How to encourage boys to read for pleasure

Reading for fun and purpose – why it’s important for boys

November 7, 2019

Boys have many great qualities – they can be curious, active, sensitive, open, affectionate, funny and great to be with. However, if they are trudging through texts then often their behaviour, and learning, is influenced.

Let’s look at the first stage of reading; before a boy starts school, there is mostly shared reading – where a parent reads and a boy listens, looks and offers ideas. Once school begins, shared reading exists but it becomes more technical as a boy learns the ‘skills’ of reading. This can create a separation between reading for pleasure and reading to work on improvement.

After Year 3, there is often a bigger cavity in reading. Boys are expected to ‘read on their own’. Add to this the introduction of chapter books, and many boys falter and begin to disengage.

So what can educators and parents do?

Both groups are essential! Let’s look at a few ways that may inspire boys to willingly open a book.

Tips for Parents:

Try to keep your son motivated and engaged in reading. Try to remember that a boy needs:

parents who are regularly involved in his progress as a reader
to maintain a positive attitude toward books and reading
time everyday to read
a place to read
a supply of a range of books, magazines, comics (In the words of John Scieszka: “Expand the definition of ‘reading’ to include non-fiction, humour, graphic novels, magazines, action adventure, and, yes, even websites. It’s the pleasure of reading that counts; the focus will naturally broaden. A boy won’t read shark books forever.”)
a home environment that manages the distractions of tv and technology

Tips for Teachers:

Here are some initiatives and projects to help teachers to motivate their learners:

Reading challenges – boys are inherently competitive so offering them ‘challenges’ can help to spice up literature. See here for a Reading challenge checklist. Other ideas

Make a tower of book titles

Seen the movie? Now try the book.

include offering medals on completion of books, catchy displays such as a Tower of Books Challenge (children add book titles in rows on the wall to build a tower), a Movie themed display (encouraging students to read the book if they enjoyed the movie), Book Tasting recipe cards (boys write reviews of books in a recipe format).
Create a Reading Wall – this should be more than just reading posters. Instead, ask boys to share titles of a book that they are currently reading (& add a sentence or two about it). Teachers should also contribute to the wall.

Kids are familiar with the Netflix layout – so insert book titles
Try a Netflix inspired display. Most students are using a streaming service so why not re-create something that is of a familiar style to them? The layout is fun and you can showcase book titles according to categories.

Access to books and the encouragement of the habit of reading: these two things are the first and most important elements in education and librarians, teachers and parents all over the country must remember this.

Something extra…

Print the checklist below of ideas to help motivate your child to read over the term and holidays. How many can he tick off? Reading challenge checklist.