Creative Ways to Get Boys to Read

(originally printed in Jump-Starting Boys by Pam Withers and Cynthia Gill)

“Create ‘whisper phones’ from plastic piping in hardware stores, and read to your son with your lips at one end of the tube and his ear at the other. Teachers swear it endears youngsters to reading time!

While they’re being read to, let boys draw, write about, or dramatize characters and settings. Legos or clay work, too.

Let them read the same passage several times; it can work wonders for struggling readers’ understanding and confidence.

How do you know if a book is too hard for your son? Have him raise a finger for each word he doesn’t know on a page.

Three fingers or more per page (or five percent) means he’s not ready for that particular one; trade it in for easier reading.

In one study, children whose parents read with them fifteen minutes per day more than tripled their reading improvement each month.

Watching television shows with captions on the screen, including Manga cartoons, improves reading skills.

Place books you think might interest him beside where he uses his computer.

In one town, parents volunteered to read spooky books at the public library on Halloween. Some of the kids who showed up ended up getting library cards and checking out books for the first time.

While audiotapes are a good way to get story structure, vocabulary, and information into them, don’t overdo the option of handing them the tape and accompanying book in hopes they’ll boost their reading skills by reading and listening simultaneously. Sometimes they need to just enjoy the story.

When a boy ‘owns’ a book (be it from a bookstore or garage sale), he’s more engaged with reading than someone who has only borrowed school and library books.

While it’s great to read to all your children at once, you can really boost a child’s enjoyment of reading by giving him some one-on-one reading time on occasion. Also, avoid comparing one sibling to another for reading skills; it encourages the more accomplished one to put the other down when you’re not around.

They like to read in a comfortable, fun place, preferably some- where they’re not usually allowed, like under a table.

Try taping your son as he reads at the beginning of the school year, and then again near the end of the school year. He’ll hear his improvement and feel a surge of confidence and initiative to continue improving.

One mother, who almost gave up when her son refused to have anything to do with books, had an inspiration that ended up working. She wrote short sentences on flashcards and read those to him. This interested him, eventually wearing down his resistance to reading such that she was able to transition to magazines and books.

When it comes to reading, the subject matter is more important to boys than to girls. That’s why adults need to put special effort into finding books boys may like while letting him have the final say (which ensures he’s more engaged).

Magazines related to a hobby or special interest often kick- start reluctant readers.

The types of books boys like are often catalogued in the adult book section.

One good way to find quality boys’ books is to search current and past lists of Caldecott Medal and Honor Books. For no apparent reason, these carry more illustrated male than female characters.”

Interested in learning more?  

Pick up a copy of Jump-Starting Boys: Help Your Reluctant Learner Find Success in School and Lifeby Pam Withers and Cynthia Gill

ISBN: 978-1-936740-39-0