How can I get my 7 year old son to read?

Question

I have a very bright boy (7 years old), but he has started to refuse to read. Some days he will read really well, and then it's like he just switches off, he won't even read words like and, the, some etc....

In his last school year, he achieved nothing, it's like he just gave up!!! There doesn't seem to be a specific reason why. He liked his teachers, he loved going to school, and he wasn't bullied, he has had tests to check for dyslexia etc and they say he is fine, his eye sight is fine, and he isn't an unconfident little person.

I have of course asked why he doesn't like to read, but he doesn't have an answer, he just gives me the silent treatment, or throws a paddy.

I don't think I have unreasonable expectations, and I am not a pushy parent, I just want him to try.

Answer 1

By reading to him.  You sacrifice your own time to invest in him.  Take that quality time to continue to read to him daily, and he will read.  It will just be a matter of time.  Make it fun.

Takes dedication.  But you will never regret it.

Answer 2

Try doing your own reward system for reading a star for each book he reads and after 5 he get something special. If you give him motivation then he should become more interested in it.  

Answer 3

I would forget books at this point since he seems to have no interest.

I would try comic books, newspapers, magazines, anything at all it doesn't have to just be books.

You said he likes wolves, why not try and find whatever reading material you can on them and see if he'll read that.

Does he like sports? As you can get him Sports Illustrated for Kids, also have National Geographic for Kids.

I wouldn't push it too much, otherwise he won't read at all. I would stop reading signs for him, let him know he has to read those. Also I would start reading around him, maybe declare some time in your house TV free time and have everyone grab a book/newspaper/magazine whatever don't pressure but just leave nothing else to do.

Good Luck

Answer 4

some children don't read till they are older especially boys may not be ready till between 8-12.

sometimes pushing makes it less appealing. Just keep reading to him .. make sure to have his level reading books on hand on subjects he is interested in even if its comic books. my 4th grade son who is just now starting to read...likes garfield so that is what we get him at the library.

Answer 5

Children learn by example.  Instead of watching a movie or TV program, take an hour to just read!  Let him know that it is his choice as to what he reads but that this hour is for everyone to enjoy some quiet time.  You can also read together.  Let him pick a book for you to read to him with the rule that he has to read one paragraph or 5 sentences on every page. Reading should be enjoyable, not something that you have to force on him.  There are even some pretty good computer reading programs such as starfall.com. Good luck!

Answer 6

I would also try to motivate him by reading to him. Don't stop in the middle and force him to sound out words, though you could stop at a point and see if he will fill in the word.

Too often as parents we push our kids to learn and then we shut off the fun, security-building activities once they can do it -- like reading to them. I quit reading to my older kids once they could read to themselves. Luckily my husband took over and read classic novels to them out loud.

He is also the main one who reads to our five year old son now.

Read to him and instill the joy of reading in him. He'll come around.

On the other hand, some people simply don't enjoy reading much and that may be ingrained in his personality.

Also, some children are not developmentally ready to put it all together until they are about eight years old.

Answer 7

try and make reading more fun,like make noises like a animal if that animal is in the book,or ask him questions like what do you think is going to happen etc.you could make him a star chart and if he reads good put him a sticker on his chart,and if he doesn't read put a black cross in that days box.if he gets stars all week give him a pound or something like that.you read a page then let him read a page.buy him a book with his favourite tv character in it.

Answer 8

I have 6 yr old twin boys,  1 of whom reads amazingly & the other won't even try! We tried buying him karaoke videos where the words appear at the bottom of the screen & putting the subtitles on when he watches his favourite tv programme. You could also try doing a treasure hunt around the house. Write clues out & place them all over your home-he'll have to read them to find the next clue then eventually lead him to a prize! You could also try swapping the occasional word for a picture such as draw a door instead of writing the word.

Answer 9

give him a book

Answer 10

Give him lots of praise for lots of little things that he does to help raise his self esteem. Even if he just puts his own dishes in the sink, give him praise for helping you out. Maybe he needs a self esteem boost?

Get some books about something he is really interested in.

You could try taking him to Kumon. It's really good. I know a few kids who have been helped not just in school work but they also learn how to learn and it boosts their confidence.

http://www.kumon.com.au/home/default.asp

Maybe seeing you reading for fun would help too? If you're sitting on the couch, instead of watching TV get out a book.

Answer 11

How is his sight word knowledge?  Does he have good phonetic skills?  Often times I see boys in the classroom struggle with reading because these skills are often not very strong.  Reading becomes such a chore because they have to work so hard at it that they don't want to do it at all.  (Do any of us like to do things that are hard?)  One way to make it not such a chore is to improve the skills... work on the phonics skills (here are a couple of web sites to learn more http://www.readingrockets.org/article/25...

http://www.teachingwithphonics.com/

Use games and computer games to make practicing fun- try this website:

http://www.starfall.com/

Also, work on the automaticity of his sight word recognition.  Here is the Dolch list of words (the most commonly used words in the English language) http://www.englishraven.com/ttools_dolch...

There are lots of things you can do with this list: Make two sets of flash cards (use plain index cards and write one word per card).  There are a few games you could play with these sets: with both sets you could play memory or go fish; with one set of cards you could do this game (most boys are pretty competitive and LOVE this game)  I flash the card at my student then I tell them... if they can read it correctly then they get the card; if they get it wrong then I get the card... they don't want to give up the card from their pile so they work really hard for it.  If your son's sight word knowledge is low then start slowly with a few words.  As his confidence in his abilities grow, add more words.

Another thing you can do with these words is to make a power point with them with one word on each slide.  Then flash through them and time how long it takes them to get through all the words.  (If you do this you can print flash cards out by printing the slides as a handout.)

I have no doubt that your son is a bright boy.  My guess is that many things have come easy to him and now when reading is a little hard for him he doesn't want to work at it because he's not used to struggling.  I have seen this a lot in my career.  As his confidence grows in his reading ability, he will want to read more.  My other suggestion is make sure that he is reading what he wants to read.  It is okay if he wants to read magazines, comic books, non fiction,... etc.  It doesn't matter what he is reading as long as he is reading something.  Good Luck!!

Answer 12

Do it with him... take him to barnes and noble book store and let him pick out his favorite book, take it home and read it with him. Make up a game where you read 2 chapters every other hour until the book is finished. You have to encourage him so that he has motivation for now and for always.