Well, "hates" might be a strong word, but she never thinks/wants to pick up a book. Loves it when I read to her at night, but has to be forced to read on her own. When she does, she's good at it. Had her eyes checked and that's not the problem. I know some kids just don't love to read, but I feel like she SHOULD read, so we fight over it. I don't want to make her hate it. Do I just let her do what she wants and accept it the way I would if she didn't like bike riding or art projects? Or do I make it a rule -- x number of minutes a day -- the way we do homework or chores? I feel like reading is such a good learning experience and will improve her writing, and knowledge of the world. Anyone else out there have this issue and can offer perspective or advice?
Some kids will never be readers, no matter what you do.
Just keep reading to her at night. It’s a good bonding experience, and will give her the language skills she needs. I read to my kids until they were well into their teens. One day they were all just too old, and the reading stopped. :*(
None of my kids are the type of avid reader I was at their ages, but they have acquired the necessary language skills through exposure.
Read to you child as often and as long as she will allow you. I don’t think forced reading is the answer.
I have a few suggestions:
Try making it a LOT more fun. What is her passion? Art? Get her a magazine on art projects. You would be surprised how much reading will be done.
Don’t push her or make it homework, that is unless she really does have reading homework OR is behind others her age and reading level. Sounds to me like she is a strong reader (when she chooses), so I wouldn’t be too worried.
KEEP READING TO HER! That is the best way to continue to peak her interest in books. Don’t stop reading to her and keep picking age appropriate, even if in a few years you are reading to her still. It will help.
Find funny or very interesting pictures, jokes or ideas in a book and just point them out to her and have a laughing moment. That little exposure every now and again will help, and it will keep her intrigued.
My husband HATES to read. Has never read an entire book in his life. He is a successful attorney (yes, he was FORCED to read in lawschool and it was torture for him) and a great reader. He just hates doing it.
I wouldn’t worry too much, unless she falls behind. But I really don’t think you should worry at this point at all. Keep it in your discussions, but don’t punish or force. Who gets excited about chores?! No kid I know! So if you make reading a chore, that is exactly what it will become. It is supposed to be fun!
Maybe it’s the kind of book. What does she like? Frogs, princesses, dirt, butterflies?
Dealing With Dragons is a great series for girls. So is Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching series (start with Wee Free Men). If she is a reluctant reader, maybe meet her with different material. Does she like snakes? Pick out a book on snakes and ask her about them. Make it less of a chore and more of an adventure. Read with her. Maybe read part of a book and ask her to take a turn reading to you.
You might also go back and make sure she doesn’t have an undiagnosed version of dyslexia. My friend’s DD was tough to diagnose. Her form is that the spaces disappear, so all the words run together. For a beginning reader to not know where a word ends, that was hard. But her eyesight is fine.
My youngest didn’t like to read. I simply made him do it. Now, I find him reading more and more. It grows on them.
Just make it a consistent requirement like brushing her teeth or laying her school clothes out for the next day…it’s just what she does before bed.
I love to read, get lost in a new book. My husband Hates to read a book, he will however read up on a project that he wants to do.. like replace the thermostate in our camper.
Books are just one way to read. There are magazines, news papers etc.. Books on tape as well. I love to listen to one in the car while I am in traffic.
You say more when you say nothing at all. Do you read? Unless it is homework, I would not force the issue. Off oportunities..
Okay, forcing her to read will just make her dislike it more. Back off for awhile.
I know a lot of schools require that they read a certain amount of time, so if that’s the case enforce that, but leave it at that.
I personally hate that rule; it makes reading a chore instead of a pleasure, relaxing and fun experience. I love LOVE to read, but wouldn’t like it if had been forced upon me.
Anyway, as long as she doesn’t have delays or problems with reading, I wouldn’t worry about it. My mom jokes about how my aunt never liked to read growing up and how she never saw her read, but now she reads all the time. She has book clubs meetings, book swaps everything. I think for some people it just takes longer.
Have you asked her why she doesn’t like to read? Maybe she doesn’t like the genre you or other people are picking for her. Maybe she would prefer non-fiction? I read both. I will read a book on a certain event in history and will be just as engrossed in it as I would fiction. I’ve always been that way.
Think about what interests her in movies and find books along that same line. Try different authors within a specific genre, their writing styles vary vastly.
Again don’t force it, it may happen later.
Good Luck!
