Don’t get hung up on the rung
When children read what they enjoy, they are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards reading.
Offer reading as an exciting adventure
Reading is a fundamental skill that opens doors to knowledge, imagination and lifelong learning. For children, the journey into the world of books is best offered and experienced as an exciting adventure, a pick-a-path amble, a rocket ship they are at the controls of … not a race.
If children feel pressured to progress quickly through reading levels or to choose ‘more advanced’ books, their enjoyment of reading can decline.
When children read what they enjoy, they are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards reading. Whether it’s comic books, fantasy novels or information about their favourite animals, the key is to help them find books they enjoy and that they are engaged, interested, and exercising and growing that reading muscle. Research shows that children who can choose their reading material are more enthusiastic and motivated readers.
‘Encouraging students to choose high-interest texts that build upon their interests can also foster a value for reading (Guthrie et al., 2007). Students that self-select books are more motivated to read, expend more effort to read, and gain a better understanding of texts …’
— Scholastic Literacy Framework: A literature review on foundational research (pdf, 794 KB)
Imagine reading as a ladder. Each rung represents a different level of reading complexity, comprehension and enjoyment. As with a physical ladder, it’s important for children to climb at their own pace. Some may be eager to move up quickly. Others may prefer to spend more time on a particular rung.
I am part of many book suggestion/advice groups and have seen a growing trend. Comments like ‘What can I do to get my child off Tom Gates/Story Treehouse/Bad Guys etc and onto more challenging text?’ Often paired with comments such as ‘I was reading [insert favourite classic book here]’, or ‘I want them to be reading something of value …’
We must take care not to be backseat drivers on their reading journeys.
Image credit: Ladder, 2010 by fdecomite. Wikimedia Commons. Some rights reserved: CC BY 2.0. Image cropped.
Widen the rung
It's important that children feel they can return to their favourite authors and books, which are sometimes a safety net, comforting and enjoyable. Instead of moving them up a rung, try widening the rung with similar yet slightly more complex texts perhaps. Give them other choices that allow them to skip along with that crutch.
Every child develops at their own pace, both cognitively and emotionally. Allowing children to progress naturally helps build their confidence to know what’s best for them and ensures they understand and enjoy what they read.
Children’s (and adults’) reading preferences can be incredibly diverse. Different genres and formats offer various benefits, from improving vocabulary to enhancing creativity. Graphic novels, for example, are slowly but surely shrugging off the inherited negative stereotype that they aren’t ‘real books’. Studies have proven that graphic novels have more complex words than novels on average, largely due to their limited space, so they value the word more.
They are a great way to engage reluctant readers and help them develop a love for storytelling. Encouraging children to explore different types of books without pressuring them to conform to a specific standard can lead to a richer and more fulfilling reading experience.
Support children’s reading choices
Parents and educators play a crucial role in supporting children’s reading journeys.
If we are not aware of our inherited bias towards certain genres or titles, we will influence those young emerging readers who take their cues from us. Our ladder looked a lot different to theirs.
I challenge parents and educators to read what they are reading, walk a mile in their Crocs!
A culture that supports and inspires reading for pleasure celebrates individual progress, which may simply look like a child having the power to select their own book. In a class or home, it might include reading together, discussing books and providing a wide range of reading materials.
By showing interest in what children are reading, helping them find what they enjoy, valuing their choices and allowing them to progress at their own pace, we can help them develop that genuine love for reading.
Let children lead their reading journey. Let them be on that rung, make it as wide as it needs to be so children feel safe enough to reach up for the next rung.
Let’s celebrate the diverse, weird, wacky reading preferences of children and encourage them to explore the world of books without pressure.
Remember, reading is like a ladder, give them time … and they’ll climb.