queenofkings
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Jun 26, 2014 15:26:41 GMT
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Post by queenofkings on Jun 27, 2014 15:53:54 GMT
I have two boys. One is 18, and I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that he is just not going to enjoy reading. (He never could sit still long enough to get interested either!)
But there is still promise for my 8 year old. He was almost a grade level ahead on reading by the time second grade ended. He seems like he could go either way on how he feels about it. (and I've tried to keep his brother from influencing how he feels about it. His brother thinks it's boring. That makes me sad!)
I have encouraged it. I've read to him and with him. I've offered all kinds of material. We have made library trips. I've mostly let him pick his own because I know how awful it is to be TOLD what to read instead of picking my own things. Even as someone who loves to read, I hated being forced to read something I wasn't interested in.
I limit his screen time, but they'd rather do play with other things rather than read to earn it. And I don't want to FORCE him to read because I feel like that's a sure way to make him hate it.
So - how did you get your boys to enjoy reading? Was it a particular book/series? Did you MAKE them read?
I need ideas! I feel like I've tried all the things people recommend.
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Jun 27, 2014 15:58:09 GMT
I can't help you. I have a 11yo that HATES to read. I can't understand it as I'd rather read than do anything else! I've tried all types of books to see if I could find a genre he'd enjoy. Nope. He hates to do it. Drives me nuts!
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,584
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jun 27, 2014 15:58:47 GMT
I feel like I failed at that as a mom. We read to them daily up through mid grade school. They enjoyed it then.
But neither read now (both graduated, and have good writing and reading skills, vocabularies, etc.. so maybe SOME of the reading to them paid off...) There's so much on the internet to read, which is their preference, but that's a different type of reading. I'd love them to carry around books or an e-reader, even.
I wonder if having 'reading time' as a family would have helped? Do you do that, where all of you read at certain times when you're home?
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pudgygroundhog
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Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 27, 2014 16:01:20 GMT
I think the key is making sure he is reading books he enjoys or finds interesting. Sounds like you are already doing that. Are you doing anything this summer that could tie into a book (i.e. taking a vacation somewhere and finding a book that is set in that location)?
Do you think he might be more open to reading if he could read on a Kindle or other e-reader? I have a friend who's son is pretty eager to do the reading program their school has set up online. She thinks having it digital seems to help (he's a kid who likes to play video games, etc).
What about a summer reading program at your local library? What about a magazine subscription?
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Post by OSUBuckeyeFan on Jun 27, 2014 16:02:53 GMT
Well, if you get any answers, I'd like to know as well. He sounds the same as your son. Reads ahead of grade level, etc. My son is 10 and HATES to read! I buy him the latest book series that he seems to like. He's read EVERY book in the Diary of a Wimpy kid series. Also got him started on the James Patterson Middle School series. He's in advanced reading groups at school. I love to read! I always have books galore in the house. His father is the opposite. I rarely see DH with a book in hand. Someone told me to get him books on sports heroes that he admires as my son is an athlete. Well, to be honest, there isn't ONE specific athlete that DS looks up to. I've tried telling him, look, you've got EIGHT More years of school ahead of you and then college. You are GOING to have to read stuff whether you like it or not and lots of times, you'll have to read books that you don't necessarily like. I know I did. Had to read True Grit in 6th grade--wanted to gouge my eye out with a spoon. I bought DS Jack London's Call of the Wild, etc and DS just has no interest.  |
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Post by StacyinUT on Jun 27, 2014 16:03:43 GMT
Oh how I wish I had an answer for you. My son is 14 and would much rather play video games or watch YouTube of others playing video games. He's been reading the same book for over a month now. He did enjoy a zombie series with the first book called The Fear. I can't remember the author. My husband isn't a reader. I wish they both were. I tried to instill a reading hour awhile ago and that didn't go over very well.
