10 year old with no interest in reading

Tombo2001

As the thread title suggests.

Any thoughts on how to approach this.

We would obviously like the child to read, but has zero interest, says books are boring, (obviously comparing is bad etc etc but) it seems like every other child in the class has read the full gamut of Harry Potters and Roald Dahls.

Any thoughts are welcome.

iamwhoiam

Tombo2001 wrote: »

As the thread title suggests.

Any thoughts on how to approach this.

We would obviously like the child to read, but has zero interest, says books are boring, (obviously comparing is bad etc etc but) it seems like every other child in the class has read the full gamut of Harry Potters and Roald Dahls.

Any thoughts are welcome.

I bought my granddaughter a CD of Julia Donaldson books and then bought the books to go with it .She listens to the CD and looks at the books and absolutely loves that . She is 6 but I am sure you could find age appropriate ones for your boy

Irishphotodesk

Each to their own, what other interests or hobbies does he have ?

Has he seen adults in the house reading ? Most kids will mimic what they see the grown ups do because that's what they believe grown ups do and they want to be grown up.

If he has no interest but is getting on fine in school, I would not worry.
Did he suddenly go off reading or has he always disliked it?

Car99

If his reading skills are adequate iwouldnt worry that he doesnt like to read books.

Tombo2001

She has never been interested, never particularly wanted stories read to her when she was small.

Everyone else in the house reads.

Not saying its the be all and end all, but I do think apart from anything else it helps with concentration and learning, as well as being an enjoyable past-time.

beauf

One of ours didn't like stories. Liked fact books instead. Was like that for years, though eventually started liking other books. Bit we thought they would never be a reader for many years. Another one was a great reader till about 13 then just stopped completely.

Not everyone likes books.

Tombo2001

iamwhoiam wrote: »

I bought my granddaughter a CD of Julia Donaldson books and then bought the books to go with it .She listens to the CD and looks at the books and absolutely loves that . She is 6 but I am sure you could find age appropriate ones for your boy

Thanks, we have these in the car, but not a bad idea to sit her down in her room with the book and the CD, or audio.

manonboard

Biggest things that made me into a reader was watching my mum do it. I just copied her. My reading friends often say similar. Are the adults in the house reading?
Has he discovered comedy books yet? When i read hitch hikers guide to the galaxy, i had to stop for days because i was bruising my sides from laughing.

Could he just consume information in a different way that he prefers? Maybe he's sound orientated rather than visual?

Tombo2001

beauf wrote: »

One of ours didn't like stories. Liked fact books instead. Was like that for years, though eventually started liking other books. Bit we thought they would never be a reader for many years. Another one was a great reader till about 13 then just stopped completely.

Not everyone likes books.

Thanks for this. She does like the Guinness Book of Records tbf.

meeeeh

Would something like Big Nate work. Or some other comics. They are funny and easy to dip in and out. Our 11 year old loves them and so do many of his school mates some who wouldn't be as enthusiastic readers.

Tombo2001

Tombo2001 wrote: »

She has never been interested, never particularly wanted stories read to her when she was small.

Everyone else in the house reads.

Not saying its the be all and end all, but I do think apart from anything else it helps with concentration and learning, as well as being an enjoyable past-time.

Reading can help with concentration and learning in many kids. However it is a bit of a chicken and egg thing. It can be the other way around completely. In that working on a kids concentration and learning can help with their interest in reading books.

If it is just not for her though - then it may never be. And of course that's OK too as long as she is able to study when she gets to the age in school where study is more of a thing. If she had no interest even from a young age it could simply be this.

But there is any number of other reasons a kid might not want to read.

For example - if they are not getting enough physical activity they might simply be too restless or listless to sit still with a book. Kids watching too much television have this issue for example.

Or another example - if they are bombarded with low attention span entertainment - computer games or tiktok videos or you tube nonsense - too much then the attention span might not be developed enough to be interested in books.

So rather than hoping getting a child to read to increase their concentration and attention spans - often reversing this and focusing on things they do like which foster concentration and attention span will increase their interest in books.

With my kids (10girl and 6boy) I have found combat sports - learning to fire and clean rifles - meditation - horse riding - dance - jigsaws - and cookery have all been good examples of things that caught their interest and focused their minds and attention.

And while they were already interested in books - they became more so both in terms of their ability to focus longer and their enjoyment of the "down time" after having exhausted their need for activity and stimulation elsewhere.

