How To Encourage Reading In Older Children

How to encourage reading for older children

Encouraging a love of reading

As children get older, with lots of other activities competing for their time, how can you encourage them to make time for reading?

Here are some ideas:

Read yourself! It doesn t matter what it is pick up a newspaper or magazine, take a look at a cookery book, read a computer manual, enjoy some poetry or dive into a romance or detective novel. And get your children to join in if you re cooking, could they read the recipe? If you re watching TV, can they read out the listings?

Give books as presents. And encourage your children and their friends to swap books with each other it ll give them a chance to read new stories, and get them all talking about what they re reading.

Visit the local library together. It s always fun choosing new books to read, and keep an eye out for special author events at the library or local bookshops children love meeting their favourite authors. Jacqueline Wilson and Anthony Horowitz always have signing queues that are miles long!

Encourage children to carry a book at all times. That way, they ll never be bored (this is something you can do, too!)

Have a family bookshelf. If you can, have bookshelves in your children s bedrooms, too.

Keep reading together. Just because your children are older, it doesn t mean you have to stop sharing stories perhaps you could try the Harry Potter series or A Series of Unfortunate Events. Book Trust have a list of recommended reads for KS 2 children https://www.booktrust.org.uk/booklists/1/100-best-books-9-11/ .

Don t panic if your child reads the same book over and over again. Let s be honest - we ve all done it!