Paying kids to read
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Anonymous
| I'm thinking about paying my 8 y/o DS to read daily, i.e. one dollar for every book finished with a half page book report written. I want to encourage him to read, improve his fluency, and to learn to read for pleasure. Right now, getting him to read becomes a power struggle and I'm wondering if an incentive (he loves money) would get him over the hurdle to finding how enjoyable reading can be. Anyone done something like this? |
Anonymous
| It's required that kids read at least 30 minutes per day in my kids' schools. I don't pY them for homework and I'm not paying them to read. But we do all do the reading together. We get together in my bedroom a half hour before bed and everyone reads. Also I let them read whatever they want so long as it's appropriate. My kids have very distinct preferences about what they enjoy when it comes to reading. |
Anonymous
| The general consensus is to let them read whatever they want to read, whether you think it's too easy, too immature (potty humor) or whatever, to develop a real love of reading. Using money or another extrinsic reward actually makes it less likely that he'll develop a love of reading. And don't have him write a book report--just talk about the book with him. You could try having a brief time each day where he reads whatever book he wants to, and you read something at the same time. |
Anonymous
| Read to him. My ds doesn't love to read, but he LOVES being read to. Boxcar children, Indian in the cupboard, magic treehouse, wayside school, anything funny or adventurous. |
Anonymous
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I pay my child to read, and have for several years. DS finds reading difficult and needs a motivator. Money is that motivator. (Other children might read for screen time, clean for money, or play soccer for a trophy. People sometimes react badly to discussions about incentives for reading, but I don't have a problem with recognizing where my child needs an incentive.)
When DS was your child's age, any reading counted towards earning money. By the time DS was 10, school required reading did not count towards money. DS is still not a self-motivated reader but over the past year there have been a few times of DS reading without keeping track of monetary gain. I don't know that DS will ever read much for pleasure but it is no longer a fight to get him to do necessary reading. |
Anonymous
| When other more "normal" methods fail, I'd have no problem paying a kid to read. |
Anonymous
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Agree with 11:51. My kids sometimes read for pleasure, but they read a lot more if I pay them, and I figure while they are young its better to get the practice in so that they will be more fluent readers when it matter more for school. I do make them write up something nominal about each book before I will pay them (What did you like best about this book? Would you recommend it to a friend/why or why not?)
Intrinsic motivation is great and all, but if they don't have it for reading, I'm willing to pay for now to get them to do more. |
Anonymous
| I'm glad to see this topic. My 8 year old DD is similar and I've been trying to come up with ways to get her to read more on her own. I hadn't considered paying her, but I might try it. Thanks for the suggestion. |
Anonymous
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I don't think you should make him write a book report. That would turn me off reading and I love to read!
I'm also not in the paying for reading camp because I don't think there should be a monetary value on doing something that he's just supposed to do. But then, I don't pay my kids to do chores either -- it's just expected that they do them to be part of the family. Like PP, encourage him to read anything, even if you aren't crazy about the topic or potty humor or whatever, just to get him going. I've also found that if a librarian suggests a book to my reluctant reader, he's more willing to check it out and read it than if I suggest it to him. |
Anonymous
+1 I also recommend the Hatchet series, by Gary Paulsen. Completely riveting. Read to your son nightly, but leave him with end-of-chapter cliffhangers. |
Anonymous
| I have trouble getting my dd to read who is 8. I was so excited to see a Minecraft manual at Michael's. She sat down and read for over an hour, and then she brought the book to school. Yah! |
Anonymous
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I am leery of paying kids to do anything that you want them to like, because to me it seems to give the message that it's work. I also don't like to pay them to do something that is a basic responsibility (like chores.) But that is a personal value that varies from family to family.
I found that a great way to encourage my children to read was to read the first chapter aloud to them. Usually by then they're caught up in the story and want to continue. But this may not help for someone who really doesn't like reading! |
Anonymous
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It wouldn't occur to me to use money as an incentive. This is probably because I have more time than money! I would work with the local librarian to find exciting books that are somewhat age appropriate. Pirates? Magic? Whatever excites the imagination. I'm a good reading role model as there are always books by the side of my bed. Right now my children are early readers, just starting out. So, rather than read together in the evening, I'll read while they work on their iPad or color or do a piece from their weekly homework pile. What's important is that they see reading as an essential part of daily life. It's more fun than brushing their teeth, although probably not as much fun as eating pancakes for breakfast! Maybe linking a book to a movie? As adults we're used to watching a film after having read the book. Maybe treating your child to a movie (with popcorn or whatever fun snack) after finishing a book would be a nice complement to the book reading? You have to find what works for your child. |
Anonymous
If it works, go for it. |
Anonymous
Yes this. OP, just make it 15 minutes a day. If you pay the kid to read, you'll have no idea if he's actually reading. Reading together is a nice way to bond. |