Why children don't like reading

Here's a look at how parents can play a key role in helping children overcome reading challenges, alongside strategies a tutor can use to build further support:

1. Reading is Too Hard

   1. Reason: Many kids find reading difficult because of challenging vocabulary or complex sentence structures.

   2. Parent’s Approach: Parents can foster confidence by choosing books at or slightly below the child’s reading level for at-home practice. Reading together can also build familiarity with new words, and parents can encourage guessing meanings from context without the pressure of getting everything right.

   3. Tutor’s Approach: A tutor will assess the child’s reading level and select appropriately leveled texts. Tutors also teach decoding strategies to help tackle difficult words, turning challenging texts into opportunities for skill-building. By focusing on reading skills progressively, the tutor helps make reading feel manageable and rewarding.

2. Reading is Boring

   1. Reason: Some children feel books don’t offer the excitement of games or TV shows.

   2. Parent’s Approach: Parents can show enthusiasm for reading by keeping books on topics their child loves, such as animals, fantasy, or sports. Sharing books on these subjects together and discussing them can help show the fun side of reading.

      Tutor’s Approach: Tutors can introduce engaging, personalized reading materials, like graphic novels, choose-your-own-adventure books, or stories that fit the child’s interests. By connecting reading to what the child already loves, the tutor can turn books into a source of enjoyment and exploration.

3. Reading Takes Too Long

   1. Reason: Kids may feel restless and impatient when reading for extended periods.

   2. Parent’s Approach: Parents can start with short reading sessions, encouraging just five to ten minutes a day, then gradually extending the time. Keeping a positive attitude and making reading part of daily routines, like bedtime stories, can also reduce resistance.

      Tutor’s Approach: Tutors can work with short, interesting passages, using techniques like shared or choral reading to build stamina. Setting small goals and working up to longer texts gradually can help students see reading time as achievable, not overwhelming.

4. They Don’t Understand the Purpose of Reading

   1. Reason: Many kids may not see how reading relates to their life or interests.

   2. Parent’s Approach: Parents can highlight how reading is valuable in everyday life, like for following a recipe, reading instructions for a game, or even exploring new hobbies. Pointing out these real-life connections can show children why reading is useful and interesting.

      Tutor’s Approach: Tutors can help reinforce this by connecting reading materials to the child's interests or goals, like learning about a favorite animal or finding out how things work. Making reading relatable can spark curiosity and help children find meaning and enjoyment in what they’re learning.

5. They Feel Pressured or Anxious

   1. Reason: Children may feel insecure if they think they’re slower or less skilled than others.

   2. Parent’s Approach: Parents can build a supportive reading environment by celebrating small successes and providing reassurance that reading is a skill learned at one’s own pace. Sharing personal stories about learning to read can also make children feel less isolated in their journey.

   3. Tutor’s Approach: A tutor provides a relaxed, one-on-one setting where children feel free to take their time. Tutors can also set individualized goals, making each session a celebration of progress rather than a competition. Fun, interactive activities help reduce anxiety, gradually building confidence in a low-stress environment.

With both parents and tutors working together, children receive consistent support that transforms reading from a challenge to a skill they feel good about and motivated to develop.