“Reading is so boring!” That’s the first reaction when I would ask the kids in my class to read something.
After getting the same reaction year after year, I no longer feel surprised or shocked when I hear something like this.
Don’t blame them; it’s not their fault. What you see is the outcome of what they’ve experienced or learned in their growing up years.
If someone’s to be held responsible, it’s the parents and educators. They made reading look like a chore, a tedious one at that, that was restricted to the classrooms.
It was not seen nor encouraged as a tool for personal growth or learning.
No point lamenting the sad state now or pointing fingers at one another.
What needs is action, steps to ensure you revive the habit of reading.
Create an environment where reading is nurtured as a part of life. Just like the monsoon breathes life into a barren field, reading floods the mind with imagination and thoughts.
The Biggest Mistake is Turning Reading into a Checklist Task
If the kids don’t enjoy reading, then they’ll never want to do it again.
I’ve seen parents allot a specific time period daily for reading during the vacations. Bad idea.
It makes the activity look like a task to be completed; another holiday assignment.
One parent proudly announced that her child reads newspaper editorials regularly.
No way!! It’s way out of league of a 7-8 years old. The language and vocabulary are difficult, the content is incomprehensible, the topic unrelatable.
The child might pronounce the words but without fully comprehending their meaning. Very unreasonably high expectations.
Another problem is making it an isolated activity. You’ve to sit quietly and read 20 pages of the book. Who wants to sit alone? It feels more like a punishment.
Forcing the child to finish the book even if they don’t like it. That’s definitely going to put them off reading.
Reading is rarely made a part of the child’s development. It seen as a task not a process.
What are they reading?
What have they understood?
What did they find interesting or difficult?
What part did they like or enjoy?
These questions are never asked. So once they’ve finished reading, they are done.
And then you wonder why kids resist reading or find it dreary.
A Mindset Shift is Needed to Make Reading an Experience
Reading is like that small brook flowing quietly, nurturing the land around. It cannot be viewed as decoding words.
There has to be an emotional connection with the words. It must ignite an innate curiosity for more. It has to spark the most vivid imagination.
It’s only then that reading will feel natural to the child.
Introduce them to big-letter books when they are little. The different colours, shapes and sizes will capture their attention.
Read out stories to them. This will help form the first connections that’s stories come from books. It will inspire them to look ‘into’ books, searching for favourite stories or characters.
Use books with recurring characters for younger kids to build comfort in familiarity.
Make it memorable by laughing together over a silly story, or creating suspense during a mystery, or sharing awe over an adventure.
Reading together will build moments that will further nurture their love for reading.
As kids grow up, they will cherish such moments. And its these little moments that will make them want to read.
Strategies for Parents and Educators to Spark Reading Joy
Believe me, it needs no strategies or expensive tools to develop this habit. Even one book can create surprising outcomes.
a. Create Reading Rituals, Not Rules
When my kids were small, their bedtime routines included a little bit of reading before sleeping. We would cuddle up, each with our own book. That was our time together.
Either my husband or me would read out a story to them each night. Slowly the book shifted hands and they wanted to read it by themselves, didn’t matter how well they could read.
Even after all these years, this is one habit that still remains.
b. Let Kids Choose
During library class in school, instead of handing out the books to the students, I let them choose.
It gave them their first taste of independence – they could decide which book to read while also had the freedom to explore. Together it built their confidence.
This got them excited and interested in reading.
c. Read Aloud, Together
Reading aloud became a norm. Each child got a chance to read aloud their favourite page from the book they had borrowed earlier.
This worked in 2 ways. One, to ensure they got a chance to read aloud, they would actually read the book. And two, it got others interested in reading ‘that’ book.
The end result was even the reluctant kids started reading.
d. Gamifying Reading
Have book-movie nights. Yes, first read the book and then watch the movie adaptations. It’s loads of fun.
It develops critical thinking because you’ll inevitably end up comparing the two versions.
You can even try family reading challenges. Like who can read the most number of books in a month.
Set up reading clubs. A great way to meet friends, especially during vacations and weekends.
Simple, Fun Strategies for a Digital-First World
If they don’t take to reading willingly, generate interest through the digital media.
Develop interest by showing them videos and programs of wildlife and nature. National Geographic has loads of videos about the world we live in. Programs by David Attenborough are my favourite go-to.
You can try audio books or eBooks for reluctant readers. Remember, these are gadgets and need your intervention to regulate their usage.
Get them to read books with jokes, riddles, quizzes, or fun-facts.
You can also try graphic novels or series. It’s a rage now with kids.
You can’t predict what catches their interest. Once hooked, reading will come naturally.
Final Thoughts: Raising Readers, Not Just Book-Finishers
When I talk to kids these days, I soon run out of things to talk about.
They’ve very few interests and minimal knowledge about things beyond their needs.
Sad. Just knowing the A to Z about IPL is not general knowledge or social awareness.
Forget the kids, most of the adults are also in the same state of ignorance.
The attention spans are dropping alarmingly fast. Studies show that the average attention span of children has dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to just 8 seconds today. That’s shorter than that of a goldfish!
Their disinterest and indifference are worrisome.
It’s time for a wake up call. It’s time to raise readers. It’s time to raise thinkers. It’s time to raise minds that question, explore and are hungry for more.
There are reasons why reading is still considered essential for personal development.
It helps in a multi-dimensional growth as an individual.
Change your perspective. Focus on the joy, the connection and the lifelong impact of the books.
Ask yourself what kind of a relationship do you have with reading? Are you modelling the right attitude for your kids to emulate?
It’s not too late. Try one idea from this post and share your experience. Maybe a book-movie night to begin with. Or letting your child pick any book they want. Or just spending some time together reading.
Remember, one unforgettable reading experience can create a passionate reader for life.