I would let her read what she likes. I didnt care for reading either when i was in school, but now i love to read! Especially true crime books! I obviously wouldnt suggest true crime books for a 9 year old but find out what is age appropriate for her and let her read what interests her! you will have tremendous luck!
I have a good, but reluctant, reader.
I let him pick books about what he loves–hobbies, interests, sports, etc., even if they’re adult level reading materials. Those things he’ll read.
Until now (elem school) it’s been about “learning to read,” now in middle school, the focus will be “reading to learn.”
I’m interested how this will transpire in my house.
He’ll rarely choose to read, yet he’s conscientious about homework, so should be an interesting mix!
I am a book lover. I’ve been a reader since I was a kid. When I read, especially fiction, I SEE what’s going on. It’s a movie in my head. I thought this was how EVERYONE experienced reading, but it’s not.
I remember doing the summer reading contest at the local library where we lived. When I die, you’d probably have to pry a book from my cold, dead hands (LOL).
That said - you don’t want her to hate reading so don’t MAKE her read. She will have to read for school, so she will read. Keep reading to her - sit next to her so she can “read along” if she likes. Reading at home should be recreation unless it’s homework. If she doesn’t love it, she doesn’t love it.
You can encourage reading by having books on subjects that she loves available to her. And if you have an ipad, there is a reading rainbow app - it costs $60/year, but there is unlimited access to online books of all different subjects. Graphic novels may also be useful to get her reading what she likes. Kids like comic books. They don’t think they’re “reading” comic books, but they are. Go the path of least resistance. But don’t make her resent reading.
Often it’s a matter of finding a subject that’s irresistible to them.
With our son we found books about sharks, firetrucks, and dinosaurs.
Then he moved on to wizards and dragons.
He’s always loved Dr Seuss books.
By the 3rd grade he was reading the Harry Potter books on his own.
Even when he could read on his own, he still liked being read to.
I read to him regularly till he went to middle school (and if I had a sore throat, he would read out loud to me).
If a book came out that we were waiting for, reading it out loud meant we could both enjoy it at the same time.
Show her this is something you enjoy and value - keep reading to/with her.
Science fiction / fantasy are his favorites but he doesn’t mind a mystery every once in awhile.
It could be your daughter just hasn’t found her reading niche yet.
Subjects you might try with her:
horses/ponies/unicorns
Nancy Drew
Anne of Green Gables
Harry Potter
Charlie Bone
joke books
fairy tales
age appropriate ghost stories
fables
Bible stories
The Littles
Stuart Little
there are so many choices to pick from!
It is true that some kids never take to it no matter what you do.
But you don’t know if she’s one of them until you go through many many subjects and it can take years to try them all.
With my kids, they get to extend their bed time but only if they are reading. I have them pick some books for their room - either from our collection or from the library and they can stay up an extra 30 minutes (longer on the weekends), but only if they are reading or journaling or something like this. I peek in on them to make sure they are not playing other things.
If they don’t want to spend this time reading - no problem. Then it’s lights out. All of a sudden reading is wonderful!
In my opinion, some kids are natural readers while others need to be encouraged at early age. To instill the habit/joy of reading, and show her how fun/interesting is reading, you may consider these:
Be a good role model yourself (I know that for many people is a very difficult task, they just don’t like it, but think that is beneficial for the kids)). Set aside just 15 min for “reading time”, the same way you set aside more than hour to watch TV or the same time your kid play WII, watch TV, which are some of the factors kids do not like to read. Make an habit of it, it will take time and patience, but it works. Do not force it, just do it casually, show your enthusiasm while you read a book, a magazine, share with her something you found interesting,etc.
Expose your child to those things she likes and find amusing, such as visiting a museum, a zoo, and pay attention to her when she tells you something she likes a lot, ask her:"would you like to find out more about this?, "would you like to pick up a book about______when we get home?, or “I know a great book that shows _____!”, things like that… I always do this with my children, and works wonders!
Keep reading to your child and go together to the library OFTEN. Let her choose the books she likes, talk about them, share information, ideas and always show your enthusiasm!
Keep books around the house even in the bathroom on a little basket for everyone!
Organize a small library. A nice and interesting project!
Noelle, just do not make this a chore, make this a fun moment at home. Do not show disappointment, instead show her how fun it is reading. Make books “from scratch”, pick up covers from old books and glue pages with interesting articles. or just staple them together, etc. That is fun for some kids. Try it.
