I‘m wondering if any of you have tips for a reluctant reader. My gut tells me she just needs time. I think it‘s frustrating for her that she can‘t read, but she‘s never been a kid that loves books or begs me to read to her. We have hundred of books, including titles she likes or has chosen herself. My issue is she only will read her one story before bed. She was flagged for reading intervention and her reading specialist also wants her to do ⤵️
Reviewsbylola Lexia for a set time every week. Again, she‘s not interested. My issue is I don‘t want reading to feel like a chore or obligation to her. My one idea at this moment is to do a reading chart. Read for 20 minutes, get a sticker. Lexia for 20 minutes, get a sticker. With the idea of her earning a small toy once she gets enough stickers. Thoughts? Ideas that worked for your kids? 4y
Redwritinghood My oldest was not a reader. I used to set a timer so that he didn‘t feel like there was an open-ended reading session (like I might intentionally ignore the time and make him read longer). I think also finding something he enjoyed was hard but helped. 4y
Karisa My son was like this. He liked being read to though. So, kept reading to him and let him pick any book he wanted. He drifted to graphic novels that tied into tv shows he liked. We both realized that while fun these didn't make great readaloud books. He started reading them himself (we found other books to read together). Took a long time for him to branch out but now as a 5th grader he's on a Rick Riordan kick (and still loves read alouds)! 4y
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Karisa Your kiddo is super cute by the way! Hope she finds her own reading path that works. 💗 4y
ravenlee Parents magazine had an article a while back about non-traditional reading to encourage reluctant readers. The Read-Aloud Handbook had some good tips too. Have you tried audiobooks, in the car maybe? Our library has books that have text and audio together, like the book and tape sets from years ago. Interactive books like The Book with No Pictures, or mysteries like Cam Jansen that encourage the reader to look for clues? Good luck to you both. 4y
Lindy @Reviewsbylola Small incentives like stickers might give her an extra push until she finds reading is itself a reward. If she loves having one-on-one time with you, that could be exploited for a regular reading session outside of bedtime. The Lexia program will provide data for the specialist but may not do much to make your child a reader, according to independent research. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Intervention/230 4y
ravenlee Also, there‘s a school of thought (unschooling, or child-led education) in the homeschool world that kids will read when they‘re ready, as long as you make a variety of material available, model the behavior in an appealing way, and respond to her cues about readiness. Studies show that kids who learn to read later in this method catch up to their peers quickly with no lasting hindrances. 4y
Lindy Also, what @Redwritinghood said about finding a book that‘s interesting is key. Hard, but worth it. Division 1 nonfiction might be a section to ask about in your local library. 4y
wanderinglynn She is super cute. What about kid-friendly graphic novels or comic books? I‘ve also seen programs where reluctant kids or kids with reading problems read aloud to dogs. 4y
CoffeeK8 @Lindy I agree, Lexia has some great qualities, but research is iffy. We use it at my school but only as a support not as the main program. How old is she? Some kids are just ready a little later. I recommend to parents to model reading behavior, read aloud to her, audiobooks, graphic novels, let her pick as much as possible 4y
CoffeeK8 Oh also, putting on closed captioning on the TV is a sneaky way to get more reading in. 4y
Reviewsbylola Every child at our elementary uses Lexia, but there‘s definitely more of a focus on it for the kids receiving intervention. I‘m happy to have her do it at home when and if she‘s interested, but I just don‘t feel comfortable forcing her. She‘s only in kindergarten. Luckily, her kindergarten teacher has a much different approach and really stays away from homework and assignments. She tells me just to forget the Lexia. 😆 @kindy @CoffeeK8 4y
Reviewsbylola Also, @coffeek8, she‘s only 5. And I definitely think she‘s just not ready. She loves kindergarten but there‘s also been a big change to her confidence. She‘s very hard on herself. 4y
Reviewsbylola Ha! She may be interested in reading to our dog or hamster. I‘ll have to give that a shot. @wanderinglynn 4y
Reviewsbylola I think that‘s more along the lines of what I‘m thinking. @ravenlee I went to a talk the other night given by two women from the NYT that said we push reading on our kids much too early, and that in some European countries they don‘t even start reading basics until age 7. I think she‘s definitely showing me she‘s not ready, and that‘s totally fine, but I wonder if there‘s a way I can make reading aloud to her more appealing for her. 4y
Reviewsbylola Thank you! @karisa I always let her choose what she wants to read and nothing is off limits. She‘s just not interested. I think for now I just need to be ok with the idea that bedtime reading is all the reading that she‘s going to do for now. 4y
CoffeeK8 @Reviewsbylola not to say you shouldn‘t keep your eye on it, but it‘s developmentally ok to not be reading until you turn 6. FWIW my son didn‘t read until he was 6 and in the middle of first grade, and I wasn‘t concerned (I‘m a reading specialist) but all kids are different. 4y
ravenlee I‘ve been very lucky - my kid was ready to read very early (she‘s 6 and was reading just before 4) and there‘s been no stopping her, but they‘re all different. Maybe try reading to her while she‘s doing something else? Coloring, building blocks, doing some simple exercise, something to occupy her body. Also, I read to my kid while she has bedtime snack, or other snacks during the day. And it‘s novels, so we have cliffhangers to drive us forward! 4y
Blaire @Reviewsbylola that‘s really young for such a big push. My son is 7 (almost 8) and I would categorize him as a reluctant reader. His teacher has said she really isn‘t concerned until half way through second grade bc different kids are ready at different times. He has liked audiobooks and dogman series. We‘ll also switch off a page each or he‘ll read one character and I‘ll read the narration. 4y
Reviewsbylola That‘s what I‘m thinking. I tend to really beat myself up when she misses her 20 minutes per day but I‘m just going to take a deep breath and listen to her more. She‘s so young and I think just the fact that she has to many books at her disposal and that she constantly sees her dad and me reading will influence her a lot. @blaire 4y
AlaMich There was a book that made the argument that giving tangible rewards like stickers for behavior that you want kids to develop an intrinsic appreciation for had the opposite effect.![[tagged book]](https://image.librarything.com/pics/litsy_webpics/icon_taggedBook@3x.png)
Punished by Rewards: Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes 4y
Punished by Rewards: Twenty-fifth Anniversary Edition: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other BribesAlaMich The theory being, “if they have to give me a sticker or pizza coupon to do X, it must not be a worthwhile activity in its own right.” 4y
Reviewsbylola Yes, that‘s kind of what I was worried about. I think I‘m going to sit on the idea for now and just give her time. @AlaMich 4y
Caroline2 My son refused to read all the way through reception (kindergarten). He would not read a single book and even got upset when I read to him. I just ignored it then he started year 1 in sept and now he can read (he‘s 6 now) and he loves it! I say just give her time. 👍 4y
Amiable This happened with my oldest son—we were afraid he‘d never read. When he hit 2nd grade, though, he took off like a rocket. The secret for him was discovering that he is not a fiction reader —he loves nonfiction. In his kindergarten and 1st grade classes there was a push toward books with stories because they are easier for early readers. He wants facts! Today he is 25 and he still doesn‘t read fiction. 4y
Mdargusch Lots of great advice. Your sister Meredith was never very interested in reading and she loves it now. 🤞🏼 4y
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