Teens can become reluctant readers. Sometimes this is because most of the reading they do is for school and therefore for work. Another cause may be that they have difficulty reading at the level of their peers. This often leads them to take a defensive position and declare that reading is stupid, not funny or boring.
Parents can help by encouraging independent reading. Independent reading is motivating because it is about choosing a topic of interest to the reader, in this case, the adolescent. This is the reading that we all do for our own enjoyment and entertainment. Rather than pushing to read at a particular grade level, allow this reading to be at the level the adolescent is comfortable with. The point here is to reinforce success and create a feeling of confidence. The adolescent will naturally seek out more difficult material as he becomes more comfortable and confident. Here are some ideas on how to keep a teenager motivated to read.
Schedule a weekly trip to the library. Get library cards for each teen. Let them choose any material that they would like to see during the next week. Be open to CDs, DVDs, tapes, magazines, or books. When there is no pressure to choose a particular type of material, teens feel able to choose something of interest and at a level that they are willing to tackle to enjoy. Remember that you want to develop a reader for life.
Encourage your teen to join a book club. Many libraries and some schools have book clubs specifically for teens. Teens enjoy interacting with other teens and can share books that interest them.
Get a driver’s manual. Most teens look forward to driving. Get a driver’s manual and ask them to study for your driving test. If they have trouble reading the manual, help them read it.
Weekly cooking. Work with your teen to establish one night a week as their dinner night. Let them choose the menu, search for recipes, check that all the ingredients are available, and if not, add them to the weekly shopping list. When they first start out, you may need to lend a helping hand. As they become more experienced cooks, you will need less help. Cooking doesn’t just improve reading and math skills, it’s a vital life skill.
Pen pals. If your teen has a favorite relative, see if the relative would be willing to exchange letters or emails with your teen. In addition to reading, a sense of connection to others is helpful during a time when teens are seeking answers about themselves and their identity.
Develop a personal library. Encourage your teen to develop a library of favorite books. In addition to buying new books, they can add books to their collection through yard sale purchases, used bookstores, and library sales.
Gift your teen a magazine subscription. Pick a magazine that covers a topic your teen is interested in: cars, wildlife, movies, or anime. Another closely related approach is allowing them to subscribe to an email newsletter or ezine.
These ideas can help your teen become a motivated reader and a lifelong reader, encouraging him to view reading as a way to enjoy and learn more about the world around him.