Eventually, though, we expect to pass the baton to them. We want our kids to love reading. We want them to get excited about books and to read for pleasure. And when this doesn't happen, we worry.
Not all kids fall into reading easily. Some kids struggle with letters or sounds and others have a hard time getting into or understanding the story. Summer is a great time to take the pressure off of your struggling reader and help them learn to love books.
Let Them Pick Their Own Reading Material
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Children will understandably be more engaged when they personally choose their own reading material. There's a good chance you'll hate the books they pick, but let them do it anyway. Take them to the bookstore or library and have the staff help direct them to the kinds of books that may hold their interest—and then take a step back.
The books your child chooses may be too easy or have too many pictures or be full of gross-out humor, and that's OK. Adults love easy, fluffy reads, so it stands to reason your kiddo will, too. As a librarian friend once told me, "No one fell in love with books reading War and Peace."
Make Books Available
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If you're in the car as much as my family is, keep books in the car. If your kids linger in the bathroom, keep a stack of books in there. Books are a great distraction for waiting rooms, restaurants and anywhere your kids might get bored. If we're going somewhere with a wait, I remind my kids to grab a book, just in case. Then I grab one for myself, too.
Read to Your Kids
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I know, I know. You've heard this one before, but reading to your kids is important enough to mention again. Kids learn phrasing and fluency by listening to others read and it's both pleasurable and relaxing to them. It's no wonder reading a bedtime story is such a classic way for parents to say goodnight to their children.
My third-grader and I sometimes check out the same book from the library and read it in tandem. I'll read aloud while he follows along in his book, or he'll read aloud to me. We'll read some chapters independently, and then discuss the characters and storyline together.
All Reading Counts
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Graphic novels are books. Comic books are books. Magazines, picture books, Lego instructions and the backs of cereal boxes are all acceptable reading material. Your kid may read the same thing over and over and over again. That's great, too. Rereading is a wonderful way to help struggling readers be more successful.
Audiobooks are Great for Struggling Readers
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Not only are easy, predictable books great for getting kids to warm up to reading, but audiobooks are a wonderful resource as well. Listening to books allows reluctant readers to be exposed to higher level books, appreciate literature and get into stories they wouldn't be able to handle on their own.
Read with a Buddy
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My friend Laura teaches fourth grade and says her reluctant readers are much more engaged when they are in a classroom book club. The kids feel like they are in charge of the book selection, the reading pace and the book discussion—which builds a sense of ownership.
As a parent, you may not be able to form a book club (although it would be amazing if you did!), but you may be able to pair your reluctant reader with a buddy for the summer. The kids could both read the same book and discuss it. Think about how excited your kid gets when they find another child who loves Pokémon, Minecraft or whatever your kid is into, and how they can talk about it forever. That same idea can be applied to books.
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