How can I get my 8 year old to enjoy reading more?

Question

There's a whole new world out there when you love to read and I want him to experience it and also do better in school.

Answer 1

take him/her to the library and let them pick out books they can read and would enjoy and also let them pick on that you can read to them each night before bed .. it helped with my 7 year old!

Answer 2

Find a story time for his age group...maybe a book store or public library. Hearing quality stories from talented readers can get children interested in reading similar stories. Many libraries have summer reading programs that share great books with kids, and encourage them to read more.

I teach children around that age, and everyone of them has loved the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne . If you read these, make sure you read in order starting with book 1. Each book builds on what happened in the previous story. The books are a great blend of non-fiction information combined with adventure! Good luck!

Answer 3

Make it fun. Use reading as part of a game. Make sure the child is picking something they want to read. The parent must stay calm and reassuring. Show happiness when they progress. Give them something to shoot for they want. A prize for doing so much or progressing a little. Read with them. You read to him/her and then let the child read to you. Find places on the internet or programs on the computer that make it like a game. Kids love computer time and games. Put them together. There are loads of reading games that they like that make it fun and let them progress at their own pace. Keep your expectations reasonable and don't make reading time a chore or task they dread. Show them that you like to read. Maybe set up a time when you both read a book of your choosing. Have fun helping them. Reading should be an enjoyable thing that makes a child feel good about themselves as they get better.

Answer 4

I keep answering questions with these two books, but they are really great. Here are two books to read on the subject:

How to Get Your Child to Love Reading: For Ravenous and Reluctant Readers Alike by Esmé Raji Codell

The Read-Aloud Handbook: Sixth Edition (Read-Aloud Handbook) by Jim Trelease

Some things you could do are: Take him to the library and let him browse the kids' section. If he's reluctant to get anything, help steer him towards something you know he's interested in. There are books that have step by step ways to do science experiments that my male students have really enjoyed. Any reading is good for him so if he'd prefer to read Sports Illustrated for Kids, get him a subscription to that. Books on CD are also at the library and are great for reluctant readers.

Answer 5

Take him to the library or a book store. Let him pick out some titles that appeal to him. You might be able to incorporate some of his other interests- if he's into sports- a book about a particular sports figure, into video games- a book with shortcuts/hints, a book from a favorite movie or tv show. You can take turns reading a book or you can read him a book that is a higher reading level.

Answer 6

Read with him. Take turns- each reads a page at a time. Congratulate him when he finishes a page or figures out a really tough word. He'll want to continue reading in order to impress you. Let him choose books with subjects he's interested in, like trains, dinosaurs, space, marine creatures, etc. Take him to the library and let him roam.

Can your son read well for his age? Many children don't like to read because they have trouble learning how. The less often he reads while he's young, the harder it will be for him to learn. Also, if he can't read very well but you've spent years trying to teach him, he could be dyslexic.

Answer 7

For me, I dont wanna read unless I want to know something. For example if a movie came out, I loved the movie, but the prequel to the movie was only written as a book, I would probibly look into reading the book. Set up a situation like that.

Answer 8

Buy him comic books or magazines of subjects that interest him. I loved Richie Rich comics, Archie, Little Lotta, and Jughead digest comic books that were in the checkout aisle in the grocery store. It was always such a treat for my mother to buy me one, and it was good reading material.

There were several book series I enjoyed too, such as 'The Great Brain' series by John Fitzgerald. Anything by Roald Dahl was very engaging. It might be helpful to read those to him at night. But to read on my own, I felt that comic books were grown up, but they were divided into small enough parts that I felt 'successful' as a reader. It might be a nice alternative to expecting him to sit down with a picture book or a children's novel.

Another thing one of my teachers did in 2nd grade, was to have our class make a 'Book Worm'. She would give us a round circle out of construction paper ( a 'worm' segment) to list the name of the book we just read, and stick it on the wall to make a giant bookworm. The idea was to make the worm wrap around the room as many times as possible because of all of the books we read. Sometimes challenging a boy with a visual accomplishment works well.

Answer 9

Read to him, and let him read to you. Read YOURSELF, just for fun - seeing their parents read for pleasure is one of the biggest factors in learning to love reading, and the other huge one is having books around the house that he can enjoy.

Take him to your local library, and talk to the staff there. They'll have a good idea what kinds of things the kids are reading these days, and they'll also help him find books on things he's interested in. Take him to the bookstore, and let him pick what he wants so that you'll have those books around that appeal to him whenever there's nothing good on TV or his ball game is rained out.

Let him read comics if he wants to, or read every football or joke book the library holds. Let him read every Goosebumps book every published, if that's what he likes. It's not high literature, but high literature isn't what gets someone liking to read. Don't be surprised if he gets every book he can get his hands on about a certain subject, including the ones written for adults, and then moves on to another area from there.

What gets kids liking to read is letting them just go to town and follow their own interests - not without guidance, but without restriction. And bless you for being a parent who knows the value of reading not just because you need it to do well, but because it's FUN!

Answer 10

Hey there ,what is he into like is there any thin pariticular like video game some sport or something get him some books with stuff to do with the things he enjoys like if he likes basket ball find a book that is about some one who is into basket ball or whatever find something thing that would intrest him and than ask him to read it to you cause it will make you happy but if he dosn't like to read to people just tell him he can read it on his own and well if he likes it you'll get more also maybe even give him award if he reads and tell him you will cause than maybe he will start and like it

Answer 11

Read with him. Everyday. Let him pick the books. If you start this when they are babies, it is usually very effective.

Make it exciting and part of the regular routine. Special. Pop some popcorn or snuggle up in bed.


Studies show that babies who are read to, become students who are more successful in education because they have picked up so many basic skills just from being read to.