Need Advice on Teaching 4 Year Old to Enjoy Books

You could buy those activity book that have pop ups and little flaps you pull on, etc. My son loves those kinds of books. I also bought him the books that make sounds. Try reading the books in different funny voices. My son laughs and laughs when I do that. Good luck! :)

I would imagine that if you read with his sibling, he will come around. It will look like so much fun and he'd be missing out if he didn't join in. See?

Good luck!

S.

Hi B. -

I have two little boys too (6 and 3)!

We read books every night as part of our bedtime routine. I used to read the boys their books in our playroom before heading off to change into PJs and climb into bed.

But, they would throw fits when I said it was story time - because they knew that meant that bedtime was next.

So, we moved many of the books up to their rooms. They get their PJs on, grab their favorite blankets and we cuddle up on my younger son's bed to read. They take turns picking the book.

When we finish the story, they are allowed to leave on their reading lights (cute little Lighting McQueen clip on lights from Kmart) and read for as long as they'd like.

So, reading is a big treat for them - it allows them to think that they are in control of when they go to bed.

They rarely make it past the first book! My husband and I often find them fast asleep with a book laying across their chests.

When either of them gets cranky about reading, or what book the other one picked for story time I make them laugh by changing the words of the story.

My older son likes to catch me saying the wrong word and is able to read the right words to correct me. They both laugh when I say things like "Clifford the big orange doughnut" or other silly things.

They hang on every word of the story waiting for a silly word or a funny sound.

Good luck, B.!

B.,
Time to shake it up some! Ideas...
Instead of "reading" the words, Try reading the pictures, and making it up! Take turns, make it silly or crazy!
Try making up a story, no books, just take turns, you start, "Once upon a time there were 2 crazy boys, who went to the zoo, and when they got there the animals were all mixed up!"... playing baseball, wearing diapers, having a food fight....
Have the boys draw pictures and make a book, then read it to daddy!
Try some funny books, 'Walter the farting dog" is a great series, anything by Robert Munch, ask at the library or bookstore.
when you do have reading time, tell him he CAN'T LISTEN!
All 2 year olds want what they can't have. just put him to bed, make sure you are having fun so he will want to be a part of it1
The screeching, try screeching back, show him how it sounds, be consistent, send him to his room, close the door, tell him quietly you will listen to what he says is he talks in a quiet voice, make sure his childcare provider is doing the same.
Good luck hon. K. Mom of 5, childcare provider for 30 years!

He may just be bored with it right now - the time it takes to select the book, settle down and get comfortable...it may just take too much time and he doesn't want to sit through it all.
Maybe break it up a bit - select the book, then do the night routine (teeth brushing, pj's, etc) then settle it to read.
And don't forget taking turns in selection - his turn, little brothers, yours...

Or maybe he likes the one on one time with you - since he's learned to read several words...perhaps he wants to just sit down with mom alone and read with you?

I suggest asking him what he'd like to do at Story Time. So that he knows it's not only for benefit, but for fun too.

Hi B.,
I have 2 boys also and we read at night but if one of them doesn't want to listen I don't force it. If you put an an empahsis on it he will probably keep rebelling against it. I would also just let him listen. Maybe he just wants to relax at night. Good luck.
Chris

ANY activity you can share with them at bedtime is beneficial. I read with my boys at bedtime until they wanted to have their own reading time (about 7-8 years old). We sang songs some nights, we used "I Spy" books for a while. Switching things up can help hold their interest. They will read when they are comfortable. Making it an enjoyable experience is the key. My boys (now 9 and 16) are both advanced students and I attribute that to the one on one time I spent with each of them at bedtime. Remember - each child is different - mine are completely opposite. What appeals to one may not the other. Giving them a choice on activity may help (limit choices to 2).
Good Luck!

B.,
My son is the same way. I found that it needs to be on his terms (when he wants to read and what he wants me to read). I think what has happened is that an activity that he liked before,(you reading to him) has now become more work than he cares to do at this moment (learning to read). I would offer reading as an option at different times during the day. Maybe before bed he might like to do a quiet activity for 10 minutes instead (puzzle, color, legos) Let him choose and he may surprise you. Good Luck!

