Cultivate a love for books

WHEN it comes to reading, our sons often get left behind. They may not share the love of reading that their sisters and female classmates do, and they may not even realise what they are missing.

If your son complains that reading is dull or boring, doesn’t enjoy reading on his own, and seems to simply hate the very idea, there may still be hope.

With some added effort and attention on your part, your son may very well learn to love reading.

This article provides a variety of ways to encourage your son to cultivate a reading habit, however reluctant he may at first appears.

» Match books to his interests
Does your child love bugs, soccer, or aeroplanes? It may be time for a trip to the library.

Invest some time to learn about your son’s interests, and then match books appropriately. He may enjoy non-fiction books about bugs, for example, or the newest young adult novel about a boy who enjoys soccer.

If you have no idea where to begin, ask your local librarian for help. He or she will most likely be able to suggest just the book you need, and may be of great help in picking out future books, as well.

» Use your funny bone
Encourage your child to read by showing them books of jokes, riddles, or comics. The humour involved may be key to getting him to enjoy reading.

Your best bets are the books that make you cringe at their very existence – remember, this is all for your son, so 301 Best Bathroom Jokes may be just what the doctor ordered. At least he’s reading something!

» Introduce how-to books
If there’s a skill your son has been wanting to learn, such as camping, cooking, or magic tricks, he may be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are books available on the subject.

The next time you hear "I wish I knew how to ...", make a trip to the library with him.

He’ll learn that books hold useful knowledge and are a great resource for learning new skills.

Model this behaviour, as well, by visiting books for information that you need to accomplish your day-to-day tasks.

» Introduce a series
If you can get your son interested in a character, such as Encyclopaedia Brown or Harry Potter, he may be more interested to read more than one book.

Sometimes, the desire to find out what happens next is stronger than the dislike of reading, and the child learns that reading can be interesting and fun.

Serial books provide continuity and familiar characters, something that children usually enjoy.

» Plan an assessment
If your son truly struggles with reading or learning to read, it may be time to schedule an assessment of his learning abilities.

A learning disability could be the hidden culprit that is making reading so difficult for him.

Skills assessments sometimes make all the difference in your child’s struggle, so if you think a disability may be possible, be sure to schedule one.

As a parent, it can be difficult to find the time to consistently reinforce the value of reading. However, taking the time to do so is vitally important.

Reading is a gateway to learning, entertainment, and adventure.

Without your influence, your son may never find the joy that you have in reading. However, if you take the time to intervene, you may find that he is not only reading, he is excited about it!

This is a great opportunity to make a difference as a parent. Take advantage of it!