What parent doesn’t long to see their child grow into a good reader? Unless your Mr. or Mrs. Wormwood, raising a bookworm is something to aspire to. The reasons for this hardly need outlining — besides the obvious usefulness of literacy, we want our children to develop curiosity and creativity. We want them to engage with ideas and encounter challenges and hardship on page as a training ground for real life. We want them to stretch their concentration muscles. And let’s face it, we do not wish to raise Dudley Dursleys or Michael Wormwoods whose only achievements in life are square, vacant eyes from countless hours of “telly” and an inner tube of a belly to match the mush in their heads. But what’s a parent to do in an increasingly frantic, technology-driven culture? Who has time to “foster a love of reading,” not to mention where does one begin when our children know, nearly from birth, that whatever comes out of a prehistoric book, they can get it from a screen and faster? How do we compete with the instant gratification of all those finger-swiping, eye-glueing machines? 
First of all, don’t despair! The battle is not lost… yet. Even if your child has never voluntarily picked up a book, there is hope. But believe it or not, it starts with you, parent. You must shift the attitude. You must take the initiative.
After all, suppose your child detested all real food but loved a nice bag of sugary sweets. Would you simply throw up your hands exasperated and say, “There is nothing I can do!” as you hand over the bag of sweets? Of course not! (…or at least I hope not!) Why, then, are we often so quick to surrender when it comes to books vs. technology? Perhaps we’re too ready to accept the narrative — my kid doesn’t like to read — as fact. Then, defeated, we hand over the instant-gratification on a screen.
NB: This article is not intended to send parents on a guilt trip for resorting to screen entertainment. Nor is it anti-technology. What it is about is setting a balance. Going back to the picky eater example, think of it this way:
Books = The meal; Screen Time = Sweets
I’m all for sweets and treats in moderation and on special occasions, but no kid can live off sugar alone! And there are as many psychology studies out there to suggest children in 2018 still need a healthy diet of books in contrast to a moderate allowance of screen time as there are scientific studies about children’s nutritional needs.
So how do we strike the balance? How do we ensure our kids are getting a healthy mental diet? And most importantly, how do we encourage them to like it?
Here are 6 practical steps you can put into action immediately:
1. Don’t make books a punishment
Think carrot over stick. When you snatch away an ipad and tell your child “You’re not getting it back until you READ THIS BOOK!” you’ve set him up to view books as the enemy. You child’s brain, like your own brain, naturally wants what is easy and immediate (viola the screen) over what takes effort and imagination (ye olde book). Rather than forcing a book as a direct substitute for the screen, try some of the more subtle tactics below:
2. Make small lifestyle tweaks (not a total overhaul)
Brainstorm the times you’re most likely to hand your kid an ipad or sit her down in front of the telly. How can you creatively and gently introduce books into those scenarios? For example, many parents resort to ipads on car journeys. Why not bring a tote back of books instead of an ipad? Or, if your child suffers car sickness, download some great audiobooks the whole family will enjoy for the long journey! Dare to leave the ipad at home. You may be surprised when it goes unasked for!
3. Make reading routine
child experts agree that kids not only need routine, they love it. It gives them security and lets them look forward to what’s coming with excitement. Create a reading routine in your day, week and year. A bedtime story is a great place start. In summer months, my sister sets aside a “reading hour” for her 5 kids just after they’ve had a good, long play outside. They love holing up for some quiet time with a cup of lemonade and a book they’ve chosen all for themselves.
4. Make it a fun challenge
Emphasis is on the word FUN here. Go to a bookshop with your child and make a list of all the books that look appealing to her. Set a challenge to read, say, one of those books each month. Let your child rate each book after she’s read it by placing 1-5 star stickers beside it on the list. Then, make a date to go to the bookshop together and buy the next one!
5. Start a book club
one of the most effective tools for winning over reluctant readers is peer influence. When a good book becomes “word on the street,” even those normally non-bookish sorts want in on the action. A book club that meets once a month is a great way to foster peer excitement about reading. Give the children ownership of the club by letting them select what to read (either in turns or by vote). Your child will also enjoy the chance to get together with a few friends, share book-themed goodies, and maybe even dress up like a character from the book. Make it an event!
6. READ WITH YOUR CHILD
I’ve saved the silver bullet for last. This one is the clincher for making reading enjoyable for your child … and for yourself! Reading together is like going on an adventure together, right from the comfort of your child’s bedroom, or in front of the fireplace. It creates shared memories that will stay with your child forever more, linking the stories you read with the precious time you’ve spent together. **Caveat: Don’t express shock and dismay if your child doesn’t love the same books you loved at his age. Try them out, but be aware that they may not resonate the same way, or it might simply be the wrong time. Find something he’s excited about now, then try your old favourite again later. 
So there you have it. I’ve outlined 6 actionable points, but let me encourage you to start with the last one, and make the shift today:
The Reading Parent Challenge:
Here’s the baseline, parents. I warned you from the start, if you want your child to develop a love of reading, it has to start with you. Are you practising what you preach? Are you dosing up on a healthy diet of literature and saving screen time for an occasional treat? The shift takes effort. It takes time. But here’s the guarantee: the investment of time spent reading with your child will pay back, not only in mind-growth but in heart-growth. And it will open new worlds to you both!
Looking for an audiobook the whole family will enjoy on that next road trip? Download my bestselling debut, Katie Watson and the Painter’s Plot, on audiobook today just by joining her VIP Reader’s Club (monthly email full of goodies for parents, educators and, of course, kids!).
Practical, pithy, profound. Many thanks, Mez Blume!!!!