SmileTutor Blog Parents Parenting Tips This Is How You Get Your Child To Love Reading

This Is How You Get Your Child To Love Reading

female-singaporean-student-experiencing-stress-over-studies-causing-acne-breakouts-on-her-face

When was the last time you saw a child reading in public? 

They’re pretty rare these days, right?

But what about a child with their eyes glued to their iPad? Now that’s a common sight!

As a child, I looked forward to after school on Tuesdays, as my nanny would bring me to the public library. It’s a monthly ritual that I’ve continued to do, even after my nanny left.

But over the years, I’ve noticed fewer children in the library, and if they were there, it was to accompany their parents, or they had their noses stuck in their iPads!

I loved to read as a child, but my parents hardly had to do anything. 

The world of Rainbow Magic’s Fairies, Cam Jansen solving mysteries, and Ice Princesses dancing with rats were more exciting than real life anyway! 

I’m sure most children would also find fictional worlds more exciting than real life, so why aren’t children reading for fun any more?

Exclusive offer for first-time customers only!
Get 15% discount off your first lesson and no agency fees! Choose from a selection of reliable home tutors and keep learning even while at home. Claim this promotion today.

Why Do Children Stop Reading? 

This mystery might seem like a hard puzzle to connect, but it’s hardly a mystery.

Technology 

First of all, the most obvious one would be technology, right? 

Many parents these days see the iPad as a holy grail, and it’s a must-have if you have a child. 

‘Wahhh’. Shove the iPad into their child’s hands, and boom. The problem’s solved. 

But back in our days when the iPad wasn’t an everyday thing, we had to read, talk, or just observe our surroundings to pass the time, right?

So it’s unfortunate that many children these days aren’t even given the chance to read from a young age.

It’s Simply Not The Right Genre 

I loved fiction as a child. I still do, and so do many other children.

But fiction isn’t the only genre at the children’s level in the library, right?

Don’t deprive your budding zoologist of the ‘Animals’ section or keep your junior MasterChef from the cookbooks just because you think children should be reading fiction! 

No matter what they read, whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, they’ll still be able to learn something. 

This way, you won’t be hearing them say, “But reading is so boring” anymore!

What’s the Point? 

I was raised with the view that books are precious and to treat them with respect.

So imagine my shock when I saw children throwing books on the floor, stepping on them, and ripping the pages when I was working in early childhood!

This shows that children were not taught the value of books or what’s written in them. 

And that’s a shame. 

They’re not likely to open a book and appreciate its contents if they don’t even treat it with care, right?

The ‘Decline By 9’

Parents, this is a scary 180-degree change. 

Because at the age of 9, most children would suddenly choose to watch TV or play Roblox rather than read.

Don’t freak out, because this is known as the “Decline By 9” syndrome.

“But my child can’t put their Enid Blyton down. How is that possible?”

Well, let’s think long-term. 

What about their upcoming teenage years?

Parenting is hard, don’t do it alone
Receive weekly parenting tips, latest MOE updates, and how to prepare your child for examinations.
You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Do you think your child will still choose the paper version of “How to Kill a Mockingbird” over the film version?

Soon, those books on their shelf will be competing with tablets and smartphones, and they won’t have a slot in your child’s busy schedule anymore.

Why It’s An Issue

This is a cause for concern, isn’t it?

To make matters worse, CNA revealed that although Singaporeans are some of the world’s best readers, over 10% of us have stopped reading for enjoyment since the latest PIRLS test.

Furthermore, this number is increasing every year, and I find that worrying.

Why?

Because ‘Reading Avoidance’ is a real thing. It’s exactly as it sounds. Children actually avoid reading.

This signifies that children already see reading as a challenge, something that doesn’t bring them joy, and most horrifying of all, they don’t see the value of books. 

This mindset follows them into adulthood, where they might not be interested in lifelong learning. 

