You Want to Do What?: Instant answers to your parenting dilemmas. Karen Sullivan

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СКАЧАТЬ alt="images" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="#fb3_img_img_2096085d-ada0-56cc-86bd-6fca93f4cf0d.jpg"/> Know the authors. Once your child finds a favourite author, she’ll probably want to read every volume that writer ever penned.

      

Offer to share. When your child insists on reading something that concerns you, consider this sneaky, but often effective tactic. Tell your child that you’ve been wanting to read that book, and so why don’t you read it together. Most often, that will be a turn-off, and she’ll move on to something else.

      If all of this fails, you can simply say ‘I’m sorry, I don’t want you to read that book at your age,’ and use the opportunity to discuss values and issues that the book covers. It may be that your child is readier than you think for this type of reading matter, and that the subjects covered are sensitively dealt with – more sensitively, perhaps, than the average soap or teen magazine.

      For a good list of books appropriate for each age group, and details of research into literacy and reading, visit www.literacytrust.org.uk.

      When should I stop choosing books for my children?

      Earlier we discussed research showing that reading rates fall dramatically once children begin to read independently, hitting a low in the twelve to seventeen age group (see page). Interestingly, only 64 per cent of parents think it is ‘very important’ for fifteen- to seventeen-year-old children to read, compared with 87 per cent who say the same for five- to eight-year-olds. This thinking is reflected in the fact that parents stop purchasing, choosing or suggesting books for older children, and expect them to find things that interest them on their own.

      Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Book Fairs and Trade Publishing, who led recent research, says, ‘We found that not only do parents need to be reading role models, but that they must play a key role in helping their older children select books that capture their imagination and interest.’

      How can I encourage my children to read more appropriate books?

      First of all, question your use of the word ‘appropriate’. They may not be the type of books that interested you as a child, and they may address modern issues that can be distressing or challenging, but this is not necessarily ‘inappropriate’. Consider what you don’t want your child coming up against just yet – explicit sex, violence, swearing, whatever – and discuss your reasons why these are important to you. Pre-teens and teens often make sense of their world by reading about the same things that puzzle or concern them in daily life – girls may, for example, be toying with the idea of having their first sexual encounter and develop a voracious appetite for books about teenage pregnancy, young love and sex. This is not wrong or inappropriate, and if the book is reasonably well written, she can sort through her feelings as she reads. Similarly, you aren’t necessarily producing a mass-murderer if your son shows an interest in books about terrorism or extremist thought – he may just be putting recent threats into context. Autobiographies of stars and athletes are often popular with boys, and tend to be ‘no-holds barred’ – frankly, your child will be reading nothing worse than what he reads in the papers or sees on television. If the subject interests him, gets him reading and encourages him to read more, then it may not be inappropriate after all.

      In terms of encouraging wider choice, get to know their interests and tastes; buy books by authors they previously enjoyed, and on subjects you know will hook them. Go through the bestseller lists together or read the reviews, and pick out things that sound fun. Some of your old favourites might hit the right note, but don’t count on it!

      How can I encourage my child to read more?

      Try some of the following tips:

      

Learn more about your child’s interests and suggest books, magazines and articles that relate to those topics. Clip things out of the paper that might interest him, including reviews or discussions of books that may appeal.

      

Sometimes films are a good starting point for pleasure reading – after seeing the film, he or she may be motivated to read the book. Next time, your child may wish to read a book before seeing a film.

      

Travel can spark reading – finding books that relate to a place you visit on a family holiday or that provide background information to historical places of interest can be a good starting point. For example, if you’ve recently visited a war museum or a battle site, a war history book, such as Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, might catch their fancy.

      

Keep plenty of books and other reading materials at home. If the TV isn’t a constant feature, your child is more likely to pick up a book or magazine. Check to see what disappears for a clue as to what interests your teenager.

      

Read books with your children! Children of any age can appreciate being read to (see page).

      

Be a good role model – let your children see you reading.

      

Give them an opportunity to choose their own books. When you and your children are out together, browse in a bookshop or library. Go your separate ways and make your own selections. Book tokens may encourage them to make their own choices, too.

      

Build on your child’s interests. Look for books and articles that feature their favourite sports teams, rock stars, hobbies or TV shows. Give a subscription to a special interest magazine.

      

Don’t sniff at reading only the sports section, Teletext, internet sites or comics – anything that gets them reading is good news, and provides a springboard for further reading.

      

Acknowledge your child’s maturing interests and tastes. Look for ways to recognise the emerging adult by suggesting some adult reading you think he or she can handle.

      What is an appropriate reading level for each age?

      All children read at different stages and ages, and although there is a template for how reading develops, the ages at which kids reach each level can differ wildly. Children with learning difficulties may never appear to match the levels achieved by other children in their class, while avid readers may fly ahead, leaving their classmates far behind.

      In a nutshell, your child’s teacher can and should tell you if your child is not reading to an appropriate standard.

      The Reading Foundation provides information on the stages of language and reading development, and offers tips for improvement at each stage. If you are worried that your child isn’t reading to an appropriate level, this can be invaluable information. Visit www.readingfoundation.org.

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