8 Ways to get Your Reluctant Reader, Reading

When I was teaching, and now still, lots of people and friends ask me about how to get their reluctant reader, reading. Sometimes it’s because reading is challenging for their kid and other times their kid just doesn’t like to read.

These are my tried and true teacher tips on how to encourage your kiddo to spend more time reading. Hopefully, something here works for you.

1. Visit the local library and get your kiddo a library card

It seems simple, and that’s because it is. For some kids this is motivation enough.

The pride and joy they feel about having a piece of real plastic with their name on it is everything. The power they yield feels immense, and they can pick any book on the library shelves and bring it home! Magic.

The local library is different from the school library. For one, they get to go with you or a loved adult and it just feels special. This library also has adult books, computers, a play area, magazines, new kids, and pretty much every book they could ever think of.

At the library I highly suggest you let your kiddo wander and check out whatever books they want. Even if they have checked it out 100 times, or they have the same book at home, or it’s an adult book on plants. The freedom of choice at the library is everything.

It is exciting and keeps your little one wanting more. They have the powerful library card- so they get to make the powerful choice of what to bring home.

I suggest setting a limit on the number of books, instead of the type of book. Maybe it is 3, maybe it is 15. Pick what works for you.

Keep these books in a special place at home. It could be a special spot on the floor of their room, their own section of the book shelf, a bin. Whatever, but keep these books separate.

Make a big deal about how your kiddo chose them, they are special, and only here for a few weeks. Have them show off their book to whoever comes over to the house, encourage them to talk to everyone they see about their new books.

This keeps them interesting, but also- these adults or friends will probably ask if your kiddo likes the books, what they are about, if they enjoy reading them. Talking about books is what good readers do, and this way it isn’t forced.

2. Turn the on subtitles/closed captions on your TV

Whatever your kiddo is watching- have subtitles or closed captions turned on. This is HUGE! Your eye is naturally drawn to the caption, and your kiddo will naturally read them.

Seeing the words will also help them become more familiar with a variety of languages and written words. This helps with spelling, and believe it or not- reading fluency.

Something about having captions on helps our kiddos to read a little faster, and a little smoother. This isn’t something I’ve researched, but something I observed when in the classroom.

Kids that had subtitles turned on their Youtube videos and TV had slightly higher scores on timed reads.

If this is something that bothers you, you can turn captions on just for your kids profile on streaming services. Then you don’t need to worry about toggling back and forth when you are watching something.

3. Cook books

Have your kiddo help in the kitchen and read recipe steps to you. For some reason, many kiddos don’t think of this as reading.

Or maybe they are just excited to help and be included so they don’t care. Either way- this helps a lot of kids get some reading in without a fight.

If your kiddo is older, think 4th or 5th grade- handing them cook books and asking them to pick something to eat for dinner that week is also a good way to get them reading.

I like to set certain parameters for what they are looking for so that they are forced to read a little and can’t pick things based on the picture alone. My personal favorite is, “after you find something that looks yummy, read the recipe and decide what steps you would like to help me with.'

4. Monkey See Monkey Do

If you want your kid to read, you should read in front of your kid. The whole, “do as I say not as I do” thing really starts to get iffy when your kid is old enough to ask the question, “If reading is so important, why don’t you do it?”

Why should they like reading, or read at all, if the adults in their home aren’t reading?

Instead of pulling out your phone and scrolling, try reading 1 chapter of a book. Talk to your kiddo about what you’re reading. You don’t have to give too many details. Start with, is it fiction or nonfiction. Is there a character you really like? Talk about similarities between what they are reading and what you are reading. The number of pages can be enough to get the ball rolling.

Talking about what you are reading will help your kiddo talk about what they are reading. This helps bolster their reading comprehension and make reading more fun.

5. Turn reading into a competition

Some kids really like to compete! I was definitely one of them. Try setting a goal with your kiddo for a number of books to read before receiving a reward. They should be involved, and the goal should be attainable in the beginning and then progressively become more of a reach.

You could also set the goal for minutes read instead of books read. This can be turned into a sibling rivalry (goals should be tailored to each kid- and not a blanket goal for each) or a competition for the whole family.

It is incredibly important to tailor the goals to each person competing, and to start them out as somewhat easy to achieve. It isn’t fun to compete if you feel you have already lost before you begin.

Ensure that your kiddo is involved in picking the reward. It should be something desirable that they want to earn. Make the goal a little harder to reach after each completed competition- when you think your kiddo is ready, set a mystery reward or a timeline for the goal.

Keep things light and fun! We want this to encourage them to read more, not be a daily stressor for them.

6. Introduce dairy style, graphic novels, manga, or comic books

If you have a reluctant reader- sometimes getting them to read more is just about finding the right “style” or type of book.

Books with lots of pictures that are easy to read can be way more enjoyable and fun. Reading is reading so even if they read The Bad Guys books, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Spiderman Comics- it is still reading and that is what should be focused on.

Your local library might have a section devoted to this style of books that you can unleash your kiddo on.

I highly suggest all reluctant readers try one of these more “fun” styles of books. They are easier to chew and swallow and typically have a plethora of sequels or related reading that will propel your kiddo forward.

After they read books like this, they might be interested in more meaty books. They might not be, and that is okay too! Reading is reading and that is the goal.

7. Choose your own adventure books

Along the lines of different styles- choose your own adventure books are super fun for devoted readers and reluctant readers alike!

These books have the reader make choices along the way and the story changes depending on what decision is made. They instruct the reader to flip to a certain page and read on from that point.

These books can be read again and again with a different outcome each time which keeps kids coming back for more. Most of these books are geared toward older or more proficient readers- so keep that in mind if you choose to explore this option.

8. Have your kiddo read to animals or siblings

Your local library or animal shelter likely has a program for kids to read to animals. Give this a try and see if it works for your kiddo.

Sometimes kids need someone to read to that won't judge them on their abilities, and a friendly dog or cat can be just the right audience for a read aloud.

Even if your local library or animal shelter doesn’t have this program available- it is typically possible to visit with animals at the shelter. Pop your kid in a room full of cats, or a one on one visit with a dog and not only are you giving the shelter pets a visit to boost morale- but your kiddo is getting an audience.

Similarly, your kiddo can also read the bedtime story to a younger sibling, or read out loud to an older sibling. Reading to an audience can make your reader feel more purposeful and like reading isn’t a waste of time.