How do I get my 8 year old son to read?

Question

I have tried everything that I know. I have tried hooked on phonics, tape recordings, reading to him, helping him with every word. I have literally tried everything that I know, does anyone have any suggestions? Please help!!! He gets real nasty, says he hates this, it's stupid, a waste of his time. Is there any free material that's easy to get ahold of, or does any one have a method that you use that works very well. Again I pled, please help me!!
Thank You.

Answer 1

Definitely make certain that he doesn't have any learning disabilities or vision problems.

After that, please understand that his not reading has become a "thing". It's a habit of what you do together....you trying to make him read and him resisting.

Every day, set aside 10 minutes to read to him. Pick something funny or adventurous (magic treehouse or wayside school are both appropriate series for his age). Set a timer...and don't go over the time...even if it's at a really good part. Then let him free to do other things.

Make this short amount of time as comfortable as possible. Maybe it's just before bed, or maybe it's a short down time in the afternoon, and comes w/ a snack. Make sure you sit close while you're reading to him and touch him (ie: rub a shoulder, give him a hug, etc.) at some point while your reading.

This will, in short bits of time, help to break the cycle of resistance and start a new pattern of a reading experience just for pleasure.

Tell him that the ten minutes a day are non-negotiable, but then he's free (point out that it's less than say, 1/2 a Pokemon episode).

Good luck! Hopefully he will get to the point that he wants you to read longer. For now let the intense foundation/mechanics of reading, happen at school. Make your time w/ him about pleasure. I think that you might relax a bit & he might too....and definitely request to get him tested (if you haven't done so already).

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I hate to answer a question with a question, but have you have your son tested for any learning disabilities? Most school districts will do this for you if you have concerns with no cost to you. He may have a form of dyslexia or another condition that makes it very difficult for him. His nastiness may stem from that.
In my reading classes I make sure the reading level is appropriate and the interest level is high. I find that using a lot of magazines is a good way to get my students reading something that interests them. It's short, it's generally an easier reading level and it will peak the interest, then I can give them a short book on the subject. Easing him in may be a way to give him some confidence and build some interest before a big bad book!
Good Luck!

Answer 4

"Does he see you read for pleasure?" was a wonderful point, as was being sure there isn't a disability keeping him from enjoying reading.

Some other ideas: Read to him, even though he is 8. When my children were in high school doing reading for assignments, I would often offer to come in and read to them for awhile, to give their eyes and their brains a rest. They let me know when they were ready to resume, and always thanked me for that little break from the routine.

In my Library, when students tell me they don't like reading, I always respond by saying, "Ahh! You just haven't found your book yet," and I believe that is true. Take him to the Library and let him choose three books (operative phrase: let HIM choose.) It doesn't matter in the least what they are about. Try the Eyewitness books that have a variety of subjects and use fabulous illustrations that make the text colorful and inviting, because the reader wants to know what he or she is looking at.

Lead him to other areas of the Library you may not have visited before. Maybe he would like books about cars (600s), or musical instruments (700s) or sports (700s again) or stars and planets (500s.) He 'll tell you his interests. Try books of his favorite comics, like Calvin and Hobbes. Don't worry if his choices don't seem like proper reading books to you. Part of the reading experience is experiencing the physical book itself.

Without any fanfare, put some books in the bathroom by the commode. If he is ever in there long enough, he'll pick one up.

Good luck! He'll find his book, or it will find him.

Answer 5

Is there anything that he is interested in? If you can get him to read about something that he likes,it may help.

Also --have you had his eyes checked? If he is having trouble seeing the print, he may not realize there is a problem. He may just think that everyone sees that way. If he thinks that he must be stupid to not"get it" when others do, then he may just give up.

I had a classmate in elementary school who did not learn to read until 5th or 6th grade. She was always thought to be "a little slow" One day she came to class with glasses on and she was reading at grade level by the end of the school year!

I thought at the time that it was a shame she had to spend so many years thinking she was dumb.

Try to find out if he is having trouble with seeing the print --or maybe he is dyslexic. I am sure there has to be a reason for him to give up on reading. Do him a huge favor and keep looking for a solution.