Tombo2001

meeeeh wrote: »

Would something like Big Nate work. Or some other comics. They are funny and easy to dip in and out. Our 11 year old loves them and so do many of his school mates some who wouldn't be as enthusiastic readers.

It would though nearly every book of this type features boys as the main protagonist - Horrid Henry, Big Nate, Tom Gates, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants etc, which doesnt help.

But it has reminded me to give the Dork Diaries a try again, these follow a similar style & she does like the Jacqueline Wilson, but mainly just when read to.

Tombo2001

Deleted User wrote: »

Reading can help with concentration and learning in many kids. However it is a big of a chicken and egg thing. It can be the other way around completely. In that working on a kids concentration and learning can help with their interest in reading books.

If it is just not for her though - then it may never be. And of course that's OK too as long as she is able to study when she gets to the age in school where study is more of a thing. If she had no interest even from a young age it could simply be this.

But there is any number of other reasons a kid might not want to read.

For example - if they are not getting enough physical activity they might simply be too restless or listless to sit still with a book. Kids watching too much television have this issue for example.

Or another example - if they are bombarded with low attention span entertainment - computer games or tiktok videos or you tube nonsense - too much then the attention span might not be developed enough to be interested in books.

So rather than hoping getting a child to read to increase their concentration and attention spans - often reversing this and focusing on things they do like which foster concentration and attention span will increase their interest in books.

With my kids (10girl and 6boy) I have found combat sports - learning to fire and clean rifles - meditation - horse riding - dance - jigsaws - and cookery have all been good examples of things that caught their interest and focused their minds and attention.

And while they were already interested in books - they became more so both in terms of their ability to focus longer and their enjoyment of the "down time" after having exhausted their need for activity and stimulation elsewhere.

Thanks, some excellent suggestions.

To be fair, she is just a do-er. The other kids will come in and watch TV while she will come home and play in the garden for three hours. Cookery she loves, its the one book she will happily read - something with recipes.

What meditation do you do ? Its not something I have practiced myself, so wouldnt know where to start.

beauf

My parents didn't read much. I still got into books. I think because I was brought to the library. I did read comics and actually my kids read the beano from time to time.
Comics in my day were cheap. They aren't really theses day unfortunately.

sbsquarepants

beauf wrote: »

One of ours didn't like stories. Liked fact books instead. Was like that for years, though eventually started liking other books. Bit we thought they would never be a reader for many years. Another one was a great reader till about 13 then just stopped completely.

Not everyone likes books.

This was me as a kid, and is still me today at 46!


I think i've read 2 fiction books since leaving school, they just hold no appeal whatsoever for me. Your daughter could just be the same OP, i wouldn't stress it.

beauf

I would say that commuter gaming, and even TV and do come into conflict with reading. We had lots of problems with one kid and the games, the one who has stopped reading.

Tombo2001

Tombo2001 wrote: »

To be fair, she is just a do-er. The other kids will come in and watch TV while she will come home and play in the garden for three hours.

Yea we grow our own veg and herbs where possible. So the kids do get into getting down and dirty helping out with that. So if yours is enjoying the garden then growing things like that might work.

Tombo2001 wrote: »

What meditation do you do ? Its not something I have practiced myself, so wouldnt know where to start.

Mostly Vipassana but a mix of other things.

There are a number of Apps and books focusing on meditation with kids. The waking up app has a section for children. But I see there is a number of other ones too.

John Hutton

Try some non fiction. I loved the "Tell Me Why" books. Or try more books that tie into stuff she likes and have a practical application, like cooking books. Or of she likes horses, books about horses etc

atilladehun

As others have said, not everyone is into books.

In terms of concentration and other things you mentioned Guinness world records book. I'd consider that the thin edge of the wedge for you to build on. Can she read that for a while? Could she tell you about a fact later on? Can you entice her to add her own imagination to some of those people? Make a short story of the day they broke the record or what their life was like growing up?

Can you shift sideways to other fact books or short histories?

Tombo2001

beauf wrote: »

I would say that commuter gaming, and even TV and do come into conflict with reading. We had lots of problems with one kid and the games, the one who has stopped reading.

Understand that, but this is something that is in play since she was 1, she never liked to be read to.

meeeeh

beauf wrote: »

I would say that commuter gaming, and even TV and do come into conflict with reading. We had lots of problems with one kid and the games, the one who has stopped reading.

