You need to have your kids read outside of school

[Anonymous]

We make our kids be in bed by 8. They can read until 8:30, but nothing else. The result is that they all were reading until 8:30. We also had to say no screens before or after school, just weekends.

I had been really upset that my kids didn't read. They don't read chapter books in school, just excerpts. I'm a big reader and have always, always read 30 min a night to my kids (still do before 8pm), so it pained me that none read.

[Anonymous]

I thought everybody knew this already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a big proponent of reading. We went to the library weekly as a family. I picked out some books I thought my kids would like from the classic or recommended lists, and they picked out books themselves. Typically they would read about 3-10 real books per week (one read basically a book a day, although I don't think his level of consumption was healthy either).

It's all fallen apart in teen years. They do read, but it's mostly crap. One of them is reading some online book that has like a thousand chapters. I can't believe it's any good but he really likes it. The other one reads fantasy romance crap. I even tried to pay them over the summer to read something better, but they declined. Part of it is their level of exhaustion as teens -- they are just beat, pretty much all the time.

I really really wish that MCPS would assign some of hte classics in their HS honors classes. That might take some of the burden off and they'd see they actually enjoy some of this stuff again. They are really frustrated with reading kiddie books that they read in ES for their HS classes, but then they shrug it off -- they aren't going to go out and decide to read Pride and Prejudice or Grapes of Wrath on their own. I'm hoping that AP Lit in 12th grade is at least something. It's especially frustrating because I feel like it's now also difficult to add those college level lit classes in college...plus most kids now don't even have the basis to know if they'd enjoy 19th Century Russian Lit or Renaissance English Literature or Modern American Lit or what. They need to get the survey stuff in HS to know what they might like to pursue more.

The disaster that is English from grades 6 to 10 is my biggest problem with MCPS. It's the one thing that I think they really do terribly (in addition to maybe lunch/recess but at least that one doesn't have an easy fix). The English thing would be pretty easy to fix - it's maddening that they refuse to do it.

Younger kids here. What you describe in middle and high school is my biggest dread about MCPS, ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:P.S. The real problems now in English are in H.S. That's by far the weakest link. They are reading books in the 9th grade MCPS-written "honors" curriculum that are part of the 4th grade CKLA curriculum.

4th grade ckla uses The Outsiders and Of Mice and Men? That seems…questionable at best.

4th grade CKLA (regular, not enrichment) uses excerpts from House on Mango Street, which is an option in MP3 for MCPS’s honors English 9 class: https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/14XsG7HxnXcr5tO7u7HpE7I28XTur-dKuQmAkJ1T0z_I/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, but banning graphic novels is not the smartest move. It was the transition for my then 8 yr old son to go from not reading, to reading voraciously.

No one is banning anything. Kids can read anything in their own time! Also, an 8 YO is not a 14-15 year old. People are complaining about having a graphic novel as the only full-length book read in MP1 in honors English 9..

DP. OP said "no more graphic novels at home" which sounds like banning them as pleasure reading and not letting kids read anything in their own time.

And do you think OP has the ability to ban graphic novels in your home?

[Anonymous]

OP I agree with you. This is super sad no one seems to care the next generations are dumber and dumber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

NP - no, that's not what it takes. There's research on this stuff. I'm not discouraging anyone from reading to or with their kids, but this level of investment in reading isn't necessary for most kids to become strong readers. They don't need to love reading for pleasure, because reading for pleasure isn't a virtue. Good for you, glad all this worked for your kids, but for all the parents of young kids who read this and think, there's no way I could do all that, you don't have to.

You DO need to pay attention to how well your kids are reading and if they're struggling still in first grade, do something about that.

Reading for pleasure may not be a virtue, but it sure is a good way for them to accelerate their reading ability.

Sure. But that reading regimen is extreme, said as someone who loves reading for pleasure, and has from a young age. Kids have other interests, families do other things. Again, I'm all for reading - but what's described is one person's experience. There are other ways to increase the chance that kids read for pleasure that don't involve extended parental involvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

NP - no, that's not what it takes. There's research on this stuff. I'm not discouraging anyone from reading to or with their kids, but this level of investment in reading isn't necessary for most kids to become strong readers. They don't need to love reading for pleasure, because reading for pleasure isn't a virtue. Good for you, glad all this worked for your kids, but for all the parents of young kids who read this and think, there's no way I could do all that, you don't have to.

You DO need to pay attention to how well your kids are reading and if they're struggling still in first grade, do something about that.

Reading for pleasure may not be a virtue, but it sure is a good way for them to accelerate their reading ability.

Sure. But that reading regimen is extreme, said as someone who loves reading for pleasure, and has from a young age. Kids have other interests, families do other things. Again, I'm all for reading - but what's described is one person's experience. There are other ways to increase the chance that kids read for pleasure that don't involve extended parental involvement.

I thought the main point of the post was that reading to/with kids beyond the early childhood years is important. Is that extended parental involvement? Is that not typical?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

NP - no, that's not what it takes. There's research on this stuff. I'm not discouraging anyone from reading to or with their kids, but this level of investment in reading isn't necessary for most kids to become strong readers. They don't need to love reading for pleasure, because reading for pleasure isn't a virtue. Good for you, glad all this worked for your kids, but for all the parents of young kids who read this and think, there's no way I could do all that, you don't have to.

You DO need to pay attention to how well your kids are reading and if they're struggling still in first grade, do something about that.

