At Parenting Expert, we are passionate in supporting children’s development. This includes reading. Reading is a life skill that everyone needs. However, for some young people reading does not come easy and for some, reading is not naturally a pastime that they will turn to. We spoke to Reading Expert, Molly Fowler who is Head of Literacy at St Philip’s School in London about how to get kids reading.
It is likely that, over the course of your young person’s adolescence, you’ve struggled with getting them to pick up a book. In an age of increasing reliance on technology, it is no surprise that reading levels among children are at an all-time low. The National Literacy Trust have reported that fewer than 1 in 2 children aged 8 to 18 said they enjoy reading in 2022. It also reported that boys were particularly difficult to motivate, with less than half (45.6%) saying they enjoyed reading. As a primary school teacher and Head of English with over ten years’ experience, I can confirm that sadly the findings are true. Reading is in decline and boys just aren’t as keen on reading as girls.
So, what can be done?
Creating a Culture of Reading
The single most important thing you can do as a parent is to model a love of reading. Children are far more susceptible to adult influence than we often realise. Witnessing genuine enthusiasm for books is the foundation of any successful reader. As a teacher, I have grown to
understand the impact of this influence. I openly discuss my annual reading target, I read alongside pupils during silent reading lessons, I keep a book visible on my desk and I discuss my opinions. I couple this with a strong culture of peer recommendations. Inherently social
creatures, children are hardwired to care what their age-mates are doing. Finding out what friends’ children are reading and subsequently recommending these books to your own can prove highly beneficial.
Pitching Recommendations Right
More reluctant readers will invariably need help from an adult to choose a book. Parents must ensure they are selecting the right kind of books, both in terms of difficulty and interest levels. If a child has yet to build a solid reading routine, the focus should be on getting them reading, not what they are reading – not yet, anyway. Parents need to see reading for pleasure as exactly that – something that should be a pleasurable experience. If your child enjoys reading graphic novels, David Walliams or Tom Gates, let them. Let them discover the enjoyment that comes from picking up a book and understanding it. Get that routine established. Then, and only then, should you tentatively start broadening their reading horizons. What do they like about David Walliams? Is it that the books are funny? Great – how about trying Louis Sachar?
Begin letting them alternate – one ‘familiar’ book followed by one ‘new’ book. By supporting your child with ascending the rungs of the reading ladder one by one, before you know it they will reach the top.
To Kindle, or not to Kindle?
As an English teacher, I am often asked about my opinions on a Kindle. Controversially, I am fully in favour of it. It is no secret that children (boys especially) are obsessed with technology and allowing them access to a shiny Kindle can often be the carrot needed to get them reading.
Furthermore, the built-in dictionary feature allows less confident readers to understand unfamiliar words instantly. You can use the dyslexia font, turn on Word Wise (which will define trickier lexicon automatically) and change the font size to one comfortable for your child. Plus, the e-ink on the Kindle display screen does not harm your eyes. Really, what’s the downside?
Friendly Competition
Having recently moved to an all-boys school, I suddenly found a reluctance to read was the rule rather than the exception. In this instance, I changed my approach to reading. I made it far more of a competitive sport. We have begun running a school-wide contest to find word ‘millionaires’ – boys able to read a million words – and glory is heaped upon them. Previously I might have argued that reading motivation should be intrinsic. I would now reason that, for certain children, it is the catalyst necessary for building a community of readers. I have seen for myself boys who previously struggled to read a book in an entire year now finishing their tenth in half that time. As parents, especially parents of boys, bringing this sense of competition into the home could be the spark needed to ignite a passion for reading.
World Book Day
With World Book Day fast approaching (Thursday 7th March), this is the perfect time to start developing that reading routine. I cannot underestimate the power of generating excitement around the concept of reading. All children in the UK will soon be receiving a Book Day token – why not make this an event? You could go for lunch, spend time sitting and reading the blurbs of the books in your local bookshop. Pick up a book for yourself whilst you’re there. Reading for pleasure in the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than family circumstances, their parents’ educational background, or their income; the time to act is now.
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