It could also affect many of their abilities, such as having a dull personality, limited grammar and vocabulary skills, critical thinking, and creativity. 

The last point might seem fine, but every job in this world requires creativity! 

From artists to scientists, in parenting, and even being lazy, everything requires creativity to solve a problem. 

So How Do I Get My Child To Start Reading Then? 

A lot of questions might be running through your head now, but this isn’t rocket science or like climbing a mountain.

So relax!

They’re your child after all, and you know them the best, right? 

So if you want to know how to make books an inescapable part of your child’s life, read on!

It’s Books, Books, Books

Your child’s environment is so important.

Look at it this way.

If you want to lose weight, you’d get rid of all the junk food at home and maybe hang up a few motivational posters, right?

So surround your child with books. This will encourage them to pick one up and flip through it, and that will be the start.

Bring your child to book sales, spend time with them in the library, and most importantly, read with them!

Let Them Escape Through Books 

A powerful thing fiction does for both children and adults is to let them escape from real life.

What is your child into? Let them dive into that fantasy through books.

If your child is always pretending to be a pirate at the swimming pool, you know what books they’ll enjoy then!

However, nonfiction can also distract us from our problems. 

If your child loves dinosaurs but is stressed about their upcoming test, borrowing a ginormous book about dinosaurs at the library would take their mind off of the test for a few hours while teaching them something new!

They have to love what they’re reading, so they’ll want to continue doing it themselves.

 But Make Sure It’s Not Mount Everest For Them 

If something is too hard, children might just give up. I mean, anyone would, right?

So make sure your child is reading at a level that’s suitable for them. Let them explore what they want to.

This is their mountain to climb, not yours.

If they’re currently reading at the level of ‘Amelia Bedilia Takes A Break’, then don’t force the “Hunger Games” onto them!

Be a Role Model

Some adults have a role model, and some don’t. 

But children need to have a role model.

They’re like a blank piece of paper, and whatever’s written on them is what they become.

What do you think the chances are for your child to pick up a book and read it if they don’t see anyone around them doing it?

Furthermore, you’re your child’s first role model. 

So set a good example, even if you’re using your phone behind the opened book!

Make It A Positive Experience

“I don’t want to do it. I don’t like it. I want to do something else.”

We were all kids once, and we’ve all said the sentence above, whether it’s for reading or not.

But remember when we violently protested against doing something our parents tried to get us to do… only for us to actually like it?

So, parents, put your foot down and be firm!

If your child doesn’t want to read, then read to them! Use different voices, puppets, and songs to make the story more exciting.

You’ll know you’ve done it right when they’re engrossed and focused on you while asking questions!

Tip: Children love it when you involve them in the process. So ask them if they’d like to flip the page or what they think is going to happen next.

Make Stories Their Inspiration

Sometimes, you have to get crafty as a parent. 

So here are a few tricks to get your child to read! 

Ask your child to write a story

Pretty soon, they might be turning to books for inspiration or because you told them that there’s a book out there with a story similar to theirs!

If you’d like them to learn more about a certain topic, give them a project to do more research on, like ‘Sharks 101’. And conveniently provide them with some books on sharks.

 Conclusion 

You don’t need me to tell you how important and great reading is for anyone. You know it yourself!

But with how many children would rather watch YouTube than read a book these days, it can be worrying.

As a parent, it is in your hands to nurture your child’s love for reading. You might even want to consider engaging a private English tutor to read with your child.

As they say, you can travel around the world with books.

So flip the first page with them today and watch them start flipping the pages themselves soon!

Gabrielle See

Hey there, I’m Gabrielle! I’m a passionate writer who loves writing about lifestyle and advocating for holistic wellness. I struggled in school when I was younger but have since come to enjoy academia and learning. So with that, coupled with my previous experience in early childhood, I believe that I could bring a unique perspective and practicality to my advice and writing. When I’m not writing, you can find me baking something sweet in the kitchen, admiring my dog or exploring something new in our tiny country!