DGD hates reading

Hello, CorneliaStreet! Ex-secondary school libraian here!

First of all, I feel your pain, as I was a huge reader from a very young age, but not everyone is the same, and these are different times - even if the age old "reading is boring" is nothing new.

You must let her go at her own pace. I really think that everyone has the capacity to love reading, but they just need to find what is right for them. Slow and steady may well win the race!

It seems from your description that she is very much about the "visuals" at the moment, so I would foster this by looking at graphic novels, rather than pushing her to read things she thinks of as too wordy. Contray to popular belief, graphic novels are a lot more than simple comics these days and some of them are pretty sophisticated - and believe it or not, you can even get the classics in graphic form (though obviously the story is pared down to the basics). Reading is reading after all!

Look for something that is the graphic form of a good book series, because once you get them hooked on a series they will often just fly through them. You don't say where her interests lie, but there are some great series out there - don't just rely on Harry Potter, although I agree she would certainly get a lot out of the books of she was interested as they have so much more in them - I think she needs something new to pique her interest. A really good bookshop, with a good children's section and knowledgeable staff should be able to help you here (although I can suggest some if you are interested). A local library may be able to help too, but they might not have much in the way of graphic novels, or a librarian with the subject knowledge you need. If you can get her interested in a graphic series, she may then be up to read the full-blown novels too.

I would just add that you should not be put off by graphic novels, even if her school may be sniffy about them (sometimes true of primary and junior schools). I have found them invaluable in cracking the really hard cases!

Why not give it a go? Be patient... be encouraging, but not pushy... and I hope she gets there!

I think that some of us are bookworms and some aren't.

It's as simple as that

As a child I permanently had my nose in a book. Reading anywhere and everywhere.

My sister read nothing. No interest at all.

My three children are not voracious readers either. Despite having vast amounts of books in the house.

You either love to read or you don't!

Don't think you can force the issue

If your granddaughter has any interests, apart from screen time, non-fiction books which inform and augment understanding may be the way to go. I had no time for fiction when I was her age but loved Biology and would read anything factual.

I think it stems from having no visual memory, so I couldn't 'visualise' characters & incidents in stories - I loved the language and stories in Jane Austin novels when I saw them but couldn't really follow the plot when I tried to read them.

If you are able to visualise you will find this impossible to understand but at her age I had read all the non-fiction section in our local library and was given dispensation to use the adult facilities (perhaps because I showed no interest in 'unsuitable' literature).

Good luck, she'll probably be fine in any case. Children do have a remarkable ability to find a way through unusual propensities. Encourage anything not immoral, illegal (or fattening!).

As a child we had books bought for us at Christmas. But I can’t remember reading any of them. We always had Bunty and Beano comics, but I didn’t read a book until I was 16 and that was The Carpetbaggers which really opened my eyes! Things today are different as there are so many beautiful books out there for all ages of children. I have a stack of books waiting to be read myself but I don't have enough time left for all of them. I’m sure your granddaughter will find something she enjoys but it might not be a novel just yet.

Does she struggle with reading? If so, that's one of the reasons she doesn't enjoy reading. Children live in a different world to us. Entertainment is visually stimulating and often requires little concentration or imagination.

Reading doesn't have to learned through books. Is she interesting in any particular subject? If so, you and she could find information on the internet about it. Some children will read if they're interested in finding out more about something. You'll have to steer clear of YouTube though or she'll just find things to watch.

Comics and magazines are another way of capturing children into reading. The pictures and short sentences in comics make them visually appealing and less daunting to the poor reader.

Or maybe she just doesn't see the value of reading beyond the basics. I don't know if it's changed since I retired but there was no time for individual reading for pleasure sessions so the children never had the chance to experience it. Reading was always for a learning purpose and never just for fun so the children often saw it as just another thing to learn rather than a way of opening up the world.

Forgot to mention joke books but be prepared to be driven mad with corny one liners

CorneliaStreet DH is like this - he never read fiction for pleasure until fairly recently and even now his choice is limited.
However, he would devour text books on subjects which interested him and still does, on subjects which many would find boring.

