Parents often ask how can I get my child to read more. Usually children are not reading either because they don’t find much joy in it compared to other areas of interest or because they are struggling readers. Children may struggle to read for a variety of reasons. It could be they haven’t developed a strong base of site words or decoding strategies that help them read with fluency. In some cases they may have a learning disability or attentional problems that really inhibit the ability to sustain attention to read especially when reading skills are weak. If you’re finding that to be the case with your child you may want to consider consulting with a specialist. My own son was a struggling reader when he was younger eventually however he grew to love it.

If you have a child that is reluctant to read here are a few ideas that might help:

1. Use closed captioning on television. Most kids don’t know how to turn it off and If they hate it maybe they won’t want to watch television so much anymore. Over time try reducing the volume until they rely more heavily on the print. Eventually see if you can mute a show or two altogether. This will help develop their site word recognition skills needed for fluency.

2. Require reading and do not accept no for an answer. Trade television or other high interest time for reading together time. For example, you can trade 1/2 an hour of television for every five minutes of time spent reading. They are probably watching two hours of television anyway at least now you know they are reading for twenty minutes first. Try to gradually increase the reading time and decrease the television time. If needed establish a tangible system so that they understand they are not being punished but they are making a trade and using their time more appropriately. Try using tokens or cards.

3. Meet your child at their reading level. Even if you’re child is in fifth grade their level might only be on second or third grade. Don’t panic there is hope. But you have to start where they are not where you want them to be. You want to increase their love of reading not their dislike. Remember no one wants to do anything that’s too difficult. If you’re not sure what their level is then you can have them read the first page of the story to you soon you’ll figure out if they struggle with a book or not. A good guide is that you want some of the words, maybe one to two per page, to be new but not all!

4. Start with a few small books that don’t take too long to read, five minutes. Ask your child repeat reading the books over a few days until they are fluent with them. Then get more books.

5. As your child reads, discuss the books and remember to talk about the pictures and how they tell about the story. Ask questions before, during, and after reading such as: Why do you think that happened? What did you like about? What would you have done if you were?

6. Get books! Build your child their own bookshelf library. Go to the library three times a week and get five or ten books at a time if they will let you. Or perhaps you and your friends can establish a reading club and trade purchased books instead of going to the library. Or if you’re lucky the school might have a leveled reading program and they can send home books. Another option is yard sales. I just picked up ten Magic School Bus books for five dollars.

7. Have them read books with you that on their level or slightly above, for at least fifteen minutes everyday. When they are reading you can help them with words they are having difficulty with.

8. Make sure they read books at their level independently for fifteen minutes everyday.

9. Establish a family reading time, everyone reads and shares what they read.

10. Have them read other forms of print: word searches, puzzles, comic books, online stories, newspapers, kids magazines.

11. If they are older have them read the book before they can see a movie. Use the movie as a reward for reading the book.

12. Older readers like to read books in a series. Goosebumps, Babysitters Club, Captain Underpants. Remember reading is reading even if it’s silly. My son loved Captain Underpants when he was younger while today he reads the classics.

13. Take a trip to the bookstore as a reward .

14. Bring a book for long car trips. I rarely allowed my son to have his video games on trips but I always asked him to select a book he could read. Today he chooses a book to bring almost every time.

15. Read difficult books together. He might want to read Harry Potter but isn’t ready for it, that doesn’t mean you can’t read it together.

16. Let them see you read everyday. My dad always used to read the newspaper. Since it was lying around I would read it too.

17. Use a chart and monitor each book that they read. After they complete so many minutes or hours of reading time offer a reward. Maybe a special trip to the ice cream shop or anything they don’t usually get to do or wouldn’t ordinarily get.

18.  Buy them books as gifts. Sure they may want a certain toy for a holiday but sneak in a special book too.  Add an inscription and when the toy is no longer fun the book still has meaning for them.

18. Tell them everyday how proud you are of them for becoming a better reader.