6 New Ideas for Reluctant Readers

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Do you have a reluctant reader?  I did — and I tried everything to get her to like books and engage with stories.  Here are some of the odd things I tried that seemed to work.

Reluctant Reader Ideashttps://imaginationsoup.net/2010/04/artist-dates-with-kids/

1. EAT and READ

Read to your reluctant reader while they are at the table eating. (Sitting still.  Undivided attention.)

2. OVER-KILL

Go to the library and let her check out as many books as she wants.  Even if it’s 60!  Even if it’s 100!  Who isn’t going to be excited about that? (Besides your back?)

3. REWARDS

Give books as rewards.  Go to a garage sale or a book store and let him pick out reward books you can dole out later.

That being said books as rewards are good. Food or money is counterproductive unless the money is for a bookstore.

4. COMFORT

Read to her when she’s sad or mad. This associates books with comfort.

5. AUDIOBOOKS

If you play an audiobook in the car or living room, someone listening just might get hooked. (Besides you.) Once you get a child loving stories, it helps immensely with reading more books by the author or in the series.

6. STAY UP LATE:

Let your reluctant reader stay up late to read in bed with a flashlight or headlamp. Breaking rules is fun!

 

I agonized and worried for years that my daughter wouldn’t love books. A wise friend told me to relax, not push too hard and it would come.  I’m not sure I totally relaxed but somehow, it did eventually “click” and now my daughter loves to read.

How about you?

What have you done that’s worked?

What are you trying now?

Here are some good books to read…

Short, Nonfiction Books for Reluctant, Struggling, and Wiggly Readers
Short Nonfiction Books for Reluctant Readers

Easy (Not Babyish) Books for Older Kidshigh interest low level books for struggling older readers

Funny Chapter Books That Kids Lovefunny chapter books for kids

 

Photo credit: Abdullah AL-Naser / Foter.com / CC BY

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23 Comments

  1. All the suggestions are great and I, too, very much believe in being a role model for children to follow. Once a child hones in on topics or categories he/she likes, bring home some books on your own and leave them lying around the house for him/her to discover. Books with toy tie-ins are also helpful since children can engage with the toys and make up their own stories after the books are done.

  2. Agree with all of the above! To create a reader, adults must create a reading environment that immerses the child with print and the love of books. Even the most reluctant reader can be won over if given the right to choose books and the opportunity to engage in books. It may take some perserance but don’t ever give up! My son is now an avid reader and my oldest is picking up books and sticking with them. Now, I just have to keep working on my husband!

  3. I also very much believe in modelling. When kids see us reading, it becomes associated in their minds as something family members do, just like watching TV or cleaning teeth.

  4. Every idea on your list is a winner! I would add: Let the kiddo pick what they want to read–and don’t talk them out of it! You, as the adult, might think it is too easy or too hard or not “schooly” enough. But self-choice is a strong motivator. And if they bring home six books and only read one, that’s ok too. They read one!

    Also, often many reluctant readers will read a graphic novel (comic book) when nothing else interests them. And that’s ok too. It’s the number of words read that is the most important for building fluency.

    In general, we as adults can often get “in the way” of kids finding their own way to become readers. Summer is a great time to let them really take the lead.