When Your Child Hates Reading: 10 Tips to Foster a Love for Books

Reading opens opportunities and increases access to knowledge. Wanting your child to love reading is a worthy goal. Unfortunately, achieving this goal is often made difficult when a child is reluctant to read or says they hate reading books. 

Finding ways to help motivate and engage your reluctant reader can be challenging, but it is worth the time and effort.

Related: 13 Tips to Help Kids Struggling to Learn to Read

Why Do Some Kids Dislike Reading?

When working with reluctant readers, a truth often emerges: Those who embrace reading and dedicate time to literacy activities regularly enjoy the benefits of improved literacy skills and reading comprehension, while those who shy away from reading activities find themselves at a disadvantage. 

This is regrettable for the reluctant reader, as research suggests, “Children who read for pleasure are likely to do significantly better in school than their peers who rarely read (Bridges, 2014).”

Consider this cycle of a struggling or reluctant reader: The child’s lack of interest in reading leads them to read less, reading less leads to slower growth of reading skills, slower growth of reading skills leads to the reluctant reader falling behind their peers, and the frustration and struggle with reading leads to further reluctance or avoidance behaviors associated with literacy.

Fortunately, much can be done to break this cycle. When you begin to see a reluctance to read, avoidance behaviors, or when you repeatedly hear your student say they hate reading, it is crucial to assist them and work to help them find success with reading.

Making a regular habit of reading can be a strong first step in fostering positive attitudes and perspectives surrounding literacy. Time spent helping to build a child’s reading skills matters and it is never too late to help your child become a life-long reader. Research by the Renaissance group suggests, 

“Students who struggle initially but then begin to dedicate significant time to reading with high understanding can experience accelerated growth during the school year (Renaissance, 2018)."

This article touches on some of the reasons that some children do not like to read, the impact this has on their literacy development, and offers practical strategies to ignite a desire to read in even the most reluctant readers.

Common Reasons Why Kids Don’t Like Reading  

As a parent, it's important to note if your child is avoiding reading regularly. There may be underlying issues at play that are hindering their ability and desire to engage with reading. To effectively address your child's reading avoidance, it's important to understand the possible causes. 

Addressing underlying issues is an important first step to helping your child shift perspective when it comes to reading. Here are some potential reasons why your child may be avoiding reading.

The Text Is Too Difficult

If the text or reading assignment is too difficult (above the child’s reading level) this can cause significant frustration and lead to avoidance behaviors. Reading material that is a poor match in terms of reading level can be frustrating, laborious, and even embarrassing for the student.

If you feel your child is being asked to read books or assignments at school that are too difficult or outside of your child’s reading level, reach out to your child’s teacher to help find solutions. For personal reading, if you feel a book is too difficult for your child, work to find alternatives that are a better match. 

Look for books that are not too easy, but also not so difficult that the reader becomes unsuccessful and reading comprehension cannot be achieved. It is always best to find reading material that challenges the student while not causing undue frustration.

Lack Of Interest 

It's not uncommon for students to try and avoid certain topics or reading material due to a lack of interest. If your child is only avoiding reading in areas related to a specific genre or topic, it may simply be a matter of preference. 

In this case, it can be helpful to find ways to break up the reading, use reading strategies that support engagement, and reward the student for getting through low-interest reading assignments.

Dyslexia & Other Learning Disabilities

A diagnosis of dyslexia or other learning difference or disability may play a role in a student's engagement with reading. If you feel your student may have a reading disability or learning difference, it may be time to reach out to your child’s teacher or pediatrician for the next steps. 

Sooner is always better when considering intervention for struggling learners. There is much that can be done to support students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities/differences. Seeking support and information is a good first step.

Neurological Conditions

Long-term engagement with texts or literacy activities can be affected by neurological conditions such as ADHD. Some students find it challenging to attend or engage in a single task for an extended period. Reading long-form texts may be difficult for learners with neurological conditions. 

There are good reading strategies and instructional techniques that can be used to support learners in this area. If you feel your child falls into this category, seek information and support from the school and your family doctor for further direction.

Problems With Hearing, Vision, Or Speech

Problems with hearing, vision, or speech can contribute to your student's reading experience. If you feel your child’s reading avoidance behaviors may be connected to one of these areas, reach out to your pediatrician for further information, strategies, and support.

10 Tips to Foster a Love for Books in Kids 

Taking action to help your reluctant reader become more invested in reading activities and reading habits is key. If your child is not interested in reading, avoids literacy activities, or lacks enthusiasm toward books, here are some ideas to help. 

These tips are meant to create an environment that promotes engagement and motivates your child to build habits surrounding literacy and hopefully a lifelong love of reading.

1. Discover Their Interests

A great way to spark a child's engagement with reading is to discover the child’s interests and provide books that cater to these areas. Author James Patterson, once said, “There’s no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.” If your child is fascinated by dinosaurs, space, sports, or fantasy, look for corresponding genres and titles. 

Take your child to the library and show them where they can find comic books, art books, graphic novels, picture books, audiobooks, and anything else connected to their interests that allows them to make choices that are motivating and engaging.

In a study by Worthy, Broaddus & Ivey (2001) they suggest, “Even comic books have their place in a student’s reading repertoire, as they are fun to read and have been proven to increase vocabulary.” 

This tailored approach can transform reading into an exciting journey through high-interest subjects, improving the likelihood of forming a consistent reading routine. Sanacore (1999) suggests, “Indeed, encouraging and respecting reading choices are important steps toward helping children, young people, and adults develop a sense of ownership and self-determination.”

