The decline in reading engagement is a problem that teachers, parents, publishers, librarians and booksellers alike are working to tackle; but we’re competing with more and more distractions for young reader’s attention all the time. Video games and Netflix are just two popular examples. It’s not about these being ‘bad’ things. It’s about recognising that children have more streams of entertainment available to them than ever before.

So, how can we keep books on the radar and ensure that they are entertaining too?

Have a look at the practical ideas below and try to incorporate some of them into your family routines.

1. Listen to storytelling podcasts and play audiobooks in the car. Retell folktales and fairy tales. Whenever you’re telling or reading a story, keep your child engaged by asking them open-ended questions about the characters or plot, questions your child can’t answer with a yes or no.
2. If your child doesn’t like to read, don’t give up. You haven’t found the right book yet. Explore different kinds of fiction, poetry, graphic novels, books of world records and weird facts, profiles of presidents and sports heroes, gross-out science books. Get suggestions from a librarian. If your child just isn’t into reading on their own, read aloud to them. (Don’t forget about audiobooks)
3. You can’t go wrong with funny books. Students love joke books and the comedy genre. Look out for these genre stickers when you are looking for a book.
4. For younger kids, rhyming books are great; they can guess at each rhyme, so there’s built-in suspense. Have no shame when you read aloud: Do accents. Take dramatic pauses. Modulate your voice, raising and lowering it to build narrative momentum.
5. Dedicate time to reading. Make it a ritual. Make it part of your day. If your child is not a sit-still child, even 15 minutes of reading a day is better than nothing.
6. Get your child into series books. They create anticipation and identification with recurring characters. You can always mindlessly borrow or buy the next one in the series.
7. Model the behaviour you want to see. Invite your child to sit next to you on the couch as you both read. Keep books out — in baskets, on shelves, and on coffee tables. Next time you’re riding the bus or train together or sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, pull out a book to read with your child. It’s an interactive and sociable way to pass the time.
8. Give books as gifts: Books are keepsakes that never age.

May is the Scholastic National Family Reading Month. This is a great way to encourage families to read more together. To sign up and for more information see the Scholastic website.

Carmen Hawkey

Primary Teacher Librarian