Two simple ways to help a reluctant reader
If you’re the parent of a reluctant reader, you’ve probably tried all sorts of things.
Recommended reading lists.
Gentle encouragement.
Less gentle encouragement.
Bribery disguised as “motivation”.
It can be frustrating, especially when you know how important reading is for vocabulary, comprehension, writing and confidence.
But reluctant readers don’t always need a grand intervention. Sometimes, a few small changes make reading feel less like a mountain and more like something they can actually start.
Choose books with short chapters
This sounds simple, but for a child who doesn’t naturally reach for a book, a forty-page chapter can feel impossible before they’ve even begun.
Short chapters feel different. They give children regular little wins.
A child can sit down, read a few pages and feel like they’ve completed something.
There’s something satisfying about seeing you only have two pages left of a chapter. It gives you a reason to keep going.
“I’ll just finish this bit.”
Let them feel progress
Reluctant readers often need to feel that reading is moving somewhere.
Short chapters help because they create a sense of progress.
They let children experience the pleasure of finishing - that little moment of completion can be surprisingly powerful.
It tells the brain: “I can do this.”
And for children who’ve decided they’re “not readers”, that feeling is huge.
A book with lots of short chapters can make reading feel more manageable, especially for children who are tired after school, busy with activities or easily put off by long stretches of text.
Now for the bit parents might like less
If we want children to read more for pleasure, they need to see adults reading for pleasure too.
I know…
Life is busy.
There’s work, cooking, laundry, emails, shopping, school admin and the mysterious daily disappearance of everyone’s water bottle.
Sitting down with a book can feel like a luxury from another lifetime.
But our children notice what we do.
If reading is something we only ever tell them to do, it becomes a child’s chore.
If reading is something they see us doing, it becomes part of normal life.
Model the behaviour you want to see
We often tell children they need to make time for reading.
But do you know who else is busy?
The average eight, nine or ten year old.
They’ve got school, homework, swimming, football, music lessons, birthday parties, karate, clubs and whatever emotionally intense playground drama is unfolding that week.
So when we say, “You need to make time for reading”, it helps if they can see that we do the same.
Just enough to show that reading is something people choose because it’s valuable, enjoyable or calming.
Make reading part of the household culture
Children are more likely to read when reading feels normal.
A parent reading on the sofa.
A book left on a bedside table.
A family trip to a bookshop.
A conversation about something interesting someone read.
Ten minutes of quiet reading after dinner.
An audiobook in the car.
A child can then see that engaging with books is part of everyday life.
That’s a message children are far more likely to believe when they see us living it too.
How LinkyThinks can help
At LinkyThinks, we help children build the English, reasoning, writing and communication skills they need for exams, school and life beyond the classroom.
Our classes are designed to help children understand how they think, express themselves more effectively and develop stronger habits over time.
If your child is preparing for 11+, entrance exams or GCSE English, our online tutoring can help them build those skills in a supportive, thoughtful environment.
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