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First published: December 6, 2024 Paul W. Romero
I’ve sat in bookstores and repeatedly I’ve heard different takes on reading. Once it was:
Guardian: “It’s either a book or nothing.”
Kid: “Does it have to be a book?”
Guardian: “And it has to be educational.”
Kid: “Does it have to be educational?” Another time, the kid was restless in his chair as he read his graphic novel aloud for the whole café to hear. When the mother told him to focus, the kid replied, “Reading is boring. When can we go home? I want to get online with my friends.”
What has changed?
In the old days, books were the getaway until other media came alone.
From the birth of motion pictures to the creation of video games, social media, streaming services, and online gaming, the digital age made everything readily available at our fingertips. As a result, books have become the last resort of information.
The way we intake information has changed.
We intake information in shorter, more digestible chunks versus long drawn-out texts. Even the way that stories are written shows this. Compare stories from classic literature with larger paragraphs and more difficult words to modern day literature with shorter paragraphs and easier to digest words.
Even our digital messages have become simpler.
Whether they are emails, texts, or messages on social media, we are finding ways to communicate in faster, simpler methods (i.e., emojis and acronyms). This extends its little hand into marketing as well as we only have a few seconds and a few words to catch someone’s attention. Everything is so short and quick. This is part of why Tweets and hashtags have become an everyday habit. And let’s not forget the transition to graphic novels.
So, why is it that some kids would rather watch paint dry than read a book?
Lexia asks, “Are they struggling with particular reading skills? Are they disinterested in what they are reading? Are there tasks associated with reading that the student is resisting?” (Lexia, “5 Strategies for Engaging Reluctant Readers”).
There are many reasons behind this, but here are ten reoccurring reasons I’ve noticed:
- Reading is An Isolated Activity
- Kids don’t want to be isolated. They want to be with friends.
- Lexia suggests engaging these young readers in small student-led discussion groups (Lexia, “5 Strategies for Engaging Reluctant Readers”). Lexia states, “Allowing students to lead these groups themselves is key, as studies have shown that student-led discussion groups result in deeper, more elaborate discussions than those led by a teacher” (Lexia, “5 Strategies for Engaging Reluctant Readers”).
- Reading is Boring to Them
- This could be for a variety of reasons such as reading about topics, characters, or genres that they aren’t interested in. This can be especially true with assigned readings as I can vouch for from personal experience.
- Reading Eggs suggests choosing topics your child is interested in and goes on to state, “If your child is getting bored easily while reading, they’re not likely to continue doing it. Reluctant readers will be more tempted by subjects that interest them” (Reading Eggs, “Reluctant Readers – How to Motivate Reluctant Readers [13 Tips Included]”).
- Books Are Too Long or Too Difficult to Read
- Reading Eggs states, “One reason your child may be reluctant to read is that they’re finding their current reading material too challenging. Start with books that are suited to their reading level” (Reading Eggs, “Reluctant Readers – How to Motivate Reluctant Readers [13 Tips Included]”).
- Reading Eggs suggests the “Five Finger Rule” in which a kid turns to any random page of a book, begins reading, and for every word they don’t understand they hold up one finger; the less fingers held up the easier the book is and the more fingers held up the more difficult the book is (Reading Eggs, “How to Find ‘Just Right’ Books for Your Child with the Five Finger Rule”).
- Reading Takes a Lot of Mental Energy
- I will refer to the last reason and suggestion. I will also add that a way to build up mental stamina is by practicing and growing the child’s reading skills. Just like with any muscle, the more you train it the stronger it gets. Those who find fun and creative ways to train are more likely to stick to their training plans than those who try to go all in without planning or preparation.
- I’m reminded of those newcomers to the gym every new year. Some take on too much at once and quit while others take it slow and steady while finding ways to make the process fun. This allows them to stick to their plan and develop new lifestyle habits. Reading can also be an acquired lifestyle habit if created in a positive and motivational environment.
- Short Attention Spans
- This isn’t meant to insult anyone. I have a short attention span too.
- Reading Eggs states, “If your child has a short attention span, opt for shorter books like joke books, comic books, and nursery rhymes. If you’re getting through a longer book, break their reading time into shorter intervals which gradually increase over time, or take breaks from reading to discuss what’s happening in the book” (Reading Eggs, “Reluctant Readers – How to Motivate Reluctant Readers [13 Tips Included]”).
- Instant Gratification
- Once again, I refer to my previous reason and solution.
- Books can create delayed gratification as you wait until the next chapter or end of the novel to find out what happens. Kids with shorter attentions spans will begin to question the point of what they’re reading if they’re not having any fun, not feeling any sort of gratification, or the story doesn’t resonate with them.
- Shorter books with jokes, graphics, or rhymes are fun and quick ways to capture a reader’s attention.
- Reading is Time Consuming
- Some kids have busy lifestyles from school schedules, to homework, extracurricular activities, and everything else they do in their home lives. This makes it more difficult to commit to a book that will take days if not weeks to finish. With their little downtime (mind you which is very precious) they’d much rather feel instant gratification with less energy expenditure on online videos or music (both of which they can consume many in a day versus not even a chapter of one book).