I don't know. Mine both spend too much time on tablets and YouTube but especially older one loves reading. In our case the more creative one is reading more and his more mathematically gifted sister less.

Tombo2001

meeeeh wrote: »

I don't know. Mine both spend too much time on tablets and YouTube but especially older one loves reading. In our case the more creative one is reading more and his more mathematically gifted sister less.

I'd kind of agree with this; is it more truism or truth....

Ikozma

As long as he's able to read I wouldn't mind it, our 9 year old was recently caught out when his mum spoke to the teacher, everything in school was good except the teacher said he needs to practice reading more, his mum said but he hasn't been getting reading homework since they went back to school, apparantly they had but our young fella never used to write it in the school diary and used to leave the readers at school, he said I don't like reading its boring, he's well able to read though, he does his reading homework all the time now though because we know he's getting it lol!!

Ikozma

meeeeh wrote: »

I don't know. Mine both spend too much time on tablets and YouTube but especially older one loves reading. In our case the more creative one is reading more and his more mathematically gifted sister less.

Could be something in this, our fellas teacher says he'll be a maths teacher as he loves it, yet has no interest whatsoever in reading

shesty

See that is ok, but I would still be encouraging the reading.I am engineer, (and a reader as it happens), and too many of the lads I went to college with had that attitude - sure I am good at maths, no need to get too worried about languages.The problem was it started to catch up with them as they got to more senior years in college -poorly written and badly spelled CVs and cover letters, then into jobs where 80% of the work was report writing.I know of at least 1 friend who emigrated and was held back in their job as an engineer in another country because their report writing was so poor.She herself would say her parents always had the attitude of you are good at maths, so it'll be fine.I have also seen it in my own job where badly written CVs and cover letters have actually put people in the company off hiring someone.

I would be very wary of using the "they are good at maths so they can do something else" excuse as a reason not to keep encouraging reading, because I see the reality of that regularly at work.I agree not everybody is good at everything but I wouldn't stop encouraging it anyway

meeeeh

shesty wrote: »

See that is ok, but I would still be encouraging the reading.I am engineer, (and a reader as it happens), and too many of the lads I went to college with had that attitude - sure I am good at maths, no need to get too worried about languages.The problem was it started to catch up with them as they got to more senior years in college -poorly written and badly spelled CVs and cover letters, then into jobs where 80% of the work was report writing.I know of at least 1 friend who emigrated and was held back in their job as an engineer in another country because their report writing was so poor.She herself would say her parents always had the attitude of you are good at maths, so it'll be fine.I have also seen it in my own job where badly written CVs and cover letters have actually put people in the company off hiring someone.

I would be very wary of using the "they are good at maths so they can do something else" excuse as a reason not to keep encouraging reading, because I see the reality of that regularly at work.I agree not everybody is good at everything but I wouldn't stop encouraging it anyway

I didn't mean it as an excuse. Both of mine like to read just one reads more. Kids can also go through different periods. When I was growing up a lot of boys who read very little became great readers when they discovered fantasy books. Sometimes finding genre that you like can make big difference. I read a lot more when I started reading adult fiction and crime novels at around 12 or 13.

I don't think kids can be made to read but sometimes incentive works. For example if series of books is being made into movies maybe watching first movie could encourage them to read books that continue the story. I wouldn't with Game of Thrones though.

yellow hen

Some people are readers. Others aren't. I so believe that everyone will read when they find the right book. I was an avid reader of kids fantasy...pure escapism. My parents never ever read. 2 of my siblings were also avid reads. 2 other siblings just weren't. Gently coax her with magazines, puzzles, recipes while she's cooking but don't fret too much.

_Brian

I don’t read lots, only specific subjects that interest me. I’d listen to audiobooks daily. People are different.

I’d keep going with the cook books, maybe identify her favourite chef and see if they have any biographical style books, that might help her branch out in interest.

If her reading skills are good and she has other non screen interests then I wouldn’t sweat it too much.

Gru

Tombo2001 wrote: »

As the thread title suggests.

Any thoughts on how to approach this.

We would obviously like the child to read, but has zero interest, says books are boring, (obviously comparing is bad etc etc but) it seems like every other child in the class has read the full gamut of Harry Potters and Roald Dahls.

