When you have kids are you going to make them read?

emerald fyre · Post by **emerald fyre** » 11 Jan 2014, 20:31

I have 2 children and read to them from the time they were babies. When they were in high school i took a look at their reading lists. i added numerous books to them that i felt should still be required reading. My children are both avid readers now and have a better vocabulary because of it.

ReverieJones · Post by **ReverieJones** » 11 Jan 2014, 21:36

It now seems a time long ago and far away when I read to my boys every day, sometimes several times a day when they were small. Books were always a part of every celebration. I do not remember ever having to make them read though I am sure there were assignments at school that they would rather not have read. Today they are all avid readers. We all like variety and this works well and enables us to pass a good read around.

Gloriannes · Post by **Gloriannes** » 11 Jan 2014, 22:05

I have 3 daughters the oldest I read to every night and she loved the softness and love of every word, now she is a avid reader and we can talk books leaving most people never understanding what we are talking about. My 2nd daughter also loved being read to and at 16 will read more books this year in school then they give her. She was part of the million word challenge and ooh a honor student. My 13 year old did love being read to but has not caught on to reading very well so I work with her I still read to her and she has a kindle and can keep up with the others in class listening to the books they read. I don't make them read but I make sure the youngest understands the excitement of a good story and she has in the past year read and listen to about 7 books.

I would say if you give your children the gift of the delight in reading they will feel your passion and know reading as second nature.

Loveabull · Post by **Loveabull** » 11 Jan 2014, 22:23

I've probably said it before but you don't want to force kids to read. Better that you set an example from toddlerhood. Read to them, make the library a weekly outing, have lots of books available, find books on their interests, and most important set an example, if they grow up seeing you read they'll probably do it naturally.

Maud Fitch · Post by **Maud Fitch** » 11 Jan 2014, 22:28

It's a shame the title says "make them read" because that's probably the quickest way to turn them off. I'm all for reading to children, reading together and reading different genres and styles. When they are a bit older, offer age-appropriate books, let them discover their own tastes in reading. Be interested in what they are reading, too.

AlyssaKaitlan · Post by **AlyssaKaitlan** » 11 Jan 2014, 22:55

I will encourage my son to read, but I can't make him do it. I do believe that children learn to read on the laps of their parents, so I hope he will notice how much his mom likes to read and maybe he will follow suite.

Aieshab · Post by **Aieshab** » 12 Jan 2014, 08:46

I think I'd give them the choice when they're old enough. But before then I still wouldn't want to force it upon them I'd probably (reluctantly) allocate the same amount of time to reading as I would other activities for them and hope they'd choose "right". But by heck I'd be reluctant to let them watch some of the stuff on tv right now

miztree46 · Post by **miztree46** » 14 Jan 2014, 19:11

Instead of forcing my child to read I hope that he will be encouraged to read because he sees me reading. I wanted to read the first novel that I read because my grandmother read the book. Since she took the time to read it I thought I should take the time to read it too.

Dream Catcher · Post by **Dream Catcher** » 19 Jan 2014, 14:01

I will always have books near by and use reading as reward perhaps. I want them to see it as a good thing and not reject but embrace them.

lbuckman · Post by **lbuckman** » 21 Jan 2014, 21:54

I read to my kids at a very early age. They would always ask for more stories to be read - or made up - they loved hearing them. I am very glad I exposed them to books at an early age. Now that they are older, they will decide for themselves how often they want to read - but at least I gave them the foundation of reading on a regular basis (and still lead by example!). My hope is that as they turn into young adults, and have a bit more free time, they will rediscover the love of stories.

S dot Lennon · Post by **S dot Lennon** » 22 Jan 2014, 09:05

I have a five year old and he enjoys reading. He asks for books and we read them together. He brings books home from the library at school and we read those together. I bought him a Tag Reader and he'll go into his room and read his books using the Tag Reader. I've been reading to him since he was around one year old and now he sees me read all the time and he likes it. I buy books with Cars characters and it helps him stay engaged. One of the things I definitely want is my child to have a passion for reading. I'm hoping it works.

sarah92480 · Post by **sarah92480** » 22 Jan 2014, 09:58

Obviously not everyone enjoys reading as a fun hobby. That being said, if you teach your children when they are young how fun and exciting it can be (just like most other things), they will likely decide they like or even love it. Children often emulate their parents and if they see how much you love it, they may very well decide it's awesome and want to love it too.

obiebookworm · Post by **obiebookworm** » 22 Jan 2014, 10:17

I've never had to force my kids to read. They've been familiar with reading since in utero; and once they were born, they'd been read to since they could sit on my lap. I always encouraged my kids to be storytellers, so they would go through books telling aloud their version - voices and all! By the time I homeschooled them, they each knew a handful of words, so reading became second nature.

I think if children see that the parents are readers and take a high interest in reading, the children will pick it up. If they see that parents are spending more time at the computer or watching TV, children's interests will lean in that direction. A lot has to do with lifestyle.

I've noticed, now that I'm helping raise my granddaughter, that since all of us are engaged in high-reading projects - including taking her to several different libraries, etc. - and she sees that we barely spend time in front of the tube, when it's her turn to watch TV, she'll watch for about a half an hour and then shuts it off herself.

shellbell319 · Post by **shellbell319** » 22 Jan 2014, 12:51

Yes! I think if kids start at a young age with books they really enjoy, then they will learn to enjoy reading. I think where we get stuck is when kids get to high school, have never really read, and then are forced to read books they don't enjoy. If you have grown up with a love for books, then you know having to read a bad book is only a temporary thing and there is a good one coming down the chute.