March is National Reading Month, and I love reading. I'm a reader from way back—back when finding a library book meant searching small drawers filled with index cards.
My mother says I was reading by age four. (My mother was diligent with flashcards.) When I was very young and threw tantrums in grocery stores, my mother said, "No toy, but you can have a book." In 1968, Little Golden Books cost 39 cents. I'm forever grateful that my mom used "The Poky Little Puppy" and "Scuffy The Tugboat" as pacifiers instead of some small toy I would lose by the end of the day
Later, my mother joined a mail order children's book club, and every few weeks a package arrived with my name on the outside and two or three books inside.
Decades later, I now work part-time in a bookstore. See? I love reading.
But what if you have a kid who just doesn't like reading? Or a child who isn't reading enough or reading the kinds of books you wish she would read?
I posed my questions to Stacey Epler, a ninth grade teacher at Red Land High School and former Reading Specialist.
I hear some parents say, "I want my child to read more, but my child just doesn't like to read." What can parents do to get kids reading more?
"Give kids a lot of choice in what they read," says Epler. "Kids will only read because they want to."
Epler stresses that helping kids feel successful as readers will make them want to read more. For a reluctant reader, look for books with shorter chapters or books with illustrations.
"Some kids need to feel like they are turning pages and getting somewhere in a book."
So, insisting that my reluctant reader start with "Tom Sawyer" or "The Grapes of Wrath" is probably not a good idea. Got it.
Let's say I have a seven-year-old boy who doesn't sit still long enough to get through a beginner chapter book. What can I do to increase his reading time?
"Keep expectations appropriate," says Epler. " A seven year old who is reading 15 minutes a day is better than one turned off from reading."
Instead of time limits, some children may prefer daily reading goals. If a child normally reads a chapter in ten minutes, you could ask the child to read one chapter a day, then increase to two a day.
Having a special place to read can encourage children, and some parents create home reading nooks with pillows and good lighting. A cup of milk and a few cookies are also a good enticement curl up with a book.
Most five-year-old children are just learning to read. What can parent do to encourage reading and keep it fun? What kinds of books are best for beginner readers?
"Read along with your children. Say, 'You read a page, and then I'll read a page.'" Epler says that when parents take a turns reading, children can hear the correct pronunciation of tricky words. And, it's more fun and less tiring for young children to read with a buddy.
Some young readers are shy about reading aloud, so local libraries hold events where children can read to some very patient and attentive dogs. At home, your child might feel more comfortable reading to a stuffed animal or a particularly lazy cat.
Epler also suggests calling a grandparent or other relative and reading over the phone. "When my daughter was little, she used to read over the phone to her aunt."
I might suggest putting a beginner reader on the phone with any persistent telemarketers. However, that's probably not a good idea. This is why I'm not a Reading Specialist.
What if a 14-year-old kid only wants to read manga, comic books or graphic novels. Does that count as "real" reading?
"Comic books and manga are absolutely real reading," says Epler. "The mixed media movement has brought text and image together, and even the classics appear in graphic novel form."
A few years ago, author Neil Gaiman created a comic book series, 'Marvel 1602,' about the Elizabethan era. "Beowulf" and the Greek classics have all appeared as graphic novels.
And let's face it, most school-age kids have a lot of required reading for class. Allowing kids to choose their own pleasure time reading materials encourages kids to read even when it's not a "have to."
Reading isn't something a kid should dread. Reading is the whole wide world in the palm of your hand.
Even when that hand is only big enough to hold a Little Golden Book.