He told me that he once got a head master's prize at grammar school for an essay he'd written about a Dickens book they were supposed to read and how astonished his mother was. She said 'but you never read it!' and he said, 'but you took me to see the play at the theatre, it was wonderful'.

My daughter is/was the same, I raised it with her teachers on numerous occassions as I felt something wasn't right and was fobbed off everytime. In year 6 her teacher agreed and she was referred to the hospital for a specialist eye test, they discovered when her eyes tracked the lines instead of returning to the start of a new line she skipped the line out so what she read did not make any sense, She was given eye exercises to correct this.
She is now 16 and will not read anything for pleasure which upsets me as I love reading, but years of being forced to read at school when nothing made sense has put her off completely.

Do you read to her? I know she is older but the pattern for seeing things in your head starts when you hear stories. Sometimes people think because a child can read there is no reason to carry on reading to them. There is every reason. Choose books which will interest her -and yes it could be Harry Potter but there are lots of other great children's books. If she is having problems with reading- and really if she is stumbling over the letters at her age it is a problem, and there are any problems with her writing it might be best to have her tested for dyslexia. One of the problems with dyslexia is that the child is very bright in other areas and recognises their lack of ability so avoid reading. That said some people just never understand the attraction of reading.

As a child, from the very beginning, I lived in a home full of books, with a big bookcase occupying an important place in the living room. My Dad read to me and I knew all the Beatrix Potter books before I could read them myself. That's how I became a bookworm. Eventually, I had the run of my parents' bookcase.

I read to my DSs and both grew up as avid readers. The GC are all good readers, but the lure of on-screen gaming has, unfortunately, pushed reading into the background.

And, on a practical note, has she had her eyes tested at all. It would be difficult at the moment but it could be that she may need specs. Two of my DC did at this age.

You are correctTerribull ... my husband 73 has not ‘read a book’ since he was 15 and left school.He looks at ‘train’ books but even then he won’t even read the slight bit of text that goes with the picture. He was a train driver by the way.... and it was all he wanted to do.... so had trouble doing any of the book work that led up to him ‘passing his rules’ ..to be honest his lack of reading anything other than a menu all his life has shown. We cannot even attempt a conversation ...... so it is really important part of any child’s life to learn to love books.... how else can they possibly progress to a well rounded life and interesting human being ?

Audio books are a great way into reading. Put a compelling book on while some other activity is happening, such as baking, and listen with your DG.

Steven Fry reading the 'Harry Potters' is a feast for child and adult alike but there are many others to choose from. Friends of ours say the 'Just William' audio books were a hoot and ours liked 'The Famous Five' which were rubbishy but amusing.

As others have noted, sometimes it takes a jolt or a surprise to open the gates to reading so never give up trying to get your GD hooked.

As a person to whom reading is as natural as breathing I find it hard when people say they "don't read".

However, as the mother of a seriously dyslexic son, it was painful to watch him struggle. He loved comics, so to my DH's horror, I swamped him with those. Now at 38, he is a proficient reader, albeit a bit slow, and enjoys a good book.

Nil desperandum, find a strategy to get the child to enjoy reading. there are a nmber of publications which are sort of comic-like which she might enjoy and later graduate to harder more interesting stuff.

DGS reads avidly but not just anything - only those books which capture his imagination.
He used to like the Treehouse series of books when he was younger which may be a good series to try, they are rather whacky and illustrated too.

I agree with PP that there are too many other 'easier' sources of entertainment.

As a young child I loved to read.

Nowadays I find it hard to find the time to sit and just read a book - even though I have plenty of spare time. I spend too much time on my laptop looking at online shopping and forums..

I can read books on holiday - as there are fewer distractions and it's acceptable to lounge in the sunshine and do nothing but read a novel.

DS was an amazing reader - but doesn't read too much now. He is busy online doing something? Not sure what.

