4 Simple Tips for Reluctant Readers

Reading can be a tough road. Since the very beginning, I told myself I would not be discouraged if my son didn’t learn to read right away. But then, his peers began to read and then children younger than him started to read. Even though I told myself it was normal and he will read, it still felt discouraging.

I recently finished reading Charlotte Mason’s Home Education volume and soaked up every bit of her words when it came to reading. Basically, the premise is to show a few words randomly and memorize them, then put them into the form of a story and your child will be delighted that these once random words are part of a story.

We picked up some early readers and did just this. My son really enjoyed this approach and soon he was reading on his own. We continued our normal routine with reading and now it has become an every day activity.

Here are 4 tips that help:

1. Make Reading a Daily Habit: encourage your reader to sit down and read every day for a specific amount of time, such as 5 to 15 minutes. Incorporate this time into their daily schedule make it a nonnegotiable activity. My son enjoyed reading picture books to his younger brother.

2. Choose Quality Literature: Select high quality literature that aligns with the child’s interest, reading level, and a selection of “living books” that engage the imagination and intellect. We like to avoid dull or an interesting reading material that could turn them off from reading all together. There are some really dull early readers out there! Here is a link to our favorite early readers. Use code WildKnights for free shipping.

3. Allow For Choice: Allow the child to choose some of their own reading materials to encourage ownership and excitement about the reading process. As long as the books are engaging and fun, the child will have the freedom to explore and discover books that appeal to them. Some of my son’s favorite titles are the Magic Treehouse series, The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series, The Imagination Station series, and the Paddington book series. Don’t forget picture books. We leave picture books around the house for our children to pick up and read anytime.

4. Read Aloud: This is something you will hear time after time. Read aloud to your child regularly, including poetry, literature, and other subjects if possible. This will expose them to more complex language and storytelling, as well as create an enjoyable and engaging experience around reading. We stick to the Ambleside Online schedule and have really enjoyed the books list. Once they are reading independently, don’t stop reading aloud!

Were any of these new for you? If you know anyone struggling with a reluctant reader send them this blog post and please know that if you stay consistent, then your child will be reading in no time. Patience is key!

There are affiliate links in this post.