Tips for getting child to read

Anoneemoose

pinkshoes wrote: »

Does he like baking?

My 7 year old was initially a reluctant reader, but he likes cakes. I got him to read the recipe books, choose stuff we were going to bake, write the ingredients out on a list, then read out the recipe step by step when we made the cakes.

He didn't see it as reading.

He LOVES baking (and cooking - only eggy bread at present, but asks what else he can make)..but as it’s something I used to do a lot, most of my recipes are in my head, so I just tell him.

I could print the recipes instead though and let him guide us. I still have Grandma’s Bero book but it’s a bit tatty, so not sure it would help!!:rotfl:

kerri_gt

If he's into Harry Potter at all The Works have an 'Unofficial Harry Potter Wizards Cook Book' for £3 at the moment. Assuming it's aimed at children cooking he might enjoy using this and having his own cook book to choose recipes from?

millyzippycat

No tatty books are okay especially if they have a link in your family. In some ways tatty books are less threatening that what kids are expected to read in school. Don't think of it yourself as a 'tatty book' but as a link with his grandma (if that was who it was). Recipes don't always have to work. When you cook you sometimes find old recipes which are a treasure and old recipes which make you glad you weren't alive then and had to eat them as part of your everyday diet! Experimenting with recipes is good not only for reading but also for understanding what works and what doesn't which in turn is the beginning of scientific curiosity. As a child I was fascinated by a book of recipes and household hints owned by my own grandma. I'd read it endlessly odd though it might seem, thinking to myself that recipe sounds good, that recipe sounds disgusting, would using those items to clean something really work? The book had not only this sort of stuff but instructions on what to wear to a funeral and that sort of thing - fascinating to a child in a different age where codes of dress and so on had already changed really radically! Reading is reading and anyway you can catch a child's interest be it a comic or a tatty old recipe book is good.

I'd just say again on a point raised by someone else that often parents want their child to read because the school wants their child to read, but the child doesn't see the parents read. There was an interesting article in one of the national newspapers during the summer where a parent was faced with the challenge of getting their teenage child to read the book set by the school for reading over the summer holidays. The teen concerned was not much interested in reading. The parent hit on the idea of a challenge - they would both read the book and discuss it as they went along. Parent was astonished by the lengthy discussions which came out of that. Same applies to comics and recipes and football news and so on - do you read it too? (even if you hate football). Read the comics he's now enjoying whether you want to or not and then you can chat about the characters and stories. Read the football news (or whatever his passion is whether it is yours or not) and be in a position to discuss it with him.

Tabbytabitha

Anoneemoose wrote: »

He LOVES baking (and cooking - only eggy bread at present, but asks what else he can make)..but as it’s something I used to do a lot, most of my recipes are in my head, so I just tell him.

I could print the recipes instead though and let him guide us. I still have Grandma’s Bero book but it’s a bit tatty, so not sure it would help!!:rotfl:

Still not having a go, but every suggestion so far about reading newspapers or using cookbooks gets the reply if "we don't do that". It sounds as if there's no written material in your house at all!

Anoneemoose

Tabbytabitha wrote: »

Still not having a go, but every suggestion so far about reading newspapers or using cookbooks gets the reply if "we don't do that". It sounds as if there's no written material in your house at all!

You’re probably right. I always had shelves full of books when I was younger and even when my eldest was little. But, my kindle has replaced them.

My children also have lots of books (but obviously my son isn’t interested in the ones we do have).

We read the news on our phones, so don’t buy papers. Not that I would buy papers anyway. I generally get new recipes off the Internet. Apart from my Bero book and a few cookbooks, that’s it. It’s probably a product of this day and age of technology.

I’m happy to add some things in though.

Savvy_Sue

There are some football books: in the brief period any of the boys were interested we had some which were stories about school teams, boys playing etc. They even had useful technique tips in them! (I never realised you should kick with the side of your foot, not your toes ...)

Soundgirlrocks

Anoneemoose wrote: »

Hi,

I hope this is the right place to post this. My nearly 9 year old son is a little behind or ‘below national average’ with the comprehension he does at school. His teacher said reading is the best thing we can do at home to help.

Just to echo what some of the other posters have said comprehension isn't just related to reading, its the understanding of the words and language. How much time to you spend talking as a family? Do you sit together for meals etc?

Spending time (at the dinner table is perfect) talking, about the news, debate, have discussions, being involved in adult conversations (even if he's just sitting there listening) will expand his vocabulary and comprehension, encourage him to ask if he doesn't understand a word, have a word of the day. Quite often and unintentionally adults exclude children or dumb down the conversation so the child doesn't get the exposure to the complexities of language.

arielsmelody

I used to help out with reading at a secondary school, and one of the favourite books for the boys was the Guiness book of records - the text was too small but they loved the actual records. (Ripley's Believe it or not might be another option.)


The worst thing would be when they were asked to read books that were appropriate for their reading age but way too young for their actual age. There was a phonics reading scheme based on teddies that we were supposed to be using for 11 and 12 year olds.

Anoneemoose

Soundgirlrocks wrote: »

Just to echo what some of the other posters have said comprehension isn't just related to reading, its the understanding of the words and language. How much time to you spend talking as a family? Do you sit together for meals etc?

Spending time (at the dinner table is perfect) talking, about the news, debate, have discussions, being involved in adult conversations (even if he's just sitting there listening) will expand his vocabulary and comprehension, encourage him to ask if he doesn't understand a word, have a word of the day. Quite often and unintentionally adults exclude children or dumb down the conversation so the child doesn't get the exposure to the complexities of language.

We do sit together for meal, although not every day. I tend to ‘chat’ more with him. As I said, he’s quite talkative on a morning while we’re getting ready, and in the car on the way to school. We talk about all sorts of things. Sometimes completely random things like tea cosies, other times, more general stuff.

Anoneemoose

arielsmelody wrote: »

I used to help out with reading at a secondary school, and one of the favourite books for the boys was the Guiness book of records - the text was too small but they loved the actual records. (Ripley's Believe it or not might be another option.)


The worst thing would be when they were asked to read books that were appropriate for their reading age but way too young for their actual age. There was a phonics reading scheme based on teddies that we were supposed to be using for 11 and 12 year olds.

I like the idea of the Guiness Book of Records. I think he might enjoy that.

I can’t remember if I said, but I’ve ordered the subscription for the Beano and he’s so excited, bless him. He’s also brought another Diary of a Wimpy Kid book home after finishing the one at school. He’s been enjoying it and reading without much encouragement.