by Sheriann Stanton

Created on: May 26, 2009   Last Updated: May 04, 2011

A reluctant reader has difficulty reading, or gets bored when reading, and finds it a tedious task instead of a wonderful escape to a world full of new and exciting places.

Do you want to instill the love of reading in your loved one?  Be sure to have all kinds of books available to the non-reader in case the urge to curl up with a good book occurs. Try not to push the issue and let the person make the choice to read. Repetition is the key to the non-reader's enjoyment of reading. If reading is initially slow and cumbersome, eventually it will become more second nature with practice assuming that the person is interested the book.

Many adults never learned to read well and can navigate the world without letting their secret be known. For example if a person cannot read they might pretend to need glasses to read a menu or sign, which results in assistance making the nonreader dependant on peers to accomplish tasks. Consequently, the nonreader is able to hide the fact that reading is a challenge. Research local adult learning centers for reading classes for that nonreader.

Assuming that a non-reading child is not interested in reading at all, it would be helpful to encourage reading magazine articles. Reading is reading whether you are reading a 400 page novel or various shorter stories and articles. Keep in mind that children like to read about subjects they are interested in and may lose focus on longer readings on subjects that are not of interest. Non-readers may feel overwhelmed with the time that a 400 page novel requires to complete. Encourage any type of reading that you can. Make reading fun by going a local field trip to a place described in the book. Research famous landmarks within reasonable traveling distance and check your local library for books about that place.  Your reluctant reader might be more likely to read if there is a reward like a day trip to look forward to.

If your non-reader is interested in sports, find books at the book store with fun facts and pictures. Non-readers should become better readers if they read more frequently. It is useful to have books around the house waiting for the moment that anyone is inclined to pick up a book. It helps if you are reading too. Set a good example for the family by reading.

In the event that you are hoping to entice an adult to read, give the gift of a bookstore gift card. There is no guarantee that a book will be purchased, but at least there is a chance. Give non-readers the gift of books with short stories that do not rely on chronological order for clarity. This way the non-reader can read the stories over the course of many days and not be confused by having to remember details of characters.

Understandably you want to share your love of reading with your family and friends but unfortunately not all people enjoy reading. Give them some slack if your initial attempts do not pan out; show your love by offering to buy them the movie version of your favorite story.

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