How do you help kids enjoy reading? Try to let them read out loud to you! This little trick will help connect kids to the books and the story.
A Mom That Loves To Read And A Child That Doesn’t
Did you know I adore reading? I am crazy-addicted. Like my best friends in high school were the Bronte sisters. That’s why it confused me so much when my oldest child didn’t like to read.
When they were a toddler, I read so many books to them! So when they got older and didn’t like to read, I was so baffled and confused! (It doesn’t help that I didn’t know they were autistic yet).
Then, I found a way to help my child enjoy reading.
The Background
I’ll be honest, when my oldest told me they didn’t like to read, I felt like a slight failure as a parent. Reading is one of my favorite things in the entire world! When they were a baby, I tried to read to them all the time.
I did all the right things – keeping books around, making reading time fun and comfy with pillows and blankets, going to story times at the library – but when my child got to 1st grade, reading was something they did in school but never loved it beyond that.
Then, at 3rd grade, they still didn’t love reading. In fact, they prefered to pick up a new book more than finishing their current book.
Reading Out Loud: The Solution
Persistence and creativity. Those two things are what finally helped me work with them to love reading. Oh and Harry Potter didn’t hurt either. After finally trying what seemed like every-freaking-thing to help them enjoy reading, I found one that clicked!
My child loved to read out loud. Now, we made reading a nightly ritual. They read to me for about half an hour (more if the book got really good). They loved to try and act out the parts that they read and changed their voice. They connected with the books in a new and fantastic way!
Hearing my child ask if they could read to me was the most beautiful words I could ever hear out of their mouth! I just loved our time every night, no matter how tired I was.
I saw their love of reading pique the interest of their younger siblings, too—an extra bonus—especially in the youngest one.
Favorite Read-Aloud Books
What are your favorite read-aloud books to read with your kids? (Harry Potter is AMAZING)
Helpful Resources
You have got to visit for some seriously helpful content. They have tips and ideas for helping your children love reading.
Persistence and creativity always works. My son didn’t want to read as well, but when we started reading out loud, he enjoyed it.
I started reading to both my babies from birth. I have always loved reading, and I am passing that reading along. My 4-year-old is learning to read, and my 1-year-old loves books too.
I truly feel blessed that my girls love reading. Far Faria app really helped my oldest become independent with reading.
This makes my heart happy! I have always loved reading and once I start a book I can’t be bothered. How exciting that her younger sister wants to read just liker her!
It’s so easy to blame ourselves for things. I’m so glad she’s found a way to enjoy reading and it’s awesome that you’ve been so observant and helped her make that discovery.
My daughter does not read yet, but she loves books. We read to her every day and I really hope that once she starts reading she will love it. My husband and I are big fans of reading.
My daughter always loved reading, but my son didn’t at first. What happened to turn that around is that he found what he enjoyed and reading books about those things made him love it! Harry Potter and that type of book made a huge difference!
My son doesn’t like to read we are constantly trying to find something he may enjoy, just gotta find that one book that grabs him and possibly show him there’s stuff out there that he’d like 🙂
My first child doesn’t like to read and struggles with it. However, my second child seems to be picking up a love for it. I was a bookworm as a child myself!