Raising a reader in today’s digital age can be a challenge, with numerous distractions vying for your child’s attention. Many kids find it difficult to immerse themselves in a book, especially if they’re struggling with their reading skills. However, unlocking the joy of reading is possible with the right strategies. In this blog post, I’ll share some effective ways to motivate reluctant readers and transform them into book enthusiasts.
Understanding Reluctant Readers: Identifying reluctant readers is the first step in engaging them effectively. Reluctant readers can exhibit various behaviors, such as resistance to reading, clowning around, or frustration during reading tasks. It’s crucial to distinguish between struggling readers and reluctant readers, as their motivations and challenges may differ.
Unraveling the Why: To help a reluctant reader, understanding the root cause of their reluctance is essential. Observing their behavior and directly communicating with them can provide valuable insights. Factors such as reading difficulty, disinterest in the material, or discomfort with reading aloud may contribute to their reluctance.
The Importance of Intrinsic Motivation: Motivating children to read goes beyond external rewards or punishments. Intrinsic motivation, driven by the enjoyment and satisfaction derived from reading, plays a key role in long-term engagement. Studies show that intrinsically motivated readers tend to achieve higher reading proficiency.
Five Strategies for Motivating Reluctant Readers:
- Read for Fun: Create an environment where reading is enjoyable by allowing independent reading time with no attached tasks. Giving children the freedom to read for pleasure helps shift their perception of reading from “work” to “fun.”
- Emphasize the Power of Choice: Grant reluctant readers ownership of their learning by allowing them to choose what to read. This might include books, graphic novels, manga, or comic books. Anything with words and a story is fair game.
- Try Audio Books: Pair an audio version of a book with a written version to allow your reluctant reader to take breaks from the effort of reading from time to time. Turn on the audio book and have your child follow along in their own written version.
- Introduce a New Book Series: Find a series about a subject in which your child is interested. Take them to a bookstore, a library, or browse with them on Amazon or another online bookstore. If something sparks their attention, get that book and try it.
- Lead by Example: If you want your child to read more, you should make an effort to read with them. Take turns reading your child’s book aloud. Read your own books so your child sees how much you enjoy reading.
Finding Books Based on Interests: Author Jeff Kinney recommends motivating children to read by finding books aligned with their interests. Whether it’s animals, sports, a specific hobby, or their favorite video game, tailoring reading materials to personal preferences enhances engagement.
Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels: Support struggling readers with high engagement, low readability books that match their current skills. Graphic novels, with their engaging visuals and fast-paced narratives, also provide an enjoyable reading experience. My own son was a reluctant reader, except for Manga. Once he got into Manga, he began reading a lot about the biographies of his favorite artists and writers.
Collaborate with School Librarians: Tap into the expertise of school librarians to discover books that resonate with reluctant readers. Send them an email or call them to find out what books have worked for other reluctant readers.
Conclusion: Motivating reluctant readers requires patience, understanding, and a tailored approach. By incorporating these strategies and adapting them to your child’s unique preferences, you can instill a love for reading that lasts a lifetime. Remember, every child is different, so be open to experimentation and discovery on this exciting journey toward cultivating a reader.
Here are some books for reluctant readers:
Stories set in the world of Minecraft. (This is what I write. You can see all of my books and audiobooks here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dr.-Block/author/B00WHDXJGK. I’d recommend starting with my Baby Zeke series.)
Wings of Fire. A group of young dragons goes on epic adventures. This series comes in all formats and is available as a graphic novel series.
Warriors. Clans of cats battle for supremacy. Very popular among elementary school kids.
Anything by Dav Pilkey.