Encouraging Children to Read

Some children love to read, but some need a bit more encouragement. It is definitely worth persevering with, as they will certainly thank you when they are older and will hopefully develop a love of reading in their own time. It can be concerning when your child shows little or no interest in reading, particularly as they approach school age and years of formal education, including test scores and peer pressure, stretch before them. It is worth remembering though, that children develop at their own rate and there is absolutely no need to panic if they just don't care about reading. 

Most people, even subconsciously, compare their children to others of a similar age and want them to be at a similar level, but children learn differently. Some pick things up slowly, bit by bit, where as others will appear to stay in the same place for ages, then suddenly rush ahead. Both will end up in the same place eventually, so there's no need to worry.

In the months leading up to a child starting school, it's normal to want them to be well prepared, and one of the ways to do this is to develop their reading ability. It's really important not to overdo it though. If they don't enjoy it, or find it tricky, they may just not be ready to attempt formal reading and that's fine. There is no rush, because, although some children have picked up some words before they start school, it's not expected and they will learn in a structured way alongside their peers, one step at a time, so there is no need to worry that they need to be one step ahead, they don't.

The first step to getting children to enjoy reading is to help them take an interest in it. You can do this

by making sure it is part of every day life. If they see you reading, whether it's newspapers, recipe books, or  the TV guide, they will accept it as part of everyday life and it won't be intimidating. As they get older and need to practice their reading, there are lots of ways to encourage reluctant readers, making it less formal and more fun. There is reading all around you and it's often possible to incorporate a child's own interests too. If they like cars, try making words out of the letters in number plates as you walk along. If you are visiting somewhere like a theme park or zoo, read the different signs together to find your way around. The most important thing is to go at your child's pace. There is no right or wrong and I have seen plenty of examples of youngsters who started school unable to read, either because they had learning difficulties, or were just not interested, who have gone on to further education and attended university. They will all find their own level and have their strengths and weaknesses, but not feeling pressured and stressed and seeing learning as a positive experience is a big part of success, especially early on.

Read my last post about education here; Making Teaching Times Tables Fun