Encouraging Boys to Read with Interesting Books

Hello,

 

When I wrote Outlaw Heroes, I didn't sit down with the sole purpose of writing a book for boys. I wrote the story because it was interesting to me and fun to write. But once it was finished, I realized that it would be a good book for both boys and girls because it contained action and adventure as well as a storyline that girls might also enjoy. In the world of middle-grade and young-adult books, finding one that appeals to both boys and girls is a daunting feat. It's obvious that the market is flooded with stories aimed at girls and teen girls, leaving boys behind. The Harry Potter series was a welcomed change because it appealed to boys and girls, and there have been a few other series books that both genders have enjoyed, but overall the market is in the female favor. This can be very frustrating to parents of young boys when trying to find books their sons will read.

Below is an article I wrote not long ago about the growing issue of boys being disinterested in reading. I hope it will help parents of boys who are looking for ways to encourage their sons to not only read, but maybe even enjoy reading for fun.

 

Encouraging Boys to Read

It is a proven fact from school testing through the U.S. Department of Education over the past 30 years that boys have consistently been falling behind in reading skills as compared to girls.  The sad truth of this is that very little has been done to fix this problem.  Moreover, this is not just a trend in the U.S. but also affects 22 other countries, including Canada and England, according to Stephen Gorard, an education professor at the University of York, England.  Boys may begin school interested in books but slowly lose interest by the second or third grade.  Getting boys to actively read for enjoyment after this can be a struggle.  Fortunately, there are things parents and teachers can do to encourage boys to become interested in reading again.

Understand learning differences between boys and girls – On the average, girls learn language earlier and easier than boys which helps them learn reading at a faster rate in the early years.  Boys do eventually catch up but many times they have already given up on the enjoyment of reading before they catch up.  Pushing boys to read at an early age can actually work against them because they become frustrated at not being able to achieve the skill as quickly as the girls in class.  Having a reading program in the early years that allows children to learn at their own pace might help to alleviate the stress on boys to learn reading skills they are not yet ready for.

Build confidence – Boys lose confidence in their ability to read early on because it is so frustrating to them.  They immediately feel they cannot learn and give up.  Build confidence in young readers by helping them choose books at the reading level they have mastered and work slowly up the reading scale.  Don’t compare one young reader’s skill with another’s.  Learning to read it not a competition, it is a skill that needs to be nurtured and mastered through time.

Choose reading material that sparks interest – One reason boys fall behind in reading is because they are just not interested in the reading material chosen by educators.  Boys like to read different books than girls do.  They prefer adventure stories, fantasy, suspense, and even downright gross stories or potty humor.  Boys also enjoy reading nonfiction stories, such as the history of pirates or survival stories.  Information books, magazines and comic books are also reading material boys prefer.  Parents and teachers need to redefine their idea of what proper reading material is and allow for different choices to keep boys interested.

Boys like to move – Boys are generally less able to sit for long periods of time reading a book.  They are active and like to move around.  It is easier to get boys to read if they only do so for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.  Forcing an active child to sit and read for hours will not generate a person who loves to read, it will only make him dislike reading more.  Encourage a reluctant reader to read for short time periods so he won’t resent reading.

Get Dad or other male role models involved – Many boys grow up watching women read, moms, sisters, aunts and grandmothers, so they don’t equate reading as an activity for men.  It is not that their dads and uncles don’t read, they just don’t generally see them sitting down to read a good book.  A good way to get boys excited about reading is to have dad or another male role model share their favorite reading material with your son.  Seeing other men excited about reading may help your son get excited about it too.

Boys can grow up to enjoy reading if parents and educators see the differences in how they learn and adapt to these differences.  Encouraging your son by letting him read what interests him and letting him develop at his own pace are the best ways to raise a boy who enjoys reading.

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Thanks for stopping by!

Deanna