“I don’t like to read.”

More often than I’d like to admit, I hear students (even my own children!) exclaim, “I don’t like to read.” (If we’re honest, many of us sympathize with this statement). Sure we “know” that reading is important. We’ve skimmed through the informational sheets from the pediatrician informing us that it’s important to read to our kids. We’ve filled out the reading logs sent home by teachers. We’ve even purchased books from bookfairs, for Christmas gifts, and even occasionally taken our kids to the library (some of us are still avoiding those late fees). Still, if asked what we want for our children, few of us would say, “I hope they grow up to be lifelong readers.” I challenge you to add this goal to your list.

What is so great about reading?

While much more will be written on this topic in future blog posts, it’s important to understand that reading the great books is a key element of a classical education. Particularly in the grammar stage (elementary level), a classical student day is filled with stories. These include Bible stories, great stories of history, and timeless literature. Our children are being formed by the carefully selected stories they listen to and read. Stories have the power to inspire virtues such as courage, humility, and fortitude. They allow us to build empathy as we see others and ourselves in a different light. Great stories reinforce the truth we are learning from the greatest story revealed to us in the greatest book, the Bible.

You may be thinking, “all of this is great but remember where we started? My kid doesn’t like to read.” Yes, back to that. While building the joy of reading in yourself and your children will take time and discipline, I promise you it will be worth it. Here are a few practical suggestions to get started.

1. Don’t allow your children to say, “I don’t like to read.”

When they say, “I don’t like to read,” acknowledge that reading can be hard work, admit that video games and other activities are easier and more fun in the moment, and encourage them to build their reading muscles so they can learn to enjoy it more. Remindthem that they enjoy listening to, watching, and telling stories which means that they CAN learn to enjoy reading if they give it time.

Bonus: Never say things like, “I never liked reading either or I’m not a good reader.” Instead, try, “I haven’t learned to enjoy reading as much as I would like to either, let’s both try to read every day.”

2. Allow them to see you reading.

Take time throughout the day to read your Bible, read a newspaper, or tackle that novel you’ve been hearing about. Modeling a positive attitude toward reading will have a significant impact on your children’s own views on building a reading life.

Bonus: Read from an actual book so they can see that you aren’t online.

Double Bonus: Read the books your children are reading for school along with them.

3. Indirect obstacles

When you decide that you want your children to appreciate reading, it’s important to identify what in their lives is fostering this love and what is stifling it. Are the movies and shows they are watching allowing them to think through a plot or are they merely flashy, loud, and predictable? (Older shows are often wholesome and a good place to start). Are we taking time to listen to anecdotes from their day, are we requiring them to listen to others with full attention? (Family dinner time is perfect for this. Ask your children to tell you a story they heard in school.) Have we created a routine and space that fosters quiet reading and contemplation? (Electronics off, a comfortable chair, maybe even a cup of tea and a blanket?)

Bonus: Consider setting aside portions of your day as, “Screen Free.” (that means you too, parents).

4. Rethink family “story time.”

A final, but high impact, way to encourage your children to become readers is to read to them. I know this can feel like an added burden to an already busy schedule, but there are some easy ways to begin. Audio books in the car are a great way to listen to stories with an already captive audience. Quality picture books are wonderful for their short, but beautifully written prose and illustrations (these work for older kids too). Finally, what better way to read together than to read portions of the Bible as a family?

Bonus: Find your library card. With it you can borrow new audio books each month.

Here’s to continuing on (or beginning) the journey of cultivating a reading life. It will have its highs and lows, its successes and failures. Along the way, I pray that being a part of Chapel Field encourages and blesses your family’s reading journey as much as it has mine.

Melissa Hoffman serves as Director of Special Education at Chapel Field.