I hope this helps a bit!
Ally 
“To add a library to a house is to give that house a soul” (Cicero)
Find an interest and incorporate reading. My DD loves music. I print out the lyrics to the songs.
I have her help me read too. I have her look things up on the computer for me while I am in the middle of dishes and tell her to read me interesting facts. Then we talk about it to see if she understands what she read. It makes her feel special.
I have one of each. You can’t really force it but try introducing books that focus on her interest. With my child who has an aversion for books I use very short stories. She has autism and ADHD. She does pick things up quick including reading and math but interest wise..big fat zero. There are times that I had to negotiate.
Try these…
-Compile a book list (make it a short list at first maybe 5 books)
-Pick a series. If she likes the book, she may seek out others from the same series.
-Try an interactive book. There are interactive historical books that puts the reader in the middle of the story and makes them choose the next adventure.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/interactive-history-adventure?store=allproducts&keyword=interactive+history+adventure
There are also fictional ones.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=choose+your+own+ending&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=19933746917&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=32670708963283863&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_c0n091m66_b
-Get her excited about local authors.
-Expose her to history. Mine learned about Box Brown and spiraled into reading about the underground railroad, Harriet Tubman then into other women in history including Anne Frank, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, etc
**Watch “The Story of Us”. It’s a fun historical watch about the USA
-Reading Class (not necessary remedial) but it does build an interest or maybe a book club.
-Writing Class. Even if she is not reading a lot. It introduces different types of genres and may peak her interest in reading.
I have one of each - my oldest loves to read, and my youngest dislikes it. I spoke with my SIL, who is a master teacher and specializes in children’s reading and writing skill development. She said that kids should be reading books where they can easily read 19 out of every 20 words - if they’re trying to read books that are too challenging, reading isn’t fun for them. However, if kids’ reading skill lags behind their interest level, it can also be a problem (because a smart 9 year old isn’t interested in the Magic Treehouse or whatever). That’s where we were having trouble; my youngest is a very smart kid, but just hasn’t shown a whole lot of interest in reading, so what she’s interested in vs. what she CAN read are two totally different things.
What my SIL reminded me was that ANY reading counts. Some kids don’t like fiction. Fine, let them read magazines. Or how-to books. Or the back of a cereal box. Whatever they read, it doesn’t really matter. The point (she told me) is that they are reading something. Apparently there’s some magic number of total words read that will launch kids into being competent readers, and at that point, reading becomes easy for them.
I know that this did happen with my oldest - at some point she went from being a reluctant reader to a voracious reader. It’s taking longer with my youngest, but since we started allowing her to read in different ways (online, manuals, magazines), she has started reading without us asking her to do so.
Anyway, just some thoughts for you!
As long as she’s a competent reader - reads at grade level and understands what she reads - don’t push it. All you will do is make her hate it more.
If her test scores are good in that area or it’s not effecting her school work don’t argue with her. Continue to encourage her to read. If you find a good book she might like then check it out of the library, see if she can get interested in it.
My friend had a boy she had to corner/trap every night and force him to hold a book in front of his face. She was an avid reader so she could not fathom “her” child did not love to read.
He loved the Percy Jackson movie, she tried a different book of the series and he read it in one day. So she went to the book store and got him another one. He is a reader today but again, it’s all youth style books like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and some hound dog book series.
My son hates to read. As a baby and toddler, he would literally scream and cry if you tried to read to him! He was a reluctant reader all through school. Not sure he ever read the books that were assigned but he faked it well. He recently graduated college and the last two years he was actually reading (and not hating it so much).
My daughter is 6 and LOVES to read…above grade level. However, when she’s being lazy or decides it’s not what she wants to do right now, suddenly she acts like she doesn’t know how.
As long as she can read at or above level and understands it, try not to push her too much. You could make a rule (for all kids in your home) at least half an hour reading when there is otherwise no homework, 15 minutes if there is homework.
You could tell her at bed time that lights must be out at 9:00 or she can stay up and read until 9:30.
I was a kid that hated to read… Then a new girl came to my school in 7th grade and told me if I hated to read it was because I was reading the wrong books. She introduced me to some of her favorites and I have loved reading ever since.
You could get her magazines just to get her to read something. I also like the Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul books. They are short stories that may not be as intimidating as a big chapter book.