Parenting: Help my boy doesn't like reading!!
Rachel Goodchild is a parenting and education specialist. She's worked as a nanny, teacher and lecturer and is the author of over 25 educational titles.
Congratulations to Suzie Farley and Reen Skaria who
won the Boys Reading Packs! Enjoy the books and hope it gets the
children into reading!
See which titles were in this giveaway by clicking
here!
How to Help Your Son Love Reading
When it comes to reading, the boys can get left behind. They may
not share the love of reading that their sisters and female
classmates do, and they may not even realize what they are missing.
If your son complains that reading is dull or boring, doesn't enjoy
reading on his own, and seems to simply hate the very idea, there
may still be hope. With some added effort and attention on your
part, your son very well may learn to love reading. Here are a
variety of ways to encourage your son to love reading, however
reluctant he at first appears.
Match Books to Your Son's Interests
Does your child love bugs, soccer, or cars? It may be time for a
trip to the library. Invest some time to learn about your son's
interests, and then match books appropriately. He may enjoy
nonfiction books about bugs, for example, or the newest young adult
novel about a boy who enjoys soccer. If you have no idea where to
begin, ask your local librarian for help. He or she will most
likely be able to suggest just the book you need, and may be of
great help in picking out future books, as well.
Use Your Funny Bone
Encourage your child to read by showing them books of jokes,
riddles, or comics. The humor involved may be key to getting him to
enjoy reading, after all. Your best bets are the books that make
you cringe at their very existence - remember, this is all for your
son, so 301 Best Bathroom Jokes may be just what the doctor
ordered. At least he's reading something!
Introduce How To Books
If there's a skill your son has been wanting to learn, such as
camping, cooking, or magic tricks, he may be pleasantly surprised
to learn that there are books available on the subject. The next
time you hear "I wish I knew how to...", make a trip to the library
with him. He'll learn that books hold useful knowledge and are a
great resource for learning new skills. Model this behavior, as
well, by visiting books for information that you need to accomplish
your day to day tasks.
Introduce a Series
If you can get your son interested in a character, such as Phillip
Pullman books or Harry Potter, he may be more interested to read
more than one book. Sometimes, the desire to find out what happens
next is stronger than the dislike of reading, and the child learns
that reading can be interesting and fun. Series books provide
continuity and familiar characters, something that children usually
enjoy.
Plan an Assessment
If your son truly struggles with reading or learning to read, it
may be time to schedule an assessment of his learning abilities. A
learning disability could be the hidden culprit that is making
reading so difficult for him. Skills assessments sometimes make all
the difference in your child's struggle, so if you think a
disability may be possible, be sure to schedule one.
As a parent, it can be difficult to find the time to consistently
reinforce the value of reading. However, taking the time to do so
is vitally important. Reading is a gateway to learning,
entertainment, and adventure. Without your influence, your son may
never find the joy that you have in reading. However, if you take
the time to intervene, you may soon find that he is not only
reading, he is excited about it! This is a great opportunity to
make a difference as a parent. Take advantage of it!
