What to do When Your Child Says “I hate reading”
Teach, Read, Succeed: Ask the Expert
Reading struggles and challenges are common, and if your child says “I hate reading”, you’re not alone, and there are ways that you can help your child, today.
Why do Children Dislike Reading?
There are several reasons that a child might dislike reading, and determining why your child has these feelings is an important part of helping them grow as readers and begin to enjoy reading. When a child says that they don’t like to read, asking them why can give them space to share how they are feeling. Sometimes, they may not be able to describe why they don’t like it, and that’s okay too. It’s important to validate their feelings and let them know that you know how they feel about reading. This can be so hard, especially because we want our children to enjoy reading, or at least be willing to practice their reading skills.
One of the most common reasons that children dislike reading is because it is hard, or because they lack confidence in their reading ability. Confidence is so, so important when a child is learning how to read, and not feeling good about reading can cause children to resist doing it and to even say that they hate it. Fear of failure is another factor in why children do not like to read. It is hard to try to do something that doesn’t come easily, and making mistakes or not being able to figure out a word can get in the way of practicing reading skills for some children.
Children can be uninterested in reading if they are not interested in the books that are available to them, if the books are considered too easy or too hard, or simply are not on topics that the child is interested in.
Strategies for Motivating Your Child
Try to avoid forcing your child to read, or punishing them for not doing so. This can lead to further resentment, and will further strain your child’s willingness to attempt reading. Rather, try encouragement, or read to your child, no matter how old they are, just so that you can enjoy a story together.
Letting your child choose books that they are interested in can help them to become more motivated. They may need help with this, and no one knows your child better than you do. With the variety of topics for books that are available, try picking something that aligns with an interest your child has. If their interest is only for books that would be too difficult for them to read alone right now, that’s ok, this is a great chance for you to spend time reading with your child.
Have short, achievable goals - setting an easily attainable reading goal, and celebrating when your child gets there can be extremely motivating, even for the most reluctant reader. You can start as small as having them read a few words during your story time, and build to reading a couple of sentences. No matter how small the goal is, celebrating it will help reading to become more exciting.
Using interactive reading methods, like reading with a partner (this could be you, a sibling, a pet, a stuffed animal), reading about your child’s favorite topics, or reading graphic novels or comic books can all help reading to become more enjoyable over time.
Building a Reading Mindset
In the short term, having your child less resistant to reading will be helpful to both you and your child. But, in the long term, helping your child to develop a love of reading is important too, so that they can begin to, and continue to learn by reading. Here are some ideas for how to develop the reading mindset:
Reframe reading like a Superpower - how fun would it be to talk about reading as a superpower, and treat reading new words like the accomplishment that it is?
Celebrate effort - building confidence happens when we recognize and celebrate how hard a child is working, and what they have accomplished. Pointing out to your child that you noticed they worked really hard trying to figure out a word is more motivating than focusing only on perfection.
Let your child see you reading - from the time our children are little, they aspire to be like the grown-ups in their life. If your child sees you engaged in reading a book, they are likely to also be motivated to read.
When your child tells you that they “hate reading”, or is hesitant to read with you, consider why they feel that way, and if you can, ask them. Then, validate their feelings. After you’ve had that conversation, choose a strategy to try with them, and see how it goes. Reading challenges and not wanting to read is common, but it is possible to build your child’s enjoyment in reading. You’ve got this!
Are you interested in joining a community of supportive parents who are helping their children become successful readers? Join us in this Facebook Group by clicking here. You’ll find a supportive group of parents who are interested in helping their children to grow as readers, and we’d be happy to have you. Are you curious about the foundational skills that are involved in learning to read (and building confidence in your reader)? If you haven’t gotten my Free Foundational Skills Reading Guide yet, it will help you understand phonemic awareness, phonics, and how to use them in your reading routine. Grab it here!
Brittany is a teacher and reading specialist, fueled by her passions in teaching and supporting families. She supports families whether from birth through childhood.
Contact Courageous Moments to learn how she can help you and your child on your child’s reading journey.