Work in progress:
Research has proven that over 50% of boys by the time they reach grade two hate reading. From personal experience as a professional storyteller in schools, I would say that 50% is being generous. Forcing boys to read is usually fruitless and in most cases increases a child's dislike for reading.
The question is, how do we encourage boys to read?
The obvious answer is to read to them, read to them often, and read books by as many authors and on as many topics as possible.
You don't have to buy books, though by doing so, you support the authors who write them. Most public library can satisfy any reading need your child has.
But what if your child doesn't like to read? What then?
- Choose topics that interest him
- Read to his favourite stuffed animal or toy, even if it's a transformer
- Read in his favourite place in the house
- Try to discover his favourite time to read and if possible read to him then
- Talk about the story
- Tell the story in your own way
- Ask your chuild how he would like the story to end
- Tell him personal stories about when you were his age
- If you aren't a reader but love to sing, sing to him
- If you love art, cars, or mountain climbing find pictures of your favourite hobby and describe to him what you see and feal
- If written material on your hobby is too complicated for him to understand, choose short phrases or sentences to read
- Make time for you to read for yourself, your child may follow your lead
As Albert Einstein once said, “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.”
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For more Reading:
Encouraging Boys to Read