Don't expect him to read. Just read to him. Try having the story time earlier in the day like just after dinner. He may be protesting the need to settle down before bed and want to stay gung ho active thinking he can stay up later. If possible read to them after dinner and before bed.
A love of books is something that is nurtured from a very young age. He is not too old to love books, but keep on with the books and the younger one will ADORE them! :-) Try reading only to him as mommy, big brother time.
Try try try again and keep a selection of books around so when HE decides he wants to look at them they are available.

Just take a break from making him read.

Have your kids help make up a story at bedtime. We start ours like "Once upon a time, there was a ________ (have your kids fill in your blanks with things like "robot", "farmer", "superhero") that LOVED _________ etc... It doesn't have to make much sense and you can make it have a point or lesson if you want. My boys made up stories about a farmer that LOVED purple carrots named Princess...the farmer learned to share his carrots with his brother.

It takes a bit of helping them understand what you want from them and most of the stores are VERY FUNNY and VERY repetitive but it is fun and shows them that stories come from people (authors) first then can be written down. My boys got a bit tired of this game too so now at bedtime we play the “Obey game” it is like Simon says but they are learning to obey momma! Best of luck, this age of 2 and 4 is GREAT FUN!!!

P.S. I would recommend visiting the library and letting him pick out books too.

I would back off the reading and let him share with you when he wants a story.... children learn to love books at different ages and not all end up loving to read. Doesnt mean they won't succeed in life or be straight A students. Trust me. If he doesnt want to read let him listen or play quietly :) He will be peeking around pretty soon!

B.,

Just read to your kids. Don't try to get you son reading also. Ignore the whole I don't like story time attitude. Choose stories that you know would interest your 4 year old, and don't offer to to read to him, but read them to your 2 year old just make sure the older child is in hearing range. You can almost be positive that if he is playing quietly nearby he will be listening and most likely will gravitate over to look at the pictures.

My oldest son went through this phase, and we just ignored it. He is in the 7th grade now and still loves to be read to.

It sounds like your son doesn't like the "routine". Try telling stories or drawing and let the "reading" go. Let him be creative. My kids are A students and none of them "love" books. My daughter is trying hard to read "To Kill A Mockingbird" and because it's required she is doing her best, but reading is not her first choice. She has other talents and skills and interests. Let your kids be kids and realize they may not share your same interests.

If your response was over-zealous, it may have felt to him like an expectation he couldn't live up to. Are you reading to the 2 together? That didn't work well for me so my oldest began his own reading time. Maybe give him the choice of together story time or alone quiet time. Regardless, let him feel he is in control and that you're okay with it if he "takes a break" from reading. I still have to temper my enthusiasm so I don't scare them off things I am excited by, like music lessons, etc.

Have you tried taking him to the library to pickk out his own books?

B.,

I really commend you for encouraging an appreciation for books to your boys. I also read to my two boys when they were that age and it was never an issue. Usually they wanted me to read more to them and I would just be too tired to finish some nights. I guess my only question is what kind of books are you selecting to read to him? Are the books at your four year olds level or for an older child? My boys liked to look at the pictures and follow along when they were that young even though the text was sparse and the pictures many. I selected books based on their age. Hearing someone read a story is not as much fun as looking at the pictures while following the story. Somehow you need to find out what has changed that made him suddenly turn off to reading. I always purchased books from the scholastic book club and they were excellent. The boys always loved them. Dr. Seuss books are great for young kids too and even though they may seem outdated they are fun and kids love them. Can you take him with you to the book store and let him pick out what books look interesting to him? It might help if he has some input to what you are reading. Just don't give up on it, reading is key to all the other subjects he will have in school including math. Good luck to you.

S.

Try a trip to the library maybe? My son likes to go and play on the computers they have there (he is 4 also) and then we pick a few books. Maybe if he had a separate time without his brother one or two days a week for his story time? Be sure to that the book are not just ones for him to try reading with you, but ones taht he can just listen too as well. He may be feeling too much presure to read them.

I think that it is great that you understand the value of early exposure to literature.

This will probably sound extreme to most people, but one of the best things you can do is get rid of any television that your kids watch. TV is so stimulating/exciting that it dulls the senses and thus makes other less stimulating things less desirable. We don't have any tv's in our home and both our kids (5 and 2) absolutely love books!!