I’ve shared before that my daughter is a reluctant reader. This has caused great grief in me, as from the time I could sound out words until today, you can usually find me with a book in hand, or one very close by. I partially blame this on her father (lol!), as my husband is very computer focused and oriented, and so when she should have been picking up board books at the age of 2, she could navigate a computer better than most adults.
There were a few tactics that I found though that made books more interesting to her for a period of time, that you might want to try if you have a reluctant reader in your home.
Touch and Feel books are so much fun. The furry bunnies, rough alligators, crinkly elephant ears. Those are likely to keep the very young reaching for books and turning the pages.
Books that have a plush character to go with them. You can either buy these as a set, or purchase books that are themed along with stuffed animals you already own. Children love holding their “stuffies” while reading stories about them!
Pop-Up books. When Amber was old enough to handle these carefully, they were a real treat to read. Pop-Up books are still declared awesome and cool in our home.
Internet linked books. Usborne books has a great selection of books that highlight additional information about the topic, by giving you a place to go on the web to find out more about it.
Graphic Novels. A little more substance than a comic book, but just as much fun to read. You can find all sorts of topics set as graphic novels, including Shakespeare’s works.
Name books. I don’t know how else to describe it, but there is just something about reading a book when a character shares your name that can be fun. Amber still likes to read books, where the character’s name is Amber, as if there is a special connection forged because of it!
photo credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/eifion/
Tammy’s blog is located at Three Different Directions, where she does product reviews and giveaways. She has a couple of giveaways running there right now. Visit her blog to see how you can enter to win.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I appreciate any efforts to draw attention to reading, and attract reluctant readers to it.
That's because I grew up as a reluctant reader, in spite of the fact that my father published over 70 books. Now I write action-adventures & mysteries, especially for tween boys, that avid boy readers and girls enjoy just as much.
My blog, Books for Boys http://booksandboys.blogspot.com recently reached # 1 on Google.
Keep up your good work concerning reading.
Max Elliot Anderson
I also have a reluctant reader much my husband and my dismay, we LOVE to read and have a TON of books around our house. I think that I am pretty much being literal in how many books we have!
She LOVES graphic novels, her dad is a comic book/graphic novel nut, and we have bought them a few of their own.
One thing that really helped was when we bought books and told them they were hers. Before we would get a bunch of books and give them to our two girls, they rae really good at sharing so we didn’t think anything of it.
One day I bought a book specifically with her in mind and one specifically for her sister. She carried that book around and read it over and over! She still shares it with her sister but its hers!
After giving her a few books of her own she can now be found reading on her own, her books as well as others!
Hope that helps someone!