Ideas for building a culture of reading at home

There's nothing quite like picking up a good book and nestling into a cosy spot on the couch ready to lose yourself in the minds of your favourite characters. Not only is reading relaxing, fun and informative, the benefits of deep reading are immeasurable, and the neurological benefits of reading has been supported by countless studies. While the lockdown has encouraged people to read more often, society is still plagued by a terrible pandemic - no, not the Covid-19 pandemic - a pandemic of reluctant readers. Many people claim that reading is 'boring'. Books are either too long, too hard, or aren't interesting. "It's easier to watch a movie", they say. I'm sure you've heard this before. Students are often reminded how reading boosts their academic ability and overall cognitive and emotional intelligence, but no matter the emphasis their teachers stress on the importance of reading, children who are surrounded in a social environment of non-readers - this can be either family or friends - are far less-likely to read and will fall into a habit of disliking reading. As we all know, habits are hard to change, but if we want to change the habits of children who don't read, we must first build a culture of reading in the home.

1. Model the behaviour

This can be difficult to do among the myriad of other things we have to do during the bustle of our busy lives. But modelling reading to our children at home goes a long way. It's never too late to start. Make sure your children know when you are reading, and ensure they can see you read. Start by discussing the book you're reading with them and show a general interest in books. Ask about what they're reading and allocate some time every now and then to guide some discussion about books, like a little "book club." This only works if you're able to model the behaviour before building expectations. It will go a long way to breaking down their walls.

2. Create routines and scaffold expectations

People are creatures of habits. Neurologically, habits are hard-wired into our brains and don't change overnight. Start by creating a regular reading routine for your child. If they are reluctant readers, start with small expectations. Ten minutes before bed is a good start, and then you can build to half-an-hour as a minimum. This doesn't have to be every day, but it has to be often enough so that they don't fall back into the comfort of their reluctance again. Remember, you need to model the expectations you set if you want children to demonstrate the same behaviour. Make reading time an expectation until they show more of a willingness to read outside the prescribed times or for longer periods. If you need to use intrinsic motivation for those extra-reluctant readers, then make sure you use rewards sparingly and after a set-period. You want reading to become a choice for your child, not a chore.

3. Choose topics they're interested in - form a connection

Don't force your child to read War and Peace because you loved it yourself at school. It's torturous! Choose books within their areas of interest, and don't expect that reluctant readers will want to dive into a novel straight away. They may want to start by reading comics, non-fiction picture books or instructional texts. If they like sports, find an autobiography about their favourite player, a picture-book about the sport, or even a novel, such as the Specky Magee series. Remember, self-motivated, independent reading is the long-term goal, and sometimes it will take a series of picture books about cars or dinosaurs to get there. Also, if your child is a fan of a particular movie series, look for the novels! You'd be surprised which popular movies actually have novels. This is another great way to generate some enthusiasm and form a connection between their interests and reading.

4. Create a reading nook

This is my favourite. You can get creative with this one! Design a space somewhere in the house or outside that is a designated reading space. Try to make it appealing as possible. Generally, this includes a cosy, relaxing and safe area that is free of technology and distractions. Make your child want to come to this space to read. There are heaps of ideas on the internet about how you can design a reading nook.

5. Visit libraries and bookstores

Taking them to the libraries and bookstores every now and then is a great way to surround them with books. Initially, you may receive a groan or a teenager-esque sigh and roll of the eyes, but even if they don't buy anything, have them look at all the different titles available and see what sparks their interest. If you let them wander a bookstore, you'll be able to observe what genres interest them by the books they choose to read the blurb of. Op Shops, such as Salvos and Vinnies, stock a lot of used, second-hand books. Most of these have only been read once and donated, so for a couple of dollars, they're great value. A fun challenge is the 'Op Shop Book Challenge', where each member in the family must choose a book to buy from the shop and the goal is to read it in full. This is difficult during a lockdown, but another option to keep it fun is to browse Amazon and other online bookstores, purchase some books of choice, and get excited waiting for the delivery to arrive.

6. Be honest

Not all books are great. Children are clever at picking up when you're putting on a show. If your child begins reading a book and doesn't like it after the first chapter, encourage them to read a bit more before they decide to stop it. Remind them it's okay to not like a book; there's plenty more to choose from! Also, it's okay for children to say they don't like reading. The important thing is that they're at least trying. If their friends don't read, then it becomes harder to cultivate a culture of reading. But if one person can change their habits, they can ultimately break the cycle in their social-circle, too. Some children find reading naturally challenging, particularly students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. This is where a conversation with your child's English teacher is crucial, as they will be able to assist with specific strategies tailored to your child's needs. We're lucky we live in a world where we have audiobooks, eBooks, and tools like C-Pens, which are changing the way that people who struggle to read are able to find their own connection with reading.

Encouraging reluctant readers to find a book they love is challenging. As a teacher, it's one of the toughest challenges I face. But remind yourself that it takes time to form new habits. Even if it's one sentence at a time.