Encouraging Reluctant Readers
With so much going on—sports, hobbies, family time, and everything in between—finding time to read isn’t always easy. This is especially true if you have a reluctant reader on your hands. If this is your kiddo and you’re looking for ideas to increase their reading, this article is for you.
7 Tried-and-True Tips to Boost Reading
Reading is not a one-size-fits-all, traditional experience. Kids love what they love, and there are ways to fit reading into their everyday life without it feeling like a chore. Give these librarian-approved tips a try!
#1 Let your kids choose their own books based on things they enjoy.
If they play soccer, try stories with soccer-loving characters. If they love to laugh, joke books are a great choice. If they’re into TV shows, look for books starring their favourite character. By including them in the process, it helps guarantee that what they are reading is interesting to them.
#2 Think outside of the box when it comes to reading.
Graphic novels, audiobooks, digital books, magazines, shopping lists, signs, and board game rules all count as reading!
#3 Cooking together is an awesome way to boost literacy skills.
Read a cookbook together, pick a recipe to make and have them help you read the ingredients list, write the grocery list and read the recipe as you cook together.
#4 Embrace picture books.
Picture books aren’t just for our youngest readers. If your middle-grade reader has a younger sibling or a pet, encourage them to read them their favourite books. Reading to a pet or a younger sibling is a wonderful confidence booster.
#5 Let your child read anytime and anywhere!
If there are specific confines to when and how they can read, it may feel like more of a chore that they won't want to do.
#6 Make the most of small chunks of time.
A few pages, a chapter, one picture book, or a graphic novel that is so good they can’t put it down, all count as time spent reading.
#7 Let your kids see you reading!
They will see you modelling that reading is an important part of their world.
Recommended Reads for Kids
Check out these go-to picks from our librarians to help encourage your young reader to grow from reluctant to eager!
Chapter Books for Graphic Novel Fans
Seriously Good Series for Young Readers
Looking for More Ideas?
Your reluctant reader should be off to the races in no time with these tips—and here are a few more things you can do. Visit us at the library and ask staff for book recommendations, make time for your child to have a leisurely browse of our shelves for an awesome book to borrow immediately, complete and submit our Handpicked For You online form together, and visit us in June to sign up for the TD Summer Reading Club to keep reading all summer long!
