The Boy Who Hated Reading: How to Make Reading Fun For Kids

Reading Tutor Meets Reluctant Reader

As a reading interventionist and writer, I'd like to share a story about how quickly things can change when a struggling reader finds the right approach. If you are looking for how to make reading fun, let me tell you about "Jake," The Boy Who Hated Reading.

Two weeks ago, I met Jake for a reading assessment. Usually, children enjoy these sessions – I keep it light, praise their existing abilities, and emphasize that they're smart and capable. Jake seemed to respond well, so I was surprised when I asked if he'd like to work with me and he gave me an emphatic thumbs down. He declared he HATED reading and only liked sports.

Despite his reluctance, Jake's mother enrolled him in tutoring. He was reading about a year behind grade level, and I knew I could help. The challenge was how to make reading fun for him, turning an activity he actively disliked into something enjoyable.

How to Make Reading Fun and Keep an Energetic Child Interested During Reading Lessons

Considering his energetic personality and love for sports, I took an unconventional approach: starting with cursive handwriting instead of my usual reading exercises. I thought he would enjoy being able to move his hands during the lesson. Also, as a triplet, learning cursive would give Jake something unique – a skill his brothers didn't have. It worked beautifully. After our first Zoom lesson, he eagerly showed his family his new cursive letters and even "retaught" them to his dad!

I wove phonics and reading practice around handwriting, alternating between analytical learning and creative motor activities. The flow and connectedness of handwriting offer the added bonus of helping readers with dyslexic tendencies to keep letters within words in order. We're now in Week Two, and Jake arrives excited for each lesson. I’ve also introduced him to carefully chosen stories that match both his reading level and his interests. Selecting the right books is a crucial part of how to make reading fun for kids, and short tales about children and animals, similar to Aesop's Fables, were the perfect match for him.

Through Engaging the Hand in Creative Activity, Reading Tutor Uses Understanding of Learning Styles to Develop a Child's Interest in Reading and Writing

The key to awakening a love of reading isn't just about teaching skills – it's about understanding each child's unique personality and presenting the right activities in the right way. When I see a child who "hated" reading become excited about discovering new worlds through books, I know I've succeeded.

If you are looking for ways to make reading fun for a reluctant reader, please believe that positive change is possible. Sometimes it just takes finding the right approach for your unique child.

Sincerely, Linda Rumpf

Reading Interventionist and Kid Whisperer