How to Get Your Kids to Read Books

Show them by example

Almost no one reads books. 

Nearly a quarter of American adults admitted they hadn’t read a single book in the last year. That number is likely too low because it is self-reported, and people are prone to exaggerating about reading. Further, most of those who read one book probably didn’t read much more. A small portion of readers read most of the books. 

In contrast, most successful people read. A lot. For example, most CEOs read 4-5 books a month.

How do you give your kids the best shot at being lifelong readers? 

Let Them Read What They Want

“Read what you love until you love to read.” — Naval Ravikant

In the 90s, parents were already talking about “the death of reading.” They thought their kids might grow up without reading until a mom on welfare scribbling at a coffee shop in Edinburgh changed the world. JK Rowling, somehow, got screen-addicted kids to read 600-page books. Harry Potter changed the idea of reading for an entire generation. 

Harry Potter isn’t what you’re “supposed to” read. But, even if kids don’t notice, it’s filled with deep truths. 

We forget (read: traditional school never taught us), but that’s exactly what Shakespeare was in his time. It wasn’t “high art.” Shakespeare was a man of the people. He wrote bangin’ plays. You went to them with a bucket of rotten fruit to throw. It was a good time. 

Now, we act like Shakespeare is some hallowed thing. We read the old language as if that makes it “fancy” or something. It’s not. Harry Potter will probably sound “fancy” in four hundred years, too.

Here’s what happened: Shakespeare wrote something great that people in his time loved (similar to Rowling). Then, the people who loved it tried to spread the word. They claimed it was important. Gradually, it became required reading. That’s when traditional schools got their claws in it. They made it part of the curriculum. Now, in schools, imitating factory work schedules, kids are required to learn Shakespeare on a timetable (Can you feel the bard turning in his grave?). By and large, kids don’t get it–nor do they care about the frantic adults telling them how “important” and erudite it is.

Yes, Shakespeare is packed with incredible ideas if you are inclined to be patient with the beautiful old language. But, if that doesn’t turn your crank, the same incredible things can be uncovered in Harry Potter. Or Magic Treehouse. Or many, many other books. 

When you allow kids to read what interests them, you cultivate lovers of reading, not obedient readers of what someone else deemed “important.” If you force them to read what others deem “important,” however, they may resent reading forever. 

That’s why so few adults read books in the US. Because traditional schools tried to force us to read, we associate it with hard work. Who wants to do hard work for entertainment?

Schools teach us that reading sucks by forcing us to read what we’re not interested in. In our hearts, we’ve forgotten that what interests us guides us towards what we need to know. That’s why we have interests in the first place. 

If you want a kid who is genuinely interested in reading, let them read what they want to read–even if you don’t “get” it. 

Trust that they are searching for the answers to their unique questions–even if they can’t explain them to you.

Let Them See You Read

I know what you’re thinking–won’t my kids just watch 40 hours of TV a week if they can “consume what they want”? 

Only if they’re forced to sit still and do things they hate for a different 35 hours a week (plus homework). 

Kids who are free to learn about what interests them are much more inclined to dig deep into topics they love. For example, some kids will become “obsessed” with astronomy. Find that kid a thousand astronomy books! Let her go to town. When she’s interested in dinosaurs a month later, repeat. 

Show them by example. Buy books that deeply interest you (not books you are “supposed” to read). Read them in front of your kids. Share the parts that make you light up. Laugh when they roll their eyes at you. 

If you’ve lost your passion for reading and learning, you’re stuck in “do as I say, not as I do.” Show them, by example, that reading is an intrinsic reward.

It’s never too late to start again or improve. Maybe schooling taught you that reading was “no fun”–but you can always “deschool” yourself. 

Let your kids in on the process. “The way I was taught made me hate reading, but I want to change that. Would you like to go to the bookstore with me and we can find a book we’ll both love? Maybe I can read it to you.” 

For a list of practical tips on how to start reading with your kids, check out this blog post. 

Every time you share this newsletter, a kid will read a book for fun.

Talk to you next week,

Taylor Foreman + the rebelEducator team

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P.S.

A teacher in Virginia leaves the public school system to launch a micro-school. Watch the discussion here.

Here’s what we’re reading this week:

The importance of reading to kids daily

Among many U.S. children, reading for fun has become less common

Why Is Reading Important?

Quotes we’re pondering:

“I cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” — Blase Pascal

“One should use common words to say uncommon things.” — Arthur Schopenhauer