How to Motivate a Child to Read

If your child resists learning to read in school, it's time for some intervention. Reading is crucial to learning and can be a lifelong pleasure. Here are some ways to turn the situation around.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• post cards
• flashlight
• stuffed animal to read to
• magazine subscription
• lots of books
• library card

1. Approach the issue with multiple enticements. Get a friend or family member to send postcards to the child. They'll be intrigued by the colorful pictures and want to know what the message says. Have the message printed in large letters and keep the words simple at first.
2. Give them a stuffed toy (maybe a dog) and describe the personality and interests of the toy. Say that he likes to be read to. Sometimes the parent can read aloud to the toy and sometimes the child can do this. Make it a daily activity. Have a variety of easy books around for reading to the stuffed animal.
3. Have a set bedtime, but allow staying up later if the child is reading. The lure of staying up past bedtime is powerful.
4. Give them a flashlight to read under the covers. Gadgets are attractive to children. Keep plenty of books available in the child's room.
5. Get them a magazine subscription on a topic that interests them. Getting something in the mail makes them feel important. Most children's magazines have activities and puzzles in them as well. Try out some of the activities, so that reading the magazine becomes multi-dimensional.
6. Get a library card and allow free browsing time. Let them choose any book that interests them. Ask the librarian for books on topics that will grab a non-reader.
7. Tie in books to many areas of daily life. Use a cookbook to give your child a cooking lesson. Get a book to plan an excursion together. Use books to help with their sports skills.
8. Check out the summer reading program at your public library. Usually there are lots of activities and performances plus incentives for the reading. Your child might get caught up in the competitiveness and want to earn more stars or a certificate.
9. Read to your child even after they start school. Let them see you reading for pleasure too. Children often imitate their parents and want to do what they are doing. Turn off the TV and other distractions for family quiet time where everyone can read.
10. One person I know motivated his child to read by promising him one dollar for each book read. By the time he was an adult, he read widely and avidly. Bribery? Yes, but it did the job.

Tips & Warnings

• Boys are more likely to choose factual books.
• Girls like stories about people and relationships.