They don't want to read. You've tried everything — library, new books, bribes, threats. They sigh heavily, look at the phone, "can't find anything good". You start to believe they'll never become a reader.
Relax. Reading reluctance is much more common than most parents think. Many kids go through it at 8–10. It can almost always be turned around — but it takes understanding what blocks and how to solve it.
This article goes through the common causes of reading reluctance and concrete moves to break through. At Kluriko we see many parents with this problem, and Learning Games can be part of the solution.
Diagnose first — why don't they want to?
Cause 1: It's too hard. They're trying to read a book 1–2 levels above their reading ability. Every page is a fight. Give up.
Cause 2: It's boring. They're 9 and have to read books for 7-year-olds. Embarrassing and dumb.
Cause 3: They compare. Their friend reads Harry Potter. They still read Mulle Meck. Shame.
Cause 4: School damage. Teachers have corrected wrong words. Mum has nagged. They associate reading with criticism.
Cause 5: Competition. YouTube, TikTok, gaming are more fun than a book. They know what they pick.
Cause 6: Reading difficulties. They may have dyslexia, attention issues, vision problems. An underlying problem.
Diagnose first. Then solve. Different causes need different treatment.
Move #1: Lower the level, raise the status
If they find the book too hard — go down a level. Not up. They need flow. An easier book they can manage is better than a hard one they quit.
And if they find age-level books "boring" — they may need something different:
- Comics (Donald Duck, Asterix, Tintin)
- Non-fiction about their passion (dinosaurs, football, space)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid — popular at 8–11
- Captain Underpants — humour
- Manga — if they like anime
Move #2: Change the reading environment
At home at the desk? No one wants that. Try:
- Bed with a torch under the cover
- Sofa with hot chocolate
- A tree in the garden
- A hammock on the terrace
- The toilet — many kids read there spontaneously
A change of place is often the key.
Move #3: Model it
You read. Visibly. Not on your phone — on a physical book. When they see you read, they see adults do it. It's normal.
If you don't read — start. Ten visible minutes a day is enough.
Move #4: Break the school link
Reading at home should not feel like school. No worksheets. No questions about "What did you learn?". Just read.
And if the teacher gives reading homework they hate — do it separately from leisure reading. Put it in two different rooms, two different times.
Move #5: Give them control
They pick the book. They pick the place. They pick the time. They can stop when they want.
Then resistance fades. Reading becomes theirs, not yours.
Move #6: Co-reading
You read aloud to them, even at 9. "You're too old for me to read aloud, but I love this book — can I read you the first chapters?" They'll say yes. After two chapters — they want to know what happens next. They take over.
Move #7: Audiobook as a bridge
The child who doesn't want to read — get an audiobook. They listen. The book becomes a favourite. They want to know what happens in the next book in the series. Then they might be drawn to read the next.
Not always, but sometimes. Worth trying.
Move #8: Make reading social
- Book club with a friend. Two 8-year-olds read the same book and discuss.
- Family book reading. Everyone reads the same book, a page at a time.
- Recommendation wall. They write "Book X was great" on a post-it. They get to give tips to others.
Move #9: Reward system (carefully)
Not "read and you get ice cream". Reinforces the idea that reading is a chore.
But: "We read together 15 min, then we have ice cream." The ice cream is for the activity — not for the reading.
Or: "You finished a chapter book! We go to the library and you choose two new ones."
Move #10: Stop for 2 weeks
Sometimes the pressure is too much. Stop talking about reading entirely for 2 weeks. They do whatever they want. You say nothing.
Then the pressure fades. And they — maybe — pick up a book on their own.
When it's something more
If reading reluctance lasts 6+ months despite your tries — and they have marked reading difficulties — contact school. Could be dyslexia or something else that needs assessment.
Our article on dyslexia signs can help.
What not to do
- Nag. Never.
- Threaten. "No mobile game if you don't read." Reinforces negative link.
- Compare. "Your sister read at your age." Painful.
- Be embarrassed on their behalf. "You're 9, you should be reading..."
- Give up. Turn it around. It works.
How Kluriko helps
Kluriko Learning Games are screen-based and can be a way back in for the child who's lost joy. They train words and text in game format — and from that safety they can then go to a book.