I hate reading… Reading is for girls… Reading is just schoolwork… Reading is boring.
While many girls have expressed those opinions, often boys are the ones who dislike reading and would much rather play outdoors, build with Legos, or ride their bikes.
Getting boys to read fiction is the first step towards helping them cultivate a love of literature and stories and epic adventures and dangerous journeys. In a world where radical fiction stories hold powerful truths just waiting to be explored by the reader, and where God chose his divine message to be revealed in the form of a story… boys need to read.
And we want them to learn to love reading.
These tips are targeted to the boy who would prefer to avoid reading and instead build a fort, play with LEGOs, or eat pizza. Getting boys to read fiction sometimes starts with those forts, those LEGOs, and that delicious pizza. How do you tie them all together? Read on.
Step #1: Choose Stories Geared Towards Boys
If you have a reluctant reader, then getting them to even open that book will be a challenge. A quick way to overcome that obstacle? Choose a story that will specifically appeal to that reader.
Since we’re mainly talking about getting boys to read fiction in this article, then my immediate tip would be to choose a story geared towards boys. Choose a story with male main characters, lots of action, and a topic that they’re excited about. My younger brother is a World War II fanatic. When trying to find a book he would enjoy, I would probably look for a historical fiction novel from the 1940s that may or may not include a Corsair plane, soldiers, and plenty of action.
Another idea would be to choose a book that is part of a series. Getting boys to read fiction is only the first step. Keeping them reading is another step. So why not get them involved in a fast-paced, action-focused, enthralling adventure that spans multiple books so that they won’t want to stop reading?
Step #2: Engage Their Attention
If your reluctant reader prefers listening to the story as opposed to reading the book themselves, then you want to make sure that their attention is engaged. Reading the first few chapters of the book aloud to them will often whet their appetite to finish the story by reading on their own.
If your family enjoys audiobooks, choose a quality version with an exciting narrator. No one likes a monotone reader. Sometimes you can find audiobooks with sound effects and music behind the words. Not only does it make the story feel more real, but for a child who has an active imagination, it may help them stay focused on the story at hand.
Sometimes doing a quiet activity while listening will also keep a busy young person engaged. My younger siblings and I would often put on audiobooks or audio dramas while crafting, cleaning, cooking, working outdoors, etc. When my mom would read aloud to our family during Advent, the girls would draw and color while the boys would play with LEGOs and other small toys.
Step #3: Bring The Story To Life
Black words on a white page often do not engage the imagination or arouse the interest of a boy. How can we bring life to the stories so that boys can experience the adventures and challenges of heroism and courage and bravery?
Does the story mention games or activities that you could learn as a family or encourage your son to explore? Did the characters build a secret fort in the woods, go fishing, sleep outdoors, or roast s’mores over a fire? In addition, are there movies or documentaries related to the time period that would provide context and visuals for the story? We need to engage the senses and emotions in order to connect with a story’s characters and their adventures.
Another great way to keep the story active and exciting is to tie it very closely to food. When I was in seventh grade, I discovered that I learned the anatomy of the body quite well by replicating it with candy designs. String licorice, mini chocolate chips, fruit leather, and gummy rings became parts of skeleton models, neurons, and layers of the skin. Is there an element from your story that could be modeled using candy or food?
Also in seventh grade (and throughout the next few years), my co-op classmates and I experienced fiction stories through the lens of historically accurate recipes. We would gather together and bring foods we had read about in the stories. Tasting bland hardtack, salty beef jerky, or deliciously sweet Turkish delight will bring an immediate connection to the characters in your book.
Step #4: Make Reading A Game
Who doesn’t like a good challenge? We want children to learn to enjoy reading simply for the pleasure of experiencing a great story, but sometimes a little incentive can go a long way in enticing a reluctant reader to begin a book. Offer a small incentive for finishing the book, for reading daily, or for taking notes on the story!
Many boys are highly-motivated by a specific challenge, a goal to reach, or a small prize. If there is a reward, they will often exert a surprising amount of time and energy to reach the goal. Hopefully by motivating them with a prize (like ice cream, pizza, a small LEGO set) you’ll start them on the path of loving reading for themselves.
Step #5: Model The Love And Joy Of Reading
If you want to encourage your reluctant reader to love reading, a lot of it will start with how much you (as a parent or even maybe a sibling) loves reading.
Encourage family reading time, which could be a time where someone reads aloud or everyone reads their own stories. Get involved personally in the games and activities and prizes! Create a cozy reading atmosphere with fun snacks, background music, and then read yourself!
Kids learn by imitation, so perhaps read the same story as them so you can share the adventurous experience together! Either way, you want to model the love and joy of reading in your own reading life.
To Infinity And Beyond
Once you’ve gotten him reading, don’t just stop there. A love of reading is cultivated over a lifetime of reading, but sometimes it needs a nudge in the right direction with prizes and games and rewards and pizza.
I hope these five tips have given you some inspiration towards getting your reluctant reader to love reading. You’ve probably noticed that these tips could apply to any reluctant reader and that’s absolutely true! But girls are often more easily motivated by the sheer fact that reading is a noble and wise endeavor. Little boys? They’re going to want a bit more motivation and adventure and probably pizza.
Continue Reading…