Any thoughts are welcome.

Honestly is it no interest in reading or no interest in books?


like if they had a kindle would they read because it's on a device?


another option is a story based video game that involves a lot of storyline reading/problem solving to play it.

if it's books you want them to read you need to find that specialist area they are interested in,

pre-teens easy reader's something like the babysitters club books. (they also come in graphic novel form) or Murder most unladylike, or if they are a young 10 try trouble with Daisy by kes gray /Isadora moon books (quick to read through if impatience is a thing) but they want female/modern protagonists,

fact books, you can get ones like the world records but smaller and easier to read,

joke books work for some or beano comics/books


The Roald Dahls and Harry potters are depending on the book are actually quite difficult to read even for 10 year olds, as in to understand each word in them, many parents will say "oh my 5 year old reads harry potter" but when doing accelerated reading programs up to 12 years old where they are quizzed after they have read it the child will score quite low on their understanding and recall of the contents/language used in the book, as those books score quite difficult on that scale.

also look into "High low books" even if they aren't struggling to read it will be easier/quicker for them and can be therefore more fun, while the content is more age appropriate and engaging.

Stateofyou

Hi, I can't recommend enough the Geronimo Stilton books. They have really great story lines and amazing pictures, and the way the text is written is sometimes normal, and sometimes colourful and with fun fonts too. My kids love(d) them and all their friends have borrowed them too!

mirrorwall14

I recommend you branch out in the type of books. We are all readers in my house but my brother the least because he didn’t really have the books that he was interested in. We had hundreds of books in the house but it turned out he’s into biographies and non fiction and no one else was. I discovered fantasy too as an adult and it was amazing. Dragonriders of pern where were you when I was younger!

I would definitely branch out in books

Sausage dog

What other interests and hobbies does your daughter have? Would she be interested in reading about people involved in those pastimes, autobiographical books, factual books based on these etc. The comic book style books are very popular too & less daunting for a reluctant reader. Could she read to a younger sibling? Set aside reading time as a family if possible to try develop the habit of reading.

Tombo2001

Sausage dog wrote: »

What other interests and hobbies does your daughter have? Would she be interested in reading about people involved in those pastimes, autobiographical books, factual books based on these etc. The comic book style books are very popular too & less daunting for a reluctant reader. Could she read to a younger sibling? Set aside reading time as a family if possible to try develop the habit of reading.

Well thats the thing - she really loves dogs. But I sat down with here to read Roddy Doyles book The Giggler Treatment, which is about dogs, and she had no interest....thats what prompted me to start this.

Stateofyou

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Well thats the thing - she really loves dogs. But I sat down with here to read Roddy Doyles book The Giggler Treatment, which is about dogs, and she had no interest....thats what prompted me to start this.

Oh- try the Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey! It's main character is a dog, but it's not about dogs if you know what I mean.

the purple tin

Horrible Histories books, maybe if they watch the tv show.

Have you had any conversations with her teachers about how she’s getting on with English in school? I know this is a tough year and it’s not as easy to meet with teachers but I’d start here with a phone call to get some insight into how she’s getting on with English in January maybe?

How about trying a ‘running record’? This is a reading test that assesses if the book someone is currently reading is too easy, too hard or just the right level for their reading ability. Simply get them to read 100 words, watch the words very carefully, have a blank sheet of paper in front of you, and tally every word, count the mistakes out of 100 then use one of the many ‘running record’ calculator apps eg wordcalc.com

I’d definitely second what a lot of posters have already said about finding something that she interested in. If you think of us adults, we like to read books based on our hobbies or tv shows that we like, children are no different, what tv shows does she like, could you tap into that?

Lumengg

I had no interest in reading till 16yo. Maybe you need to try to use alternative ways like showing him some interesting documentaries or audiobooks.

tscul32

Everyone in my house read books except me - think I was about 15 before I properly read a book purely for enjoyment. Then didn't stop. And I was always top of my class academically so it wasn't about ability.
My husband and always have a book on the go. My eldest was still 8 when he finished the harry potter series. My second could read 2-3 full books a day. My youngest is almost 9 and while he still loves us to read a chapter to him at bedtime, he has never sat down to read a chapter book by himself. This is despite his teacher sending home a note saying how it was obvious from his reading skills that he must read so much at home.
So, unless she's struggling with English or school in general I wouldn't worry at all.