ENCOURAGING CHILD TO read YOUR
THE FAMILY WILL BE MAKING THE SWITCH FROM PHONES TO BOOKS IN NO TIME!
Getting your child to ditch devices for a good oldfashioned book can be tricky. Erini Christopoulos, head of English Australia and teacher consultant at Education Perfect, breaks down the secret to making the swap.
PRESENTATION IS KEY
Of all the tasks that teachers and parents have to battle against, getting tweens and teens to put down their devices and pick up a book is among the most difficult. So how does anyone get someone to read? Is it recommending something you liked that you think they will like?
Or is it force-feeding them something that is good for them? The secret here is not really a secret at all – it all comes down to presentation.
START A CONVERSATION
“You should be reading the classics, they’re good for you!” is just as effective as putting Brussels sprouts on the table for dessert. The way reading is presented to a child is just as important as the reading material itself. Many parents try to source and pitch the materials that they think might suit their children, but the best place to begin is a conversation about what they are currently reading – even if it is just social media feeds. Have they read anything at school in any of their subjects that was interesting?
Let this branch into a conversation about their likes and dislikes, what they’re curious about or fascinated by. Once you have a topic, it’s time to let them browse an online bookstore to pick a title. Receiving a parcel with their name on it is an instant winner.
SIT AND SHARE
You need to make the time to learn to love reading as a family. Put a relaxing playlist on in the background and settle on the couch for a good book together. Put aside a time when you’re all able to relax and read,
device-free.
If you get desperate, aim for the hour before dessert (or Netflix) to ensure even the least intrinsically motivated teen has an extrinsic motivator.
‘Devices down’ time also opens the possibilities of conversations about what’s happening in each of their books while they’re reading. I would even suggest all phones going into a dedicated box to mitigate any sneaky peeks at pages that spoil it for them!
PROFESSIONAL HELP
If you’re unsure about which texts best support the ability and needs of your children, speaking to [their] English teacher, school librarian or literacy coordinator is a great place to start! Breadth of texts is important and this will come with time. Not many children pick up Shakespeare for fun. After all, reading is an acquired taste that improves with a slow, steady introduction and a series of enjoyable experiences.