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

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 24 Mar 2008, 17:29

Pappy wrote:
And now that I have a daughter of my own I read to her. I'm a very animated individual and she laughs whenever I read to her. I like it.

That is cool,those are always the best memories, the ones that involve laughter

Pappy · Post by **Pappy** » 25 Mar 2008, 05:44

I think so too. I'm very excited about being a Dad and seeing her grow up and hit all the milestones like walking, talking, going to school, etc. etc. I really like being a dad.

vladio · Post by **vladio** » 25 Mar 2008, 11:18

I know what you mean!

awelker · Post by **awelker** » 25 Mar 2008, 14:19

awww. congrats pappy! when i have kids someday i am going to read to them when they are little so that way they become interested in it. if later in life they decide that it is not for them, then i will support them in that but i want my kids to be very educated and know classics and great reads of my time.

Tracey Neal · Post by **Tracey Neal** » 25 Mar 2008, 14:54

Pappy wrote:I think so too. I'm very excited about being a Dad and seeing her grow up and hit all the milestones like walking, talking, going to school, etc. etc. I really like being a dad.

That is the sweetest thing ever! You sound like a wonderful Daddy to your little angel

Daddy Pappy!!

Cherish those milestones!!!

adriana · Post by **adriana** » 28 Mar 2008, 16:59

You're right about forcing kids to read, they will most likely end up not liking it. Also, using incentives or prizes to get kids to read is a huge mistake. In their minds they will subconsciously feel that the only reason they are reading is in order to get a reward, and once you take away the reward they will instantly stop reading.
I think most kids will enjoy reading if you give them the right books. I recommend "Sideways Stories from Wayside School" for kids around the age of 10, it is really clever and every kid I know that has read it, loved it.

awelker · Post by **awelker** » 28 Mar 2008, 17:10

omg i loved the wayside story books. my teacher read them aloud to us in like 4th grade and we all cracked up at them.

dejona84 · Post by **dejona84** » 28 Mar 2008, 18:36

My mother always read to me when I was little. However, the rest of the kids in my family (my cousins) were not read too and they HATE reading. I do plan to read to my kids when they are young, then let them make the decision to continue.

Eckhart Aurelius Hughes · Post by **Scott** » 29 Mar 2008, 13:41

My niece is almost two years old. She is obsessed with making me read to her from her baby books over and over and over and over. She loves to point out the pictures.

Anyway, my niece's love for books even at her young age leads me to believe those of you are right who say that parents can get their children to love reading by continuing to read to (and then with) the children.

MsBookworm · Post by **MsBookworm** » 29 Mar 2008, 21:59

I hope that when I have kids they will love reading as much as I do. I will probably read to them when they are younger, and I'll take them to the library to pick out books (if they want to), but I won't force them to read, unless it's a school assignment.

sleepydumpling · Post by **sleepydumpling** » 30 Mar 2008, 04:35

You know Scott, I'm yet to find a child that doesn't love to be read to. Even those that pretend they don't, really do! I've worked in youth work, child care and as a Nanny for years, and then in public libraries... and kids right up to about 15 love to be read to.

Eckhart Aurelius Hughes · Post by **Scott** » 31 Mar 2008, 01:22

sleepydumpling wrote:You know Scott, I'm yet to find a child that doesn't love to be read to. Even those that pretend they don't, really do! I've worked in youth work, child care and as a Nanny for years, and then in public libraries... and kids right up to about 15 love to be read to.

That's good to hear, and interesting. I just hope kids keep getting read to so that their natural love for it doesn't go to waste.

HarmsWay · Post by **HarmsWay** » 09 Apr 2008, 16:19

I won't make them read, but I will definitely try to set a good reading example and hope they follow in my footsteps.

Megan Young · Post by **Megan Young** » 05 Sep 2013, 18:25

I have an 8 year old son and did everything I could as he was growing up to encourage reading, I read to him from the beginning, and have read so many classic children novels to him at bedtime, but now that hes 8 hes not as into reading as I hoped he would be, I really tried to set the best example I could, but his teacher did tell us that his reading level is 2 years ahead of everyone else so that made me very happy. I will not force it, that would probably backfire. He doesnt hate reading, its just not something he does a lot of. I hope as he grows up he gains more interest.

Zannie · Post by **Zannie** » 06 Sep 2013, 18:06

My brother was always a good reader. I really struggled. But I was the reader in the family. I think the key is not to make children read but to have a wide range of materials for them to read and let them see you read. I think imagination has a big part to do with it as well. So creating new uses for objects and imaginary world's can help foster reading as with everything reading should incorporate all areas of development and be fun not a chore.