Is there anything more disappointing to a book club-loving, Goodreads-obsessed parent than a child who looks at the curated book collection on their shelf and says, “Nah”? In ancient times (like, the ’90s), reading was a favorite way to idle away the hours. As a bonus, it also gave kids an academic boost. Since then, more and more parents are finding that their kids…just aren’t into it. They say it’s boring. I’m busy. Reading is haaard. What can you do?
CHECK FOR ANY BARRIERS TO LEARNING
Some reluctant readers have an undiagnosed learning disability or an issue with their vision. “If you’re having a hard time decoding the words, reading is slow, laborious and hard. Of course, you’re not going to want to do it,” says Jennifer Serravallo, an educator and literacy strategist based in New Jersey, who has authored more than 15 books, including a New York Times bestseller. If your child is struggling, check in with their teacher— they’re often the first to notice an issue—but also go with your gut if the school says all’s well.
Christa Farrell Beshel suspected something was wrong when her thenkindergartner, now in second grade, refused to read at home or at school. “She would turn her back and cross her arms if asked to. Her teacher said all was fine, but I fought for an evaluation and it turns out, I was right,” says the Chatham mom. An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) that enabled small-group, pull-out instruction with an “awesome teacher” made all the difference.
GET HOOKED ON PHONICS
The past several decades have seen traditional sound- and letterbased instruction pushed aside in favor of the Lucy Calkins Teachers
College method of balanced literacy (sight words, guided reading, cueing). Though the Columbia University professor never meant to exclude phonics completely, individual schools often downplayed it to the now obvious detriment of students. “English is a tricky language and kids need phonics instructions to lift the word off the page,” says Serravallo. “You really do need a systematic approach.” Some kids get it right away. Others need multiple exposures before the words click.
As kids get older, weak phonetic skills can make understanding increasingly difficult words and complicated texts a frustrating experience. And who wouldn’t hate that? The good news: Phonics instruction is having a resurgence. If your child needs a boost now, there are tons of phonics workbooks out there to help them grasp the basics.
MAKE SURE THEY’RE ON THE RIGHT READING LEVEL
Kids need to choose books best suited to their ability so they aren’t just reading the words but are really understanding the text. Of course, your third grader can give “Harry Potter” a go — but if they seem frustrated or just aren’t getting it, perhaps stash it away for a while — you don’t want frustration to morph into disinterest. If they insist on a book above their ability, consider reading along with them to help decode contents and figure out which issues need improvement.
DON’T BE A BOOK SNOB
All reading is good reading. “A text doesn’t need to be limited to a physical book: graphic novels, digital texts and audio books can be great sources of engagement,” says Matt Morone, an English teacher at Pascack Valley High School and a past Princeton University-awarded New Jersey Teacher of the Year winner.
“There should be no ‘book shame’: any text that draws our kids in and speaks to their lives will reinforce the value of reading in general,” Morone says. News articles are fine. So is poetry. And gaming manuals. Even ordinary comic books are a win. Though they seem simple, they support the ability to visualize along with text which boosts comprehension skills. It’s not uncommon to find that adults who are voracious readers credit their love of reading to comics.
KEEP IT COMPELLING
Why do so many kids lose interest in reading as they get older? “The most common explanation I hear from my students is that they hated being forced to read certain books, many of which they struggle to relate to in the first place,” says Morone, who served on the board of the Conference on English Leadership (which is part of NCTE, the National Council of Teachers of English). So while not every assigned text is going to be a thrill, he advocates letting kids choose books on topics that genuinely interest them whenever possible. “Passions should not be seen as separate from reading but rather as a window into what could be read next,” he says. Is your child an athlete? There are fantastic biographies of sports stars written for various reading levels. Does your child love movies? Favorite characters frequently get the in-book treatment. “We want kids to read more, and sometimes that means letting things go to leave space for things they really connect with,” says Serravallo. This also means giving your kids permission to abandon books they’re not into.
BOOST THEIR READING STAMINA
Lots of kids have short attention spans. Those with executive function issues may struggle even more with focus, making it extra difficult to read—not because they can’t, but because their brains can’t block out the distractions required to absorb meaning, nor maintain the endurance required for reading lengthy (and sometimes dry) texts. It’s exhausting.
To help kids train their brain to build stamina, have your kids break up text into doable segments, extending the length as they improve (whether it’s one chapter, or 10 minutes, etc.). A quiet reading nook free from fun diversions (like the ping of a text, or an annoying sibling) will also help get your kids into the immersive state that’s required for attentive reading.
DITCH THE SCREENS (IF YOU CAN)
Some kids don’t actually hate reading, in spite of what they may say. It’s just that there are a lot of things that they’d rather be doing: Like playing video games, sending snaps on Snapchat, or mindlessly watching K-pop videos on TikTok. And much the way we describe a great book as addicting, your child’s screen actually is addicting. “It’s hard for any other media to compete from a neurological perspective,” says Serravallo, adding that screens can actually create executive function problems in kids who don’t innately have them.
Start by limiting screen time during the school week. This isn’t easy, of course, but it is possible to rewire our brains. “It’s not going to naturally happen, especially for kids who have grown up with this kind of media,” she says, but it’s worth squeezing out screen time in favor of something else, anything else.
And while you’re at it, when was the last time you perused something other than an email or text? Or actually got through the assigned book at a book club? The best way to nurture enthusiastic readers is to be an enthusiastic reader yourself, and to make reading a family affair.
—Jennifer Kantor is an education, parenting and lifestyle writer and a Maplewood mom of two.