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pudgygroundhog
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Posts: 4,648
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 27, 2014 16:03:57 GMT
I feel like I failed at that as a mom. We read to them daily up through mid grade school. They enjoyed it then. But neither read now (both graduated, and have good writing and reading skills, vocabularies, etc.. so maybe SOME of the reading to them paid off...) There's so much on the internet to read, which is their preference, but that's a different type of reading. I'd love them to carry around books or an e-reader, even. I wonder if having 'reading time' as a family would have helped? Do you do that, where all of you read at certain times when you're home? You can't force kids to like something. Sounds like you provided a reading friendly environment and for whatever reason it is just not an interest now. If you look at overall stats for the general population, reading isn't a priority. My daughter and I both read a lot. My husband some. We don't do a family reading time, but often my daughter and I will read. Sometimes we'll both take a book and read at Starbucks or the library. |
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pudgygroundhog
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Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 27, 2014 16:05:19 GMT
Well, if you get any answers, I'd like to know as well. He sounds the same as your son. Reads ahead of grade level, etc. My son is 10 and HATES to read! I buy him the latest book series that he seems to like. He's read EVERY book in the Diary of a Wimpy kid series. Also got him started on the James Patterson Middle School series. He's in advanced reading groups at school. I love to read! I always have books galore in the house. His father is the opposite. I rarely see DH with a book in hand. Someone told me to get him books on sports heroes that he admires as my son is an athlete. Well, to be honest, there isn't ONE specific athlete that DS looks up to. I've tried telling him, look, you've got EIGHT More years of school ahead of you and then college. You are GOING to have to read stuff whether you like it or not and lots of times, you'll have to read books that you don't necessarily like. I know I did. Had to read True Grit in 6th grade--wanted to gouge my eye out with a spoon. I bought DS Jack London's Call of the Wild, etc and DS just has no interest. When I was younger I had a subscription to Sports Illustrated Kids. Maybe he would like that? |
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psiluvu
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Post by psiluvu on Jun 27, 2014 16:09:58 GMT
I can't help you. I have a 11yo that HATES to read. I can't understand it as I'd rather read than do anything else! I've tried all types of books to see if I could find a genre he'd enjoy. Nope. He hates to do it. Drives me nuts! This is my son exactly, hopefully someone here has some good ideas. |
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queenofkings
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Jun 26, 2014 15:26:41 GMT
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Post by queenofkings on Jun 27, 2014 16:24:22 GMT
Well, at least I know I'm not in this boat alone! We don't do "family" reading at home. I'm the only one that enjoys it. DH is gone a lot for work, but doesn't enjoy reading either. And older son would rather gouge out his eyes than read. LOL!
I guess I'll just keep on the path I'm on. Encouraging and offering new things. I would LOVE to gauge his interest in digital books because he is attached to our shared iPad. But I hate to waste money on them if he won't read them and the free offerings aren't really that great. I don't know what our library offers in digital books for kids. I guess I'll check that situation out.
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pudgygroundhog
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 27, 2014 16:25:57 GMT
Well, at least I know I'm not in this boat alone! We don't do "family" reading at home. I'm the only one that enjoys it. DH is gone a lot for work, but doesn't enjoy reading either. And older son would rather gouge out his eyes than read. LOL! I guess I'll just keep on the path I'm on. Encouraging and offering new things. I would LOVE to gauge his interest in digital books because he is attached to our shared iPad. But I hate to waste money on them if he won't read them and the free offerings aren't really that great. I don't know what our library offers in digital books for kids. I guess I'll check that situation out. Your library should have e-books to download. I would give the iPad a go! |
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Dalai Mama
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Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Jun 27, 2014 16:27:17 GMT
I forced the issue. They had to read for a half hour before bed time. While they would have rather have been doing other, more exciting things, once they started reading, I would have to fight to get them to go to bed.
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queenofkings
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Posts: 283
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:41 GMT
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Post by queenofkings on Jun 27, 2014 16:36:02 GMT
I forced the issue. They had to read for a half hour before bed time. While they would have rather have been doing other, more exciting things, once they started reading, I would have to fight to get them to go to bed. I haven't forced it, but I have told him that if he was reading before bed that I would let him stay up a little later than normal bedtime to read. I guess I could insist for a few days and see how it goes. I'm just very reluctant to force him. My husband was forced to read as a kid and he thinks that's why he doesn't care for it. But he also wasn't given a choice in what he read either and I know that's a bad way to go. It's just foreign to me because I never had to be forced. I would rather have been reading than anything else. |
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pudgygroundhog
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 27, 2014 16:40:13 GMT
I had just seen a post on FB about bedtime and reading with boys. They have their bedtime, but are told they can stay up later if they are reading. At first the boys did it to feel sneaky, but then really did get hooked on the books they were reading.
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Deleted
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Nov 22, 2024 9:27:12 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2014 16:42:59 GMT
Mother to an 18 year old here. He hates to read anything that is not car related and online. He really hates reading. I am surprised he passed English in high school.
He comes from a very well-read family. Even his father likes to read.
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Dalai Mama
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Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Jun 27, 2014 16:56:29 GMT
I forced the issue. They had to read for a half hour before bed time. While they would have rather have been doing other, more exciting things, once they started reading, I would have to fight to get them to go to bed. I haven't forced it, but I have told him that if he was reading before bed that I would let him stay up a little later than normal bedtime to read. I guess I could insist for a few days and see how it goes. I'm just very reluctant to force him. My husband was forced to read as a kid and he thinks that's why he doesn't care for it. But he also wasn't given a choice in what he read either and I know that's a bad way to go. It's just foreign to me because I never had to be forced. I would rather have been reading than anything else. Forced is probably too strong a word. They didn't put up much resistance. I informed them of the schedule change and recommended that they have a book that they would like to read or I would pick one for them. |
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