Your Question

Encouraging children to read
My children (both boys, 13 and 7) are not into the habit of reading. I am keen that they should read books, newspapers etc. Being a working mother, I do tend to get lazy myself by not providing them with enough time, however, I have tried taking them to different book stores, exhibitions when I can, just to build up their interest. They do also buy books, but when books come home, the boys don't even look at them. I would like to know how I should encourage them.
Diana Francis, Pakistan

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How can a parent encourage children to read when they are not very interested in books and reading? Have you got a similar problem? Have you got any tips for Diana? We'd love to hear them!
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I tried to find out wherein lies the interests of my two daughters aged 10 and 7. Both of them like fairytales and fantasies. I first tell them stories (with some actings also) in English from grandmothers tales, before going to bed. Initialy they used to ask meanings of words and later gradually developed interests in the language. Children story books helped a lot. I reward them with a book everytime they score on any count, be it developing a good habit or good result in school or anything else. Now they begin to like English and try to learn it seriously.
Rupak Roy, India

we have to begin from early stage. First we have to read for them and explain them.Gradually we must take turns to read each sentence.Do you know children enjoy reading with parents.so they begin to enjoy reading themselves.
Hema Latha, India

My daughter, at the age of 12 never was reading by day. She was so busy with computer games, TV, taking up activities like learning Engish, sport, etc ... However,every time we went on shopping I was asked to spend quite a lot of money on books because it helps her get sleep, she said.  "Look for a cheaper one,why did choose specially this one?" "I like the series" and begging went on to make me buy it. "What will we do with all those magazines and books you consume every week?" No answer for that. Consume first and think after, what a pity for our housekeeping economy I used to say, and I paid and paid  and still pay for my other daughter. All of them started with books about the doll Barbie in French and finished with books of horror. Now the youngest reads her English literature book before sleeping and begs me to try it. She doesn't read in french anymore unless it's her favorite weekly magazine. Even me I stopped reading in french (as it's my first language) a long time ago but stiill read  books of my level in English. It's all about interest.
Houria, Morocco

I think she ought to teach them gradually and i think the best thing to be started with are chidren stories to attract them first. Then you could give them simple scientific stories, as they get interested in reading.
Muftah, Libya

I used to read books to my two boys (13 and 10) when they were babies. Now it's getting more and more diffcult to encourage them to read, they'd rather watch TV   play on the net. But I've started reading books in English and talking English from  time to time with my yonguer son, and it works! I'm an English teacher & I've been living in France for 16 years but I'm Italian. My two boys are bilingual French and Italian. Reading in English is a big challenge for the younget one! As to my older son, well his French teacher does the task for me!!! But he only reads French books.
Laura, France

In my opinion, intially to make the reading habit to the children we should give them story books as per their interest. Visual songs and stories would also help them their reading habits.
Babu Ram Kunwar, Kathmandu, Nepal

I think most important is to give up enough of your free time to read to your children. When they get older and learn to read, don't refuse to read to them. You can make a deal - if they read a chapter to you, then you'll read two chapters to them... Or you can tell them to read 10 minutes and then tell you what happened in the story, and you should promise to read aloud for 10 minutes after that. It works step by step. My daughter is now 10 and she reads a lot - big books about indians or other adventures... Nevertheless she still loves me to read for her, and I do like it too!
Rumyana, Bulgaria

Barrington Stoke could be an interesting company for you. They publish books for 'reluctant' readers - children who need some encouragement to read. They also have some notes for parents with tips on how to encourage children to read. These are:
Encouraging teenagers to read: http://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/content/teen_leaflet.pdf
Encouraging younger children to read:
http://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk/content/parents_leaflet_5.pdf
Kim, LearnEnglish Parents

I think it's so hard problem...there is something encouring my childern to do as i am doing i mean i must read in front of them first to make them do as me.
Suzane, Egypt

I was constantly repeating to my children that reading improves their writing, but it's in vain. I provide them with interesting books of their age (jokes, magazines,...) and oblige them to read them and summarize the story to win a present they chose personally. It worked successfully.
Bel Sarah, Algeria

I have a boy (3) who likes to "read" himself for good night, we started reading him when he was an infant and now books appeal to him:) I have also some contact with 12-13 and lately I've encouraged them to read Roald Dahl books - they know both Polish version and now English original. Good books for young teenagers have to be humorous and witty. Good luck!
Katarzyna, Poland

In my opinion, parents should start introducing literature gradually. They could bring home magazines with interesting topics, or comment on some books that they have read to arise their interest. They could also tell just a part of the story and let the children find out about the end. There are also interactive books. I think that the most important is not to obliged them but make them want to read. It depends on the child's interest (cars, music, fashion, etc.)
Grace, Argentina

In this age of Internet and television getting children to read is a task in itself. My son who is nine years old has become an avid reader ever since we started a 5 point programme which is enumerated below : (a) Have a seperate reading room / library at home (b) Set aside 30 min a day for compulsory reading for the family (c) Set a target for the week and meet it (d) Periodic visits to book shops /exhibitions etc (e) Review of the books read during the month. Happy reading!
Neena George, India

First of all... Do you read ? If you want your children reading, you have to read. A good tip is: every night, AT THE SAME TIME, you switch the TV off and get a book to read. You will see, it really works. For children, you can give magazines with lots of pictures but with texts too, later you can choose other magazines with more texts than pictures. Good Luck!
Vera Helena, Brazil

I have 2 boys, 7 and 5.  Children books in my country are not vary and quite expensive. I let my boys to read encarta from internet and read wikipedia related what they interest (car and airplaine).  Don't forget to praise them when they finished.
Dian, Indonesia

Hello! I've started from promise to read twice or three times more pages than my 8-year-old son. He didn't like reading then, because he wasn't fluent. I've even encouraged him to read every single thing- posters, comics, cartoons and serve the net. It works. Although good example and switching tv off will help.
Agnieszka, Poland

First of all it is important for adults to model good practice themselves. You cannot expect your children to read if they do not see you reading every day. Then it is also very important for any parent to spend a few minutes each day reading to the children, especially if the reading is also dramatised. This makes reading enjoyable to the children not only for the content, but also because reading time is also together time - which every child relishes. Combining reading with interactive computer or DVD activities also injects an element of fun into the reading session. It is also important to make sure that the TV and other distractions are switched off during reading time. Finally it is important to ensure that the books you are expecting your children to read are targetted for their age group and area of interest..
Louise Cutajar Davis, Malta

my child are 13 and 11 and they behave also in the the same manner.I started to read with wife beside our child without having a tv on,the results were very interesting,it means our child started to read as well.
Nadjib, Algeria

I'm a English teacher and my children find it difficult to talk in English but I encourage them to read what they like to,often they tell me they read newspaper but I always give them books of their age and to find 3 word from reading and use them in their day to day conversation.
Madhulika Gill, India

Hello! When I was a litle girl I loved to read but there wasn`t TV and computer games. In 21 st century children have to much information in internet- it is good, but children haven't a habit to read. My students are lazy  and I tell them to write essay, to make projects about books which they study in literature classes. They draw pictures and make performances too.
Krasi, Bulgaria