Inspiring teen boys to love reading
WHEN Liz Derouet’s sons were growing up, she read to them every night.
While most parents do this for young children, Mrs Derouet kept up the practice into the boys’ teen years.
“We read books like The
Hobbit,” she said.
“It was really nice bonding time. We would sit on the bed and read until lights out.”
The boys developed a love of reading that continued to adulthood.
Now the Toowoomba Grammar School librarian wants more parents to follow her lead and inspire teenage boys to pick up a book.
In June, Mrs Derouet was part of an international team of academics which studied the best methods to get more young men reading.
Her research project focused on the 14 boys in her pastoral care class at Grammar.
“I asked them to read four books, including graphic novels, and I wanted them to read the types of books they had not read before,” Mrs Derouet said.
The boys completed a reading journal, answered questions about their books and were interviewed about their attitudes to reading.
Mrs Derouet said exposing young men to diverse type of literature compounded their interest.
“At the beginning, only four students thought of themselves as adventurous readers. By the end 10 did,” she said.
Regular reading provides a solid base for future academic development, and Mrs Derouet said there were a few simple things parents could do to encourage teens to read more.
“Give them as much variety as possible and do not make fun of reading,” she said. “Read the same books as your teenagers and talk about the books together, like you would with a movie.
“Do not stop reading to them just because they are teenagers. Teenagers do not want to spend much time with their parents but if you get the right book then they will.”