I haven't read the full thread - but is it possible that your DGD is struggling to read- dyslexia ? My stepson was diagnosed as being dyslexic but not until he was at high school - he had found no joy in reading and his spelling was terrible. Once he had some help it became better but he still won't sit and read a novel. We bought magazines in his favourite topic which did help a little I think.

Does she have anything she's interested in? Tennis? Football? Cooking? Countries? Knitting? Crafts? Drawing? Pets? Anything, doesn't matter what, you are very likely to find books on that subject. Not for her to sit & read from cover to cover, but to have it there for her to dip into. Next time she asks a question about something, even if you know the answer, go with her to look it up, make her realise that reading can be as much about finding the answer as knowing the answer. (I hope that makes sense).

You mentioned she's interested in the films of Harry Potter but not so much the books because "they don't have the effects and magic, do they?"

It might be worth buying this - Harry Potter Film Wizardry - it explains how they did some of the effects in the film. You may be able to find a cheaper copy elsewhere online. www.harrypotterplatform934.com/collections/books/products/harry-potter-film-wizardry

The thing is not to push it. As you say she can read, just doesn't find it exciting. Does anyone read to her? You could. Read a book you enjoyed at her age. otherwise I wouldn't worry about it. She's still young.

* CorneliaStreet*, what about graphic novels? Or comic books?

Do not despair, my son was like this too and now, as an adult he loves reading as much as the rest of the family. One thing that worked for him was computer magazines. He would read those and his school said as long as he was reading something he’d be alright. Is your GD interested in a specific subject? Horses, clothes, dancing etc. If so, try and get a magazine subscription for her and this may trigger her interest in the written word.

For many of us who are Dyslexic, reading can be a very painful experience, trying to make sense of letters and words that literally disappear an appear from anywhere and for some from everywhere.

If that is her problem then all that is said to her about the joys of reading are a complete nonsense, they are only relevant if the child needs motivating and nothing else.

I came to accept the necessity of battling with dyslexia to unlock the the treasures contained in books when much older, although I did what I had to, in education, but they were very punishing times and offered nothing but abuse, from most of those teachers and adults. It is not a pleasant experience to be humiliated in front of one's peers and told constantly that your lazy, not taking care, stupid etc. AND it is happening today to thousands of kids and adults.

So those of you who do not have to deal with the issue for yourselves and find it frustrating when one of yours takes many times too long to complete their homework or finds a thousand and one excuses to avoid the tasks to be done, remember they are suffering to satisfy your demands. Remember the first symptom of a Dyslexic is avoidance.

Has she had her eyes tested recently? As soon as lockdown is over, get her tested. This should be done anyway as eye tests can reveal other health problems.

P.S. Everyone should get their eyes tested regularly!

Has she been checked that she doesn't have dyslexia?
Maybe trying to get her to write a short story, read shorter stories than the ones she has been struggling with. I might have missed this but how old is she?

I don't know but has she had her eyes tested recently? although she can actually read she might be struggling to see the words clearly making it a real effort. At school she probably feels it is just part of life but can not be bothered to put that extra effort in for pleasure.

I love reading and creative writing. It maybe a stance to get her to imagine and write or tell her own stories and then introduce books that way. She could even draw her own characters, make it fun. The thing is like lots of things it's difficult to enforce unless she likes books, other than what she needs to be reading at school.
But just try to make it fun.
I read nightly to my daughter the same book for a whole week, at her request but her passions are still not books. Although she's read a few autobiographies and pregnancy books now, she is an adult.

Luckily all my GC read avidly- well when the 2 eldest got to about 12 it died off a bit but I think they will go back to it when they stop worrying about being cool.
I read way before I started school & am never without a book.
I read to DGC from a very early age & they all loved it.
I think you just have to find THE BOOK that gets to them & that will do the trick. Do her parents read & does she see them reading?
At 10 she is sort of between child & teen fiction- not easy to find THE BOOK that will get to her but I wish you good luck as I would have been very upset if my DGC had not been avid readers.