2. Be a Reading Role Model

As a parent, it's important to be a positive influence on your child's reading habits. You can do this by setting a good example and showing commitment to reading. Create personal reading habits, talk about the books you're reading, and show that you are invested in learning. 

When kids see their parents actively engaged in reading, they’re more likely to see it as an important and fulfilling activity. Make book reading part of your leisure time and make it a priority.

3. Use Audiobooks

If you have a child who is not interested in reading, using audiobooks may seem counterintuitive. However, sharing a great audiobook is a powerful way to engage young readers. Audiobooks offer a captivating way to experience stories, allowing children to absorb narratives while engaging their imaginations. 

They can listen to audiobooks during car rides, before bedtime, or during playtime, making reading a multi-sensory experience. Audiobooks can be especially helpful if your child has trouble focusing on traditional print or long-form texts. Introducing a story through audiobooks can lead a child to read more by that author, engage in conversations that can powerfully support reading comprehension, help acclimate the child to taking in longer pieces of text in a single sitting, or simply create a positive experience around literature.

The audiobook format is a great option for those who find reading challenging or have lower reading levels. This includes reluctant readers, struggling readers, and even avid readers who want to explore content beyond their current reading level. With audiobooks, they can access a wider range of text and reading levels with ease.

4. Encourage Discussion & Book Clubs

Discussing the texts we read can make storytelling and literacy experiences more captivating for learners. Building an environment that promotes open conversations about the books being read can be a helpful method to engage young readers. 

Related: 13 Best Kids Books Turned Into Movies 

Consider joining a school or library book club, or even starting a family book club at home. Some families read a book together before watching the movie version to help kids compare and contrast. Finding high-interest, age-appropriate reading materials and pairing them with settings where older kids can meet and share their thoughts can turn reading into an interactive, engaging, and social experience.

5. Respect Their Reading Choices

It's important to respect your child's reading preferences, even if they differ from your own. While classic literature is valuable, not every child will immediately appreciate it. If the primary goal is to encourage a love for reading in general, helping learners find books they love is key. Keep in mind that children’s preferences will likely change over time. 

While respecting students’ choices, keep in mind that you may need to direct your reader to age-appropriate reading material well suited to their reading level “Helping students locate materials of interest and at desired levels of difficulty is a key aspect to improving their level of immersion in available printed materials (Johns & VanLeirsburg, 1994, p. 96).”

As a young teacher, I noticed that many of my students read series such as Babysitters Club, Goosebumps, Magic Treehouse, or Junie B. Jones. While I hoped to see more diverse options within their personal reading books and reading logs, I came to realize that these book series play an important role in building confidence, good habits, and a love of reading.

6. Set a Reading Routine

Developing a habit of reading requires consistent effort. It is essential to establish a daily or weekly reading routine and stick to it. Dedicate a specific time for reading - like reading with your kids before bed - and make it a non-negotiable part of your schedule. Eventually, reading will become a natural and regular activity for your child.

For older and high school-aged reluctant readers, setting aside time and a place for literacy activities is important. Consider creating a social media and phone-free reading time (or study time) so they can better focus on long-form texts without constant interruptions. By helping establish a successful routine for study and reading, you will build stronger literacy habits.

7. Use Reading Incentives & Challenges

By using incentives, reading challenges, and competition the experience of reading can be made more interactive and engaging for some students. These approaches allow for deliberate goal setting and ongoing rewards for their reading accomplishments. Consider offering small incentives like a special outing or a treat for completing a certain number of books. These incentives can act as positive reinforcement and help build positive associations with reading.

8. Talk About Why They Aren’t Interested in Reading

One of the best ways to understand your child’s reluctance to read is to talk with them about their feelings and perceptions surrounding literacy. As you work to understand what is difficult or frustrating for them, you can alter the way you provide help and support. 

I am often surprised how well a struggling or reluctant reader can verbalize their experience, frustrations, and needs surrounding literacy. Listen to your child as they discuss their learning process, reluctance, or avoidance behaviors. This can be a turning point in understanding where focus needs to be placed and what may best serve your learner.

9. Read Aloud

There are many benefits to reading aloud to your child. Reading aloud can introduce students to exciting chapter books they may not be able to read independently. It builds a routine and shared love of reading, creates memorable moments away from screen time and interruption, and strengthens reading vocabulary as well as listening skills. 

Ohio State Researchers recently reported, “Young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to.” Most importantly, reading aloud is time together where you share literacy experiences. 

This is such a powerful way to show your child that reading matters, engage with your child’s interests, and be a model for what a good reader does (fluency, intonation, prosody, metacognitive thinking, discussion). Reading aloud with your child is powerful!

10. Seek Outside Support

Frequently, the underlying cause of reluctance, avoidance, or dislike of reading is connected to the challenges or struggles a student is facing in reading. If you feel your child is struggling with reading, lacks adequate decoding ability (phonics knowledge), or any other language acquisition-related concern, it may be time to seek support from the school or your pediatrician. 

By recognizing the significance of addressing these underlying issues, parents, educators, and caregivers can work together to break the cycle of reading avoidance and ensure that all children have an equal opportunity to thrive as confident and skilled readers.

Final Thoughts on Helping Reluctant Readers 

Researchers suggest that although the cornerstone for lifelong reading is laid in the early years, it is never too late to start reading for pleasure and to gain the benefits of books. 

Not all students are naturally drawn to reading. If you're a parent with a learner who avoids reading and exhibits little interest in books, try employing some of the strategies presented in this article.