12 year old me was a total bookworm. I remember sitting up all night reading ‘The Prisoner of Azkaban’ in the bathroom - my sister kicked me out of our room - unable to stop reading until I’d finished the whole book the day it came out. I loved weekly visits to the school library to get stuck into something new, meaning I always had a great book on the go.
Sadly, research would suggest that today’s younger generation are less likely to be up all night reading. If you’re finding it a battle to nurture a love for reading in your home - you’re not the only one.
The teacher in me wants to believe that kids who profess they don’t like reading…simply haven’t found the right book.
I’ve got some top tips to help you foster a love for reading in your family. Reading is just too important and wonderful to throw in the towel on…even for the most reluctant readers in your clan.
Why is reading vital for kids?
- Books enable us to embark upon adventures and other cultures beyond our circumstances and experiences that our imaginations could not even conceive of otherwise!
As a result, kids develop:
- Empathy
- Emotional intelligence
- A more extensive vocabulary (a key indicator for academic success)
- Cognitive capacity to creatively problem solve
4 ways to help your kids feel the love for reading
Let your child take the wheel
Perhaps easier said than done if you’ve trudged through one too many ‘100 Gross Facts about Lizards’ books in your time - but if that’s what your child is enthusiastic to read, it’s a start. Reading is the goal.
Graphic novels, short stories, books they’ve already read. Giving kids autonomy on their reading journey is key to embedding reading as a lifelong practice they will love.
Adults can relate - I know there are times when I’m down to give Ulysses (another) go and times when I just want to curl up and fly through some Chick Lit I know I’ll enjoy.
Seek support if you have a gut instinct they are struggling
If your child truly hates reading and you're both exhausted and frustrated over it, there’s no harm in investigating to make sure they don't need extra help.
Your child’s teacher is a great starting point, and a font for knowledge on developing readers. With their expertise in this area, it’s likely they’ll already have flagged concerns if they feel your child could benefit from extra support.
It’s always worth a conversation and keeping lines of communication about reading progress open between school and home. Your teacher will be able to offer reassurance and some ideas for supporting their reading journey you may not have thought of.
Embrace technology
It’s never going to replace books. They’re much too awesome for that. But it can help.
Phonics lay the cornerstone for learning to read. Don’t underestimate the power of strengthening phonics foundations and how it helps early readers grow in confidence.
Edurino’s world of phonics learning, unlocked by Mika 🦊, sharpens kids phonics skills through play and has been proven to be transformational for kids’ enjoyment of reading:
‘My son just turned 5 and was really struggling with phonics at school, 2 weeks later and he’s now ahead of his peers. He comes home from school every single day and wants to play with Edurino. He now asks to read his books rather than me nagging…!’
Following along with an audio book while a child learns to read can increase confidence and enjoyment of a book; plugging gaps in their knowledge of words they are unsure of.
Loving libraries
Make the most if you’re lucky enough to have this fabulous resource in your area. Libraries in the UK are free to join and from my perspective, a great morning/afternoon out with kids - unlike soft play, screaming is not encouraged - yayy!
They offer reading groups, classes, competitions, access to audio books and other cool digital resources AND the perfect place to discover and indulge your child’s interests, they can check out cook books, craft guides, novels, non-fiction, comics - you name it. Plus, you get to bring them all back so they can’t clutter up your house. Win win.
