Inspiring Kids to Read Books

As a parent, you sometimes have to freshen up the Rule Book. We have well-meaning rules in place, but often, they bend, loosen and tend to disappear. We can’t really blame the kids. They’re just kids. It’s our job to encourage them. So…

During our trip to Spain this summer, I introduced a new rule with my nine year old replacing the Nintendo Switch for reading a book. Genius?! Impossible. Surely an explosion of meltdowns and arguments were dancing on the horizon for our family holiday. The rule couldn’t be too harsh. I had to play this right. We agreed that the Switch was good for the airport and the flight. But during the holiday, when we go back to the room after a day around the pool, he would read his book while we all got showered and ready for our evening meal. If he argued, he wouldn’t get a Euro for whatever arcade machine caught his eye.

I have to admit, I didn’t feel comfortable about this new rule as soon as I introduced it. The threat of no Euro instantly put reading into the category of being a chore, something he had to do in order to get a fun reward. Reading shouldn’t be a chore. Far from the lesson I was hoping to teach. For me, reading is my ultimate joy. I am a proud book nerd, the kind who slows down during the last few pages because I don’t want it to end. If a friend has read the same book, I become giddy to dissect it, even if I hated it. Certain characters - or scenes - stay locked within me for years, decades even. I remember sitting in a parked car, more than twenty years ago, when I realised that Rachel in Rachel’s Holiday wasn’t really “on holiday”. I can recall the physical heartbreak when Henry slipped away in The Time Traveller’s Wife. When that midway twist was revealed in Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith, I literally dropped my book on the train. And if you’ve read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by the stunning Gabrielle Zevin, you will know what I mean when I say, Anna Lee.

And I want my children to experience the extraordinary power of books.

I can’t just preach, though. I have to lead by example.

A holiday seemed to be the perfect solution (despite the error of the Euro threat) because it’s the one time when my children really witness me reading. During the normal chaos of our day-to-day lives, they see me rushing around, hurrying them up, unloading the washing machine and - sadly - on my phone. I try hard to explain why I am on my phone in their presence and it’s usually something to do with arranging playdates, birthday parties or afterschool activities. Still, I am on my phone. When I read my book, they’re already tucked up in bed and fast asleep. But when we travel, they see mama reading. Lots. Of course, they’re too busy jumping in and out of the pool to notice, but if they need to find me, they know I’ll be close by with my nose in a book. I also talk about my book a lot, to my husband mainly. A theme that sparks a conversation. A character behaving in a certain way. Again, my kids don’t give two hoots. If they don’t listen when I ask them to put their shoes on they definitely aren’t paying attention to a discussion on fictional dystopia. But, it’s in the air. The love of literature is being released into their world.

And, by some sort of miracle on holiday, it happened.

Sort of.

We were getting ready for dinner and my son - showered and ready - sat on the hotel bed reading his book (Dexter Procter The 10 Year Old Doctor by Adam Kay). He started giggling. Then fell silent. A few moments later, he burst out laughing.

“Listen to this…” he cried out, and read the passage aloud that had tickled him.

It was working. He was finding pure joy in his book.

I thought I’d cracked it. Thought good ol’ Dexter had cast a spell. Surely my son wouldn’t be able to put this hilarious book down and once he finished, he would be eager to pick up another. I could only live in hope, right? Well, the holiday was two months ago and my son has only just finished this book. But here’s the thing, once he reached halfway, he flew to the end. Loved it. The hard work was getting into the first half without him getting distracted. I am under no illusion; this is work in progress.

The statistics from the National Literacy Trust (NLT) recently recorded the lowest level of reading enjoyment since 2005. Just two in five young people aged eight to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time. Fewer than three in 10 children said they read daily, a 26% decrease since 2005. Around 50% said they are encouraged to read by their parents/carers, and 58% said they see their parents/carers actually reading. Less than 20% of children read with their family. It’s no surprise to discover that worldwide, people spend an average of six hours and 38 minutes per day on screens, not including work-related computer use.

So how do we compete with the dopamine hits of screens? How can we encourage children to enjoy indulging in a book without it becoming a chore? Or a bore?

// Get Cosy

Create a comfortable space. Surround your child with soft toys. Rechargeable book lights are very cheap and can be a fun gadget that belongs to your child, keeping it in a drawer beside their bed. Maybe there is a special corner of your home you can make into a little reading nook. All you need is a few cushions and some fairy lights.

// All Books Matter

All forms of reading are valid in and of themselves. Fact, fiction, comics, poetry, graphic novels, a leaflet for a theme park or rules to a board game. Children’s author, SF Said, believes allowing children to choose what they read will keep the love of reading alive. “There is a book for every child out there,” he says. “Whatever you’re interested in, whatever you love, there will be books about it. And they will be the books that make you a reader.” So if it’s dinosaurs, go for it. Let them devour all the dino books. If their interests move to football, encourage magazines instead of forcing them to read a book on a subject they don’t care about. SF Said explains, “…Once you can read, you can read anything. Reading is a skill that unlocks so many other skills. Perhaps that’s why reading for pleasure has the biggest positive impact of any factor on children’s life chances.”

// Give Your Child the Choice

Go to book shop or a library together. Let them choose. Give them the ownership of their interests. It’s easy to presume what our children will like and easier to imagine what they’d like because of what we like. But they are their own unique little person. I was buying my daughter books about ballet because she seemed to be enjoying her Saturday dance classes, but she has made it clear that - for now, anyway - she only wants to read books set in hospitals! I don’t have to remind her to read these books because it’s her choice and she loves them.

// Read Aloud to your Child

Even when they have learnt to read. It creates a safe bond, especially at bedtime when children are physically and emotionally exhausted and vulnerability creeps in. You’re giving your child your time. Choose books you can chat about. Books that unleash their imagination. The You Choose books by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart are fantastic for this, full of detailed illustrations and enjoyable questions.

// Lead by Example

Let your children see you reading. When you go to the library, make sure you choose a good book for yourself. If you order a book you’re desperate to read, let your child know that you can’t wait to get cosy and read the first chapter. Try to read physical books and magazines where possible. Children are forever copying grown ups with toy kitchens, baby dolls and tool kits. Give them the opportunity to copy you reading instead of scrolling on your phone.

// Take the Pressure Off

If children feel stressed about reading, they won’t find a passion for it. Start with picture books and talk about what they see. Reading should never be a punishment, but maybe you can introduce very small rewards to make learning to read fun. A trip to the bookshop to choose their next adventure could be the perfect balance!