tough love will. Mark Twain said, “The man who doesn’t read is no better off than the man who can’t read.” The same can be said about kids. Students between the ages of seven and fourteen who can read but don’t, are commonly referred to as Reluctant Readers. Every classroom in the nation has them and most families have at least one.
Most of today’s kids have dozens of books on their shelves and that’s where they stay – unopened and unread. It’s an ill of modern society. Today’s typical kid spends a great deal of time playing video games, hanging out with friends, surfing the net, text messaging, going to lessons, watching TV, and participating in adult-sponsored, organized games. He has little time to simply kick back and lose himself in a good book. And if he does have the time, he doesn’t have the interest. He is not “hooked” on books.
Transforming (or reforming) a reluctant reader is not an easy task, but it is doable. If parents want their kids to enjoy reading and are willing to put forth the effort to make it happen, they will be successful.
The most important thing a parent can do to transform a reluctant reader is to establish a mandatory, daily reading time in the home. Yes, I know what you’re thinking. “This lady is out of touch with today’s kid. There’s no way my child will stand for a plan that makes him read every day.” And you’re right. He probably won’t stand for it. Go ahead and let him sit. This is one of those times when you need to practice tough love if you really and truly want to entice your child into the wonderful world of books.
There are a few guidelines to keep in mind when you embark on a required daily reading program. Mandatory reading time should be short. Fifteen minutes is sufficient, and anything over twenty minutes is too much. Ideally, the time slot will precede “fun” activities, occur at the same time every day (including weekends and summers), and include no phone privileges. Let your child read anything he wants (comic books, sports magazines or whatever), but make certain he’s where you can see him at all times. Don’t fall for the “I’ll read in my bedroom” ploy because if you give the kid an inch, he’ll take the mile. Be stingy about making exceptions to your daily reading plan. Grant them only on rare occasions and only for compelling reasons.
Initially, expect your reluctant reader to pout (after he has yelled at you and gotten nowhere) and simply stare at one page for fifteen minutes. But...hang in there. After a few days he will tire from the monotony of glaring (which you won’t have noticed) or staring at his book, and he’ll start to read! And in a few more days – if he has chosen material he is interested in – he’ll actually start to enjoy it.
If at all possible, make your child’s mandatory reading time a family quiet time. (Hint: go read yourself!) It is not realistic or fair to expect a child to become absorbed in the pages of a book if the rest of the family is hooting and hollering over a favorite TV sit-com, or if an older sibling is racing a four-wheeler around the yard. This stipulation may not sit well with some family members, but so be it. If it turns a “reading sucks” kid into a “books rock” student, it’s worth the pain.
A few more suggestions:
Let your child select his own reading materials.
The reluctant reader should be allowed to read anything that suits his taste, as long as it isn’t potentially dangerous (“How to Build a Bomb”), pornographic, or extremely violent. After he’s hooked on reading material that he likes, you can gently steer him toward “better” literature. Remember, we must hook a fish before we can reel it in. The hook for the reluctant reader is a topic he is interested in and a format he enjoys. Even comic books or “graphic novels” are a good starting point for the very reluctant reader.
Give a book as a gift.
The simple act of wrapping a book in an appealing manner and presenting it for a special occasion sends a strong message to your child. It tells him you value reading and you want to share the treasure.
Appeal to his vanity.
Every kid likes to see his name or picture in the newspaper because it makes him feel good and it validates his worth. That same warm and fuzzy feeling is magnified tenfold when he writes a short book review and posts it, along with his name, on the World Wide Web. The sites listed below publish student book reviews – including those written by the very young. You may need to give your child assistance with this the first time around, but after that you can sit back and enjoy the feeling that follows a job well done.
An old Chinese proverb says, “Your skills will accomplish what the force of many cannot.” I believe this applies to parents and their reluctant readers. The love, modeling, and concern of a parent can accomplish what the force of many teachers cannot.
Teach your children a love of reading and you have given them a most precious gift.
-Roger Lewin
Sites that publish student book reviews:
A published book review encourages the reluctant reader, strengthens self-confidence, rewards interest, and promotes a positive attitude toward literature.
Visit teacher Jacquie McTaggart’s Web site at www.theteachersdesk.com for more parenting practices that affect the learning process.