- Lexia states, “In the classroom, reading often comes with “work.” For example, students might be asked to annotate the book as they read, keep a daily reading journal, fill out graphic organizers, or take a test on the reading material. Sometimes, students just need to read for fun” (Lexia, “5 Strategies for Engaging Reluctant Readers”).
- Compare the following: a 30 second Tik Tok video, an 8-minute YouTube video, a 30-minute tv show, a 2 hour movie, a video game that may take a few hours to play (but with friends), and then a book which takes days if not weeks to complete (in potential isolation).
- Reading Feels Like a Chore
- Yet again I refer to the previous reason and solution. As many of these reasons are connected, so are their solutions. When we start to tackle one obstacle, we create momentum to tackle the rest (if there are multiple reasons).
- Kids spend a lot of time reading and writing at school. They don’t want to do more of it when they get home. They want to relax and unwind from a potentially exhausting day. They’d rather just drown out the world and clear their mind by listening to music or playing videos for distraction and instant gratification.
- The Characters Don’t Represent Them
- Perhaps there is something they are looking for that the books they read aren’t giving them. This is especially true when it comes to assigned reading in school. Not every book is going to be a hit with every kid.
- My best advice is to talk with your child and explore what their interests are and research with them potential books they may like. This goes back to listening to them, giving them a choice, and finding books outside of those assigned to them. The beauty of an over-saturated market is that there is a plethora of stories out there waiting to be discovered.
- Reading Can Be Expensive
- Yes, there are public libraries, school libraries, online libraries, and Amazon Kindle Unlimited, but sometimes kids would rather have something tangible that they can physically own rather than something digital or borrowed.
- This reason along with the previous one is more of a calling card to those aspiring writers out there: how can we make books that engage reluctant readers and how can we make these books accessible to them?
There is still hope.
I think the ability to read is less of an issue, grated it is still an issue, but here are some positive signs:
- We still read and write each day when we text or message one another (which isn’t going away anytime soon since most younger generations prefer texts over voice calling).
- We still read and write to read and leave product reviews.
- We still read and write to stay connected with one another on social media.
A few last points to make:
According to Scholastic, “The benefits of reading are experienced most by younger readers, and there remains a persistent decline in reading enjoyment, frequency, and perceived importance as children get older” (“Kids and Family Reading Report”). The article also shows that kids are more reluctant to read if those around them don’t read (“Kids and Family Reading Report”).
Furthermore, Scholastic states, “With more participation in structured activities and digital engagement, reading is facing increased competition for children’s free time. The Kids and Family Reading Report shows that many children’s digital activities have risen since 2018, including playing video games or using apps on an electronic device (84% in 2022 vs. 74% in 2018), watching videos on YouTube (82% vs. 75%), and going online for fun (61% vs. 55%)” (“Kids and Family Reading Report”).
Then there’s of course the issue of the pandemic we faced. Regardless of politics, I think it’s safe to say that the pandemic disrupted all of our lives and especially the lives of our kids. Either they don’t wish to feel that sense of isolation again, or they came out of the pandemic having lost valuable learning time. According to Scholastic, “The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted children’s educations and their families’ lives in both measurable and immeasurable ways, and as the recent NAEP scores show, reading for fun among today’s kids is even more worrisome than many had realized” (“Kids and Family Reading Report”).
Koehler states, “School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox (TLT) suggests that trends in middle grade books may be causing some readers to pause. One trend they note is that middle grade novels are aging up, with the typical middle grade protagonist now being 12 or 13” (Koehler, “The Middle Grade Slump”). Koehler also states, “The popularity of graphic novels among this age group should be an indication that many students are averse to hundreds of pages of solid text. Perhaps the formula for the next break-out middle grade hit will find its success in an innovative format” (Koehler, “The Middle Grade Slump”).
The Final Point:
To reemphasize Koehler’s point, the key to engaging reluctant readers is to get creative and find innovative ways and formats that appeal to them. It doesn’t have to feel like work. It doesn’t have to feel like a struggle. It doesn’t have to feel boring.
As the problems are related, so are the solutions.
Reading is a skill that isn’t going away anytime soon. It just evolves over time.
Make it easy. Make it simple. Make it fun.
Works Cited:
“5 Strategies for Engaging Reluctant Readers.” Lexia, https://www.lexialearning.com/blog/5-strategies-engaging-reluctant-readers. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
“How to Find ‘Just Right’ Books for Your Child with the Five Finger Rule.” Reading Eggs, https://readingeggs.com/articles/just-right-books. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
“Kids and Family Reading Report.” Scholastic, https://www.scholastic.com/content/corp-home/kids-and-family-reading-report/reading-lives.html. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
Koehler, Susan. “The Middle Grade Slump.” From the Mixed-Up Files, https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/the-middle-grade-slump/#:~:text=Pandemic%20Effects,in%20the%20years%20since%202020. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024. “Reluctant Readers – How to Motivate Reluctant Readers [13 Tips Included].” Reading Eggs, https://readingeggs.com/articles/reluctant-readers. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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Paul W Romero 