Though we are a family who loves books, it came as a huge surprise when one of my children didn't have any inclination to read a book by themselves whatsoever. Though they liked to be read to, the idea of picking out a book and reading it just wasn't their cup of tea. At first a little heartbreak set in but it soon became clear that what was needed was a little creativity.
Reluctant Reader Tip #1: Provide them with books about topics they love.
Early and emerging readers are discovering their world in a whole new way. They are learning how to communicate and absorb information via their language skills. By the time a child is 8 years old they have evolved for the most part into independant learners. Each one of my children went through phases of passion between the ages of 5 and 8. Bringing them books about their interests sparked long moments of delving into books to capture the desired information they were looking for.
Books About: Dinosaurs, horses,American Girl books, memoirs such as the Little House on the Praire series, magic, nature, gardening, space, how things work etc. ranked high on their "discovery lists".
By bringing books about topics they love shifted the focus from "you have to read" to "let's discover".
Planned Activity: Sit down with your children, both readers and non-readers, and ask them what their favorite topics are. Things they would like to really know about. Have them make a well decorated list with all of their favorites on it and then head to the library. My children always displayed their topic lists on the fridge, that's why they made them beautiful in the first place.
One series I'm very fond of is the Treehouse Club by Mary Osborne. Inside the pages of these books lie incredible adventures for both boys and girls. They are designed in such a way that it tells a story while including the reader inside the process of discovering facts. Ranging in a vast variety of topics lends itself well to emerging readers.
What are your children passionate about? What types of books are they reading to squench the their curiosity thirst?
