The child does not like to read

The child does not like to read

Many are concerned that their children are not reading books. How to make reading not a duty, but a pleasure? If the joy of reading is lost, then it is not so far lost. So a teenager doesn’t like to read. What to do? Let’s figure it out.

1. Understand why you are concerned about this issue.

Reading is an opportunity to be in silence and hear yourself, to go to unthinkable universes for free and find your place in the world. You and I understand this, but how to convey this to the child? To begin with, understand that the problem “My child does not like to read” is not a child’s problem, it is your problem. And you will deal with it. Understand why you are concerned about this issue. Ask yourself the question “Why?” Five times. Why do I want so hard for my child to read more? Because reading develops thinking. Why do I want my child to develop thinking? And why in this way? Etc.

There is no magic pill that a child can take and immediately love to read. But you can gently bring him to this. Choose the words and convey them to the child. Come up with 20 reasons for reading.

2. Understand the interests of the child

Act like a salesperson. Sell ​​him the idea that reading is great, interesting, and useful. Start from his requests. What problems can books solve? Tell him about such books, spark interest in him. Talk to him about your future profession. What does he want to do? Say that books can help him. Many successes and failures have already been described there. If the child has an idol, find a book about him or about this area. Does he like shooting games? Offer him good quality adventure fiction, like Heinlein, for example.

3. Let him choose books himself

On the next free evening, go to the bookstore with your child. There is a strong relationship between reading attitudes and the number of children’s books in the adult home library. Most of all, reading is loved by those who have a large selection at home. Start building your own collection of books with your teenager.

4. Lead by example – read in your spare time

Analyze what you do in your free time? After all, the child takes an example from you. If you watch TV or spend the whole evening at the computer, then it will do the same. How often does your child see you reading?

5. Share your own enjoyment of reading

Share it constantly. What have you read this week? Share with your child interesting quotes, examples, characters, actions that amazed you. Any child loves an interesting story. When the child was very young, remember that you were an excellent storyteller. Become one again and share the useful and interesting that you have learned from the books.

Offer to read to him. You can read not only to 3-year-old children, but also to 13-year-olds. This is one way to be closer. Just offer “Do you want me to read it to you?”, And suddenly agree? Read to him for a couple of weeks, stop reading at the most interesting place, and perhaps in the middle of the next day you will find him reading a book. He himself will want to finish reading it. Because it’s interesting. Start with one of these books that will be of interest to both adults and children:

1. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury

2. “Thief of Shadows” by Mark Levy

3. “House in which …”, by Mariam Petrosyan

4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

5. “The time is always good”, by Evgeniya Pasternak

6. Catcher in the Rye by Jerome D. Salinger

7. “35 Kilos of Hope” by Anna Gavalda

8. “Den”, author – Georgy Manturov

9. “Chasodei”, author – Natalia Shcherba

10. “Children’s Book”, by Boris Akunin

7. Discuss what you read.

Discuss the plot as you read. Ask the questions “How would you do?” Look for parallels in real life. Help your child draw an analogy between the events in the book and the things that are most interesting to him in real life. This is how people gain an understanding of the world in which they live. The ability to relate the content of the book to reality is critical. Children who are accustomed to discussing what they read have a better relationship between books and life and see more meaning in the text. But do all this, of course, with the consent of the child. If he does not want to discuss, then do not forget that this is one of the delights of the reader – to be silent about what he has read.

8. Introduce him to graphic novels

Graphic novels and short stories are like comics, but they can also be based on classical literature. Drawing, not text, is the basis for conveying the plot. Show him books by Neil Gaiman or graphic renditions of the novels by Stephen King and Arthur Conan Doyle. It can be a gateway to serious literature without pictures.

9. If he loves gadgets, buy him an e-book

And upload interesting books there. According to the Russian State Children’s Library, almost 70% of students in grades 5-9 read e-books from a computer screen, laptop, iPad. To make reading e-books more efficient, comfortable and useful, purchase an e-reader that uses e-ink technology (E-Ink). The screen will not flicker and glare, and the eyes will not strain.

10. Teach your child to read imaginatively

After all, why is a child so drawn to a computer, tablet, TV? Fast change of bright pictures, dynamics, special effects. Teach your child to use their imagination to the fullest while reading. Let him make each image brighter, sounds louder, sensations livelier. Let him imagine himself to be the main character in this book space, and not just an outside observer. And when the flow of imagination captures him entirely, he will believe that the book is better than any film.

This means doing your best and removing the importance from this goal. Maybe even say, “You know, I believe in you. You will succeed without books ”. Thanks to your trust, the child will cease to perceive your words about the need for reading with hostility and will pick up the book.

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