by Victoria Rose Perkins

Created on: October 27, 2009

What if your teen is not interested in reading much, and the window of opportunity to start at an early age has passed? Perhaps, in their earlier years, there was not a whole lot of time on your hands, to sit down and read with your child. Is it too late? No!

From a teen's perspective, reading is work. Teens are struggling toward independence and most lead busy lives, in and outside the classroom. So, if they are getting passing grades and doing their homework, do not nag at them. Instead, try entering the back-door, so to speak. Once a teen realizes reading is pleasurable, they are more apt to develop good reading habits, without parental struggle.

We need to keep in mind, the art of reading for entertainment has been somewhat replaced by modern technology. We live in a society of instant gratification, and reading can seem like drugery to a teen. Following are some suggestions to help your teen get ino developing good reading habits. Keep in mind, developing good reading habits does not come overnight. Patience and praise are key.

1. Who does not like a good mystery story. If you have read one in the past, get the book out. Each day find a few minutes to talk to your teen about that particular book. Mention how scary or who you think committed the crime. Talk about the characters with great interest. Once your teen gets emotionally involved with the characters, they will want to know what happens. Here, with a smile, you tell them, "The only way to know is to read the book and you wont be sorry you did!"

2. Let your teen see you deeply involved in reading a favorite book. Make short, exciting comments about the book. The idea is to let them see that reading is for fun, not just school work.

3. Whatever interests your teen, in the form of recreation or sports, leave a few magazines, about that subject, lying around the living room. They are bound to pick it up out of curiosity. As adults, isn't that what we do, when we are at the doctor's office or waiting for an appointment? Short, interesting articles, instead of a complete book, will project the idea reading does not have to take a lot of my (teenager's) time.

4. At gift giving times, include a book about teenagers. How some teen overcame obstacles or challenges and became successful. Encourage a few of your close relatives to include a book as part of their gift. With books real handy, lying around the teens room, they may pick one up out of bordom. And, teens do get bored!

5. Get subscriptions to "Seventeen" magazine or any magazine which has articles your teen has an interest in. Read one of the articles and ask your teen did they know "such and such" about one of the subjects. Make sure to put it in the subscription in their own name.

When all else fails, consider the barter system. It goes like this. Teenagers like to "strike a deal." Select a book, such as required reading or a book that will need a book report as part of homework, and tell your teen this. If he/she spends one half hour every night reading that book, you will reward them.

Make it sound more like a fun thing to do, then a command. Be sure to tell your teen, you plan to quiz them on what they've read each night because you are interested in the characters and how the book turns out. The reward can be anything you both agree on. Involve them in the decision making of what the reward will be. We all like to be rewarded for a good job done, and teens are no different. In the meantime, they more than likely will develop an interest in reading books of their own choosing. It is never to late to give it a try!

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