Breaking Bad Reading Habits
Nip them in the bud without discouraging your child's love of books.
Reverse a bad routine — while still keeping him tuned in to reading.
Your child loves to read, and you couldn't be more thrilled. But what if you notice your little bookworm is developing bad reading habits? Can you reverse a bad routine while still showing your child that reading is a terrific hobby? Consider these scenarios.
If your child:
Reads with little or no light
Won't put down her book during family time
Reads the same book over and over again
Forgets to return books to the library
Sneaks in reading after bedtime
Reads instead of doing homework
Reads with little or no light
Maybe the room was well lit during daylight hours, but the sun has since set and the room is now dark. Or maybe your child simply forgot to flip on the light when she entered the room. To resolve this eye-straining scenario, create a book nook for your child in her bedroom or a cozy corner of the den or kitchen. Provide a comfortable chair and get a special reading light to keep in the corner. You can even work with her to make signs that say, "My Book Nook" and "Turn on the light, it's time to read!"
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Won't put down her book during family time
How wonderful it is to see your child engrossed in a story — with every turn of the page, you know that his imagination is flying high! But when it's time to put the book down in order to be with the family, he just won't.
To curb this habit, give him a 15-minute warning before dinner, reminding him to finish up the page, paragraph, or chapter. Then tell him that you want to hear all about what he's reading. That way, he's not completely leaving the story and he gets to share the characters, plot, and what makes the book so good.
What if your ravenous reader keeps his nose buried during other family times, such as a visit to Grandma's house? Before you start lecturing him about manners, take this golden opportunity to create a bond between your child and Grandma — with reading! Suggest a read-aloud session where your child and Grandma can alternate pages while the family listens.
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Reads the same book over and over again
Perhaps what she needs is new material to spark her imagination. Maybe she loved the last book she read and nothing new matches it. Or she may have returned to a certain book because a sequel is on the way.
It's certainly okay to return to a favorite book; this patience for the same story will become valuable in later grades when attention to plot details calls for repeated read-throughs of text. Additionally, your child can discover something new each time she reads a book — a new lesson taught by the hero, a detail missed the first time, and so on.
Still, you'd like her to expand her reading horizons too. Start by trying to figure out what aspects of the favorite book keep her coming back. Is it the author's writing style? The funny characters? The genre? Do a bit of research, ask for help from your child's teacher or a librarian, and find some new books:
- If she loves the characters, and the book is part of a series, you're home free; get the other books in the series so she can continue to follow the adventures.
- If she loves the type of book — for instance, she can't get enough of Harry Potter — look for books in the same fantasy genre.
- If she loves the way the author wrote the book, encourage her to check the library for more from the same writer.
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Forgets to return books to the library
It's thrilling that your child actually wants to go to the library and find new reading material. The only problem is that he forgets the due date and doesn't return the book — on more than one occasion. If the fines aren't enough to teach him responsibility, what will?
He may need a visual reminder. Have him make a library book keeper and store it in the front hall or somewhere close to the door. As he finishes each book, he can drop it in the cubby until it's due back.
It's also a good idea to schedule library visits on your calendar, either weekly or bi-weekly. This provides a book-related outing, a reminder to swap old books for new ones, and an opportunity for your child to learn to plan recurring "meetings."
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Sneaks in reading after bedtime
Reading in bed may have a relaxing effect that helps your child fall asleep. But you don't want her staying up too late. Fortunately, there are ways to compromise:
- Factor in reading time when setting bedtime. Lights-out is 9:00. If she wants to read in bed, she needs to start at 8:30 instead of watching a television program.
- Give one special late bedtime per week, when she gets to stay up a half-hour later as long as she's reading.
- Keep reading aloud together. It's beneficial, even for an older child, because you can expose her to more advanced material. And you're there to set time limits.
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Reads instead of doing homework
If your child plows through books but his math homework suffers, be firm: Reading a non-school book comes after homework is complete. You may even have to take the book away and keep it until he has finished his assignment.
Enforce a "school comes first" policy or allow study breaks that so your child can read a chapter or two of his current non-school book. Let him know that you think his reading habit is great by offering a reward: If his science grades go up, you'll treat him to a new book of his choice.
