Friday 14 October 2016

Getting Children Into Reading: Part Three - Teens


Imagination doesn’t end when a child turns thirteen so don’t let their bookish adventures end either. My early teens were when I read the least. Books became a school thing rather than a treasured hobby. I didn’t rediscover reading until my mid-teens and when I did I noticed I was more creative, getting better marks for essays and developing the way I thought. Here are a few ways you can get your teens into reading…
  • Encourage and give books that generate discussion. The teenage era is when young adults are deciding who they are. Talking about important issues allows them to explore where they stand. How about trying these for older teens: Never let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.
  • These are fraught years. Match up your teenagers with heroes and heroines they can aspire to and learn from. Whether it be Jane Eyre or Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen or Elizabeth Bennett, an inspiring character can be a source of strength.
  • Recommend books that you love. Recommendations bring a personal connection and a book shared and loved will create a bond.
  • Coming of age books are an ideal choice for this era of transition as they tackle the issues facing young adults like first love, alienation and friendship. Some good ones to start with might be The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
  • Adaptations of classic books offer another way in. Seeing the drama come alive on the screen may give a desire to find it on the page.
  • Keep up with new young adult releases for a diverse selection of books. Have a look here for ideas.
  • At this age, bonding over books can be really easy and a great way to do it is through literary trips together. Find out about book festivals and author talks where you live. You could also research literary landmarks like The Bronte Museum and The Dickens Museum.

Which of these ideas are you going to try? How would recommend getting children into reading? Let me know in the comments below…
Catch up with the previous posts in this series:


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