How to Turn Your Child into a Reader

Would you like your child to read more (or anything)? Surely there are ways to turn your book-averse wee one into a happy little super reader, right? Fear not! Read on for the ultimate list of ways to turn your child into a reader.

Abracadabra! Reader now may you be…

Abracadabra! - How to turn your child into a reader:

I was initially going to say that there are no magic words you can say to turn your child into a reader, but there are. Here are some ways you can get these magic words spoken into your child's life.

• Read aloud

  Choose a book together and read a little bit every day. You want your child to read, they don't necessarily have to become the next Book Devourer, so don't expect too much. Even reading just a paragraph or two together is still reading. It also doesn't matter if you do the reading. They are listening; you are just being a living audiobook. On that note...

  
  

• Audiobooks

  Listening to books still counts as reading. Do you have Spotify or an Alexa? These are ways to access audiobooks easily and cheaply. Your can also access free audiobooks through your local library (Try the Libby app). Also...

  
  

• Read what they enjoy

  Graphic novels, picture books, recipes, poetry. It doesn't even have to be books. Do they love video games? Try a game guide. Are they into nail art? Directions on how to create nail art totally count. Lego instructions, maps, gossip magazines. Think outside the box (or maybe read the outside of the box?).

  
  

• Subtitles

  You know how, when the subtitles are on, you can't help but look at them even if you can hear and understand the audio perfectly well. Next time you watch a movie, turn on the subtitles. Even if your child doesn't end up reading all the subtitles, they're still going to catch some, no matter how hard they try not to.

Subtitles: On

• Try alternative reading methods - You could project the book onto the ceiling, ask them to read in a reflection, try reading upside down, or give them crazy glasses. Whatever works and might make reading more fun for them.

  
  

• Aromatherapy - Mist some calming, mood-enhancing blends into the room to create some positive associations. Will this develop a love of reading? No. But it might help to keep you calm while you accept the situation.

  
  

• Goal Setting/Bribery - Set goals and reward them with treats, gifts, or money. Pay them $10 for each book they read. Offer to buy them that thing they've been nagging for when they've finished reading the Harry Potter series. Take them out for a milkshake every time they finish a book. Something is bound to work.

Nothing to see here

• Threats - Tell them that if they don’t read, then they’ll get their phone taken off them, or they’ll have to eat a big plate of broccoli for dinner*

  
  

• Trade your child in - Take your child back to the hospital/stork/house/club they came from and swap your non-reader for an avid reader*

  
  

• Hypnotherapy - If people can hypnotise themselves to stop smoking or act like a chicken, then perhaps you could hypnotise your child into becoming a reader. Worth a try.

  
  

• Allow the forbidden - Allow your child to read books about things they shouldn’t be allowed to read, like smut, horror, and all those books with long lists of trigger warnings. That ought to work to keep their eyes glued to the page* (on a serious note, how many kids developed a genuine love of reading after discovering Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Virginia Andrews?! *raises hand*)

  
  

• Magic - Cast a spell*

  
  

• Prayer - You've heard it said; God can do anything.

Let them read what they want to read

*NB: I absolutely do NOT recommend that you do these things. I am joking. Sorry for my poor sense of humour. Do not try these things.

Those are all the suggestions I have to offer, BUT I do have ONE more trick up my sleeve!

Are you ready for this?

Here it is...

Change yourself and not your child = Alter your expectations

Some kids don't enjoy reading. We can't make them, and we can't change them. Perhaps we need to accept the fact that this dear child of ours is not a book-loving super reader, and that is okay, because they don't need to be!

Everyone has different strengths and interests. They may not love to read, but you may end up with an awesome collection of homemade, hand-painted clay dishes.

Got some ideas of your own? Let me know in the comments!

Much love,

Marley