Can read, won’t read. Help! 

What can I do? 

Lots of children and teenagers don’t read – here are some hints and tips from parents with reluctant readers: 

• Talk to your child to find out what they do and don’t like reading. 

• Go to the library together and encourage your child to borrow something that interests them. Many libraries lend magazines as well as books for free. Don’t forget graphic novels (novels that are like comics), cartoons and comics. 

• Don’t force your child to read something they are not interested in, even if you are worried about their reading. 

• Set your homepage to a website your child might enjoy, if you have internet access. For example, you could try a skateboarding site or the homepage of a favourite TV programme. It is a good idea to check sites first to see that you are happy for your child to visit them. 

• Encourage your child to read by finding reading material about their interests. Any reading that your child does is a good thing.