How do I motivate my almost 10 year old?

Question

When it comes to her reading. She is supposed to read a certain amount of books per grading period and it's been crazy trying to get her to do it. I had her sitting there one night (after days on end of her saying she's reading when really she isn't) sitting in there with me reading a page and saying 'done' at the end of each page so i can tell the speed at which she's reading. I am not going to read it for her.

She does all of her other homework and schoolwork fine. Her dad sees her twice a week and she is a VERY calm child yet he wants to take her to the doctor behind my back, to a doctor tht isn't even her regular doctor, to get her put on ADD meds because of this.

She can sit there for hours reading things that she is INTERESTED in, just not something that she has to do for school.

I'm at my wits end here. At this point, I have her reading a chapter then writing a page about it before starting the next chapter. She was skipping pages at one point.

Answer 1

My sister had the same problem and my mom helped her fix it. The bad thing was my mom was never home. So she told me to read a page to her and then have her read a page to me. We did that until we finished two chapters. And if she can't read thing for school try this: Every school chapter she reads giver her like three hershey kisses or something. Another way to control the skipping pages is this: when she is at school read some of the book. At dinner ask her what her book is about. And if she is wrong say "Oh I thought it was blah blah blah blah blah"

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Does she have to choose books from a list, or can she read anything? If it's the latter, here's one thing you can do:

Try to think of a book YOU liked when you were ten. Find a copy of that book. Read her the first chapter out loud. If you play your cards right, her interest will be hooked, and she'll want to finish the book on her own. To make it more engaging, ask her questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" or "Has something like this ever happened to you, or one of your friends?"

This method worked with both me and my brother. Some authors I recommend are Roald Dahl, Eva Ibbotson, Lloyd Alexander, Cornerlia Funke, Monica Furlong, and Eoin Colfer. Good luck!

Answer 3

Let her father take her to the doctor.  A doctor will not prescribe ADHD meds for a child that clearly shows no need for them, it's against the law.  She simply doesn't want to read, she is 10 years old and her schoolwork is HER responsiblity.  I suggest you read "Ending the Homework Hassle" by John Redmond...oh by the way, it helps if the parent reads consitently to spark a child's interest in reading.

Answer 4

My son gets like this and I have to make trade offs with him, because I know like your daughter if it's a comic he will read and sit there for hours. But I have to make a deal with my son for every book report, project he does that he get a good grade on (A or B) we go get a book or comic of his choice that he likes. This works for my son maybe it's something you can try.  But it doesn't sound like add at all.

Answer 5

First of all if I may address the young lady. Losers are those who don't read. Reading gives you a better comprehension of the text and understanding of the words involved which, in turn makes you smarter. (please tell me you were joking) Now to address the problem; Every grading period if she gets the right amount of points (or whatever they use to grade them) then take her somewhere she wants to guy. Out to eat, to Chuckie Cheese's whatever. She'll be excited about getting her reward when it's done.

Answer 6

She doesn't sound like she has ADD at all - I would talk her father out of trying to get her these meds.

Are there specific books she has to read or can she choose from a list? Is there any way to get her books she'll be more interested in? It sounds like she doesn't want to do this reading and not like she has any actual problems hindering her. Try to get her interested in the books.

Could you watch something or go somewhere relevant to the books she's reading? If they're historical, you could take her to a museum, for example.

Answer 7

what you could do is tell her that after shes read a book you could give her a treat or something

and after shes read the book you could ask her to write about it before you give her a treat.

i definitely dont think she has ADD

thats just crazyyy!

p.s. i sent the survey to your email :)

Answer 8

ADD wtf.....maybe have her read it to you.. make it fun somehow...

Answer 9

It may be that she needs to get a bad grade to realize how serious this is. If she doesn't read then fine allow her to suffer the natural consequence of getting a poor grade. Then start to discipline her by taking away her things that she enjoys. My children don't watch tv during the week because of they tend to neglect their chores. So I came up with a system to help them remember. If they receive 15 or more points during the week they watch television on the weekend. If she needs to read a certain amount of books during the grading period then she needs to learn what it means that you do what needs to be done before you do what you want to do. Plain and simple. I would allow her to skip pages and fail a few tests-then let her see the consequences of her own actions. However having her put on medication is not going to help and I wish so many parents were not so quick to medicate their children for their own lack of parental skill.

Answer 10

Well, I think you should take away her favorite foods,activities,and any luxuries that she enjoys untill she picks up and does what she is supposed to do. By cooking her stuff to eat that is not her favorites, and taking away many other privlages, you will show her who is the boss and have her attention back very quick. You can tell her that you dont have to please her if she is not going to do the same for you. Its your job to be a good parent, and not their best friend but, you should always demand respect and discepline in one form or the other and it doesnt have to be in forms of abuse. Every kid is like a computer that you just have to figure out different ways to program them to understand your language!!!

Answer 11

don't make her read. LOSERS read.

Answer 12

Motivation is a slippery slope. You cannot motivate anyone; it has to come from within.

Someone she really looks up to has to offer the desire for her to complete it