Answer 6

I havent read all the other answers so forgive me if I repeat what others have said.

Reading comes in many forms - not just books. Try comics, magazines etc. Ask him to read something to you - like the recipe on the back of a cornflakes packet as you 'want to make it...'. Treat him a little bit as a reader, expecting him to read something simple to you. Help him when he stumbles.

He has to feel some success. Let him use the internet to read online stuff (yahooligans has some good online books etc) and point out to him how easy it would be for him to independently use the internet once his reading skills are up. It has to seem worthwhile for him. Ugh kids....Im sure we were told to read and we did it! It's so different these days!
Good Luck!

Answer 7

At 8, your son has had plenty of time to develop his own opinions about reading. Unfortunately, he seems to have developed a negative one. I would start right there. First and foremost, you need to change his attitude!

First, figure out what has given him this negative attitude and see what you can do to push things in the other direction. At 8, I would say it is one of 3 things. 1--He has a learning disability and is getting too frustrated. (If you suspect this, talk to his teacher or have him tested.) 2--He might need his vision tested. As a teacher/tutor I have seen so many children learn to read late, because their vision wasn't up to par. As soon as this is diagnosed, children almost always improve in their reading attitude and ability. 3--He might just have developed a negative attitiude for one reason or another (due to lack of self-esteem, teasing by other children, or being pushed too hard, which takes all the pleasure out of reading.) In this case, you'll want to try to eleminate the negative influences and replace them with positive ones as best you can.

Next, figure out what he enjoys about books/reading. Find the tiniest little morsel of positive attitude and latch onto it! Here are a few ideas. 1--A lot of boys love to look at books about space, dinosaurs, construction, sharks, etc. Let him pick out any books he wants at the library. (Even if they are too hard for him to read, encourage the fact that he is taking an interest in books!) 2--You could try reading to him, and just leaving it at that for awhile, if he likes it. 3--You could also try to encourage literary thinking WITHOUT the use of books and see if he is willing to try to participate. For example, you could have him write or tell stories. Or if he's artistic, have him illustrate a story you read to him. You could introduce literary concepts, like comprehension (inferencing, retelling, etc.) through discussion about television programs or movies.

You'll have to start small with him, because at this point with even the slightest little help he will feel pressured and probably back away. So I would try one of these ideas or think of some others that might work better for your son and VERY GENTLY show him what is so great about reading. If you can do this, the rest will all be downhill.

(I could go on, but this is getting a bit long!)
Good luck!

Answer 8

Well, first of all I don't have kids, so just know that first. I do have a brother though who is close in age to me. We are polar opposites when it comes to reading. When I learned how to read at 5 it was like opening a new world for me. My brother? Getting him to read at all was like a miracle! That was true until he discovered something that he liked. My brother is a grown man now and still a slow reader, but he reads.
He reads for information and I read for pleasure, and that's probably because he's a man and I am a woman. (The whole logic/creativity thing)
What I suggest for your son is that you find something he likes and just put a book or story about it in his room. Don't pressure him or anything, and in fact don't even mention it. Maybe that will encourage him to discover the book or story on his own and he will start reading it.

Answer 9

First of all, does he see you read (for pleasure, with pleasure) and have you had his eyes checked recently?

Get him books that he will like--a "cheat" book for a game he likes, the Goosebumps series, a book about an athlete he admires... Ask him to do research (online is okay) about a family vacation. Some kids never do enjoy stories; he may be one who will pore over a computer or car manual but turn up his nose at Harry Potter.

If you are looking for books, ask the children's librarian for "High-interest, low-reading level" books.

Comics and graphic novels are reading, too!

If all else fails and you can afford it, think about having a commercial tutoring service or a "cool" high-school boy help him. Don't let this issue ruin your relationship with your son.

Answer 10

take him to the library at least once a week. make it seem like an adventure. comic books never fail. let him choose what interest him. try books on tape. type literacy.net my daughter loves the activities and they are free. talk to him about the effects of not being able to read when you are an adult. how difficult and embarrassing it can be.
REMEMBER he is an 8 years old child and probably does not want to be seen with his mom.