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Does your child hate reading? Are you wondering how you can get your child’s reading level up even though they are a reluctant reader? This has to be the most frequently asked question by parents at parents’ evening.

But things go deeper than that. Pre-pandemic, each year, eight children in an average primary school class left primary school unable to read well, and over 380,000 children in the UK said that they don’t have a single book of their own. 

Now, with primary school children having lost an average of two months’ reading progress this issue is bigger than ever which is why literacy charity Bookmark is currently on a drive to recruit more people to its volunteering scheme, which pairs people with a child who needs additional reading support (to help children read in your area, sign up to volunteer just one hour of your time a week, at Bookmarkreading.org/volunteer).

But what can we do at home to help our children recoup some of their reading capability losses and reap the benefits of reading once again? To get your child reading, you need to look at the root of their reluctance which will help you solve the problem. Here we team up with Reading Mate and Bookmark to share these tips on why your child might hate reading and how to turn that hate into love.

Why your child is a reluctant reader

There could be many answers to this question and the best way to find out exactly why your child feels that way is to ask them. But in my experience, it’s usually because:

• Your child hasn’t found a book that interests them yet
• They don’t find reading fun
• Lack of confidence
• Unsuitable or overstimulating environment
• They associate reading with school
• Your child rarely sees reading happen in the home
• Difficulties with sitting still for a long time
• Speech and language difficulties and/or hearing loss.

There could be many other reasons or undiagnosed additional needs but these are the most common causes.

Getting your reluctant reader’s reading level up

Before I let you in on my teacher secrets to get your child reading, I’d like you to think of your child’s reading journey in the same way you did their weaning or walking journey…

When your child was learning to walk, how many times did they stumble, fall or get frustrated? 50, 100 times, or more?

Did you or your child ever turn around at any point and say ‘nah, sorry this isn’t for me’?

I’m really hoping your answer to that question is no, otherwise this could be awkward…

The point I’m trying to make is that we all need to shift our mindset when it comes to reading. It’s a necessary skill for life and a fundamental of early childhood education. Just like walking, talking and eating.

And this is how you’re going to get your child READING to not just read because you’ve asked but because they want to:

Routine, reward, repeat

Choose a time of day (with your child) and allocate that as reading/story/time with books. During that time your child should read for anywhere between 10-30 minutes a day (start small and work up). Some days they may wish to be on their own, other days you could share a story together. Either way, that time is their sacred reading slot.

You could set a reminder or an alarm for the same time every day, so it becomes a habit. Every time they do this successfully, make sure there’s a reward shortly after. Doesn’t have to be monetary and don’t go overboard. Just a simple acknowledgment of ‘wow, look how far you’ve got through that book’ or ‘I’m really impressed with you for reading today’.

Hook them with a series

Once your child has found the genre of book or author they enjoy, you’re on to a winner. Jeff Kinney, Rowley Jefferson and Dav Pilkey are great authors for fans of comedy, Harry Potter, The Worst Witch and The Spiderwick Chronicles are great for all things magic, Percy Jackson is a brilliant fantasy series and the lists go on. There really is something for everyone. If you’re lucky enough to have a library near you, ask them for a bundle so you can try before you buy! Think of it like a pick ‘n’ mix of books.

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Don’t dismiss audiobooks

These can be a great ‘in’ for some children. You could stick one on and follow the story together or they could have it on in the background as they’re drawing. A kid’s audio player, like a Yoto Player, can be an easy way for children to read along to their favourite books. It can be very engaging and freeing for your child!

Read with or to younger siblings

Ask your child to read a bedtime story to younger siblings. This is a great way for them to feel like they have a real responsibility and build their confidence. Once they’ve done this happily, they’ll look forward to reading their own books too.

Become an actor

Expanding a child’s vocabulary isn’t just about reading the words on the page. If they’re struggling with something, act out what the word looks like so that they create an association with how it looks on the page. Performing parts of what you’re reading together also adds to the fun.

Get gaming

Word searches, crosswords and puzzles are all great ways to learn new words in a fun way and without the pressure of getting to the end of a book. Just make sure that these games are age appropriate so that children don’t become demoralised.

Watch the film

There are some really brilliant adaptations out there! If your child is keen to watch one of these films, you could use this as a way to get them to read the story first.

Let them choose

If your child isn’t involved in the selection of reading material, they’re likely to lose interest. If they’ve got control over what it is they read, they’re going to be excited and look forward to getting stuck in. They may choose magazines, comic books, graphic novels, that’s fine. These are good entry points for reluctant readers. You can build on these as their confidence grows.

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Use technology to your benefit

To help you manage your routines and keep your children on track, why not check out Reading Mate? The Reading Mate App (available from the App Store and Google Play) is completely free. It’s designed with busy and time-poor parents in mind, enabling parents to track, record and reward their child’s reading.