There is value to setting your kid up to be labeled a top reader in early grades. Once they're identified by their teachers as high-achieving or gifted, they get better opportunities and have more confidence in their intellect. It carries forward, or did for my kids.

That's your opinion. Any teacher who labels a kid as "high-achieving" or "gifted" solely because they read early from a young age is... misguided, at absolute best.

My youngest has dyslexia. He also has a sky-high IQ. His older siblings, who read early and easily, are also very smart, but he understands things they don't, or didn't at his age. Of course it's important kids learn to read well, but it's also important not to overvalue being a "top reader" from a young age. That misses so many kids, and for no good reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

I agree. Both my kids are avid readers, because we are a family of avid readers.

We read books to our kids for what felt like HOURS at night. These were adventure books - Harry Potter, Percy Jackson etc. I probably read aloud to my kids till they were 8 or 9 years old. It was addictive to them. Yes, lots of housework was ignored or done poorly by DH and I, because reading took precedence.

Kids picture books? Oh, it started early - right from when they were born. Every. Single. Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

NP - no, that's not what it takes. There's research on this stuff. I'm not discouraging anyone from reading to or with their kids, but this level of investment in reading isn't necessary for most kids to become strong readers. They don't need to love reading for pleasure, because reading for pleasure isn't a virtue. Good for you, glad all this worked for your kids, but for all the parents of young kids who read this and think, there's no way I could do all that, you don't have to.

You DO need to pay attention to how well your kids are reading and if they're struggling still in first grade, do something about that.

Reading for pleasure may not be a virtue, but it sure is a good way for them to accelerate their reading ability.

Sure. But that reading regimen is extreme, said as someone who loves reading for pleasure, and has from a young age. Kids have other interests, families do other things. Again, I'm all for reading - but what's described is one person's experience. There are other ways to increase the chance that kids read for pleasure that don't involve extended parental involvement.

I thought the main point of the post was that reading to/with kids beyond the early childhood years is important. Is that extended parental involvement? Is that not typical?

You think it's typical that parents read novels to their kids through elementary school? Daily? That a family reading for 30 minutes together in the same room, also daily, is typical? Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

NP - no, that's not what it takes. There's research on this stuff. I'm not discouraging anyone from reading to or with their kids, but this level of investment in reading isn't necessary for most kids to become strong readers. They don't need to love reading for pleasure, because reading for pleasure isn't a virtue. Good for you, glad all this worked for your kids, but for all the parents of young kids who read this and think, there's no way I could do all that, you don't have to.

You DO need to pay attention to how well your kids are reading and if they're struggling still in first grade, do something about that.

Reading for pleasure may not be a virtue, but it sure is a good way for them to accelerate their reading ability.

Sure. But that reading regimen is extreme, said as someone who loves reading for pleasure, and has from a young age. Kids have other interests, families do other things. Again, I'm all for reading - but what's described is one person's experience. There are other ways to increase the chance that kids read for pleasure that don't involve extended parental involvement.

I thought the main point of the post was that reading to/with kids beyond the early childhood years is important. Is that extended parental involvement? Is that not typical?

LOL. Yes, extended parental involvement is typical for the kids who are high achieving. We are talking about a nation of poor performers and indifferent parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

NP - no, that's not what it takes. There's research on this stuff. I'm not discouraging anyone from reading to or with their kids, but this level of investment in reading isn't necessary for most kids to become strong readers. They don't need to love reading for pleasure, because reading for pleasure isn't a virtue. Good for you, glad all this worked for your kids, but for all the parents of young kids who read this and think, there's no way I could do all that, you don't have to.

You DO need to pay attention to how well your kids are reading and if they're struggling still in first grade, do something about that.

Reading for pleasure may not be a virtue, but it sure is a good way for them to accelerate their reading ability.

Sure. But that reading regimen is extreme, said as someone who loves reading for pleasure, and has from a young age. Kids have other interests, families do other things. Again, I'm all for reading - but what's described is one person's experience. There are other ways to increase the chance that kids read for pleasure that don't involve extended parental involvement.

I thought the main point of the post was that reading to/with kids beyond the early childhood years is important. Is that extended parental involvement? Is that not typical?

You think it's typical that parents read novels to their kids through elementary school? Daily? That a family reading for 30 minutes together in the same room, also daily, is typical? Seriously?

I don’t think family reading is typical, but yes I absolutely thought UMC parents were reading novels to their elementary age kids. We do, our parents did, our friends did and do. Happy to be corrected in my impression but yes I’m shocked if this isn’t typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

NP - no, that's not what it takes. There's research on this stuff. I'm not discouraging anyone from reading to or with their kids, but this level of investment in reading isn't necessary for most kids to become strong readers. They don't need to love reading for pleasure, because reading for pleasure isn't a virtue. Good for you, glad all this worked for your kids, but for all the parents of young kids who read this and think, there's no way I could do all that, you don't have to.

You DO need to pay attention to how well your kids are reading and if they're struggling still in first grade, do something about that.

Reading for pleasure may not be a virtue, but it sure is a good way for them to accelerate their reading ability.

Sure. But that reading regimen is extreme, said as someone who loves reading for pleasure, and has from a young age. Kids have other interests, families do other things. Again, I'm all for reading - but what's described is one person's experience. There are other ways to increase the chance that kids read for pleasure that don't involve extended parental involvement.

I thought the main point of the post was that reading to/with kids beyond the early childhood years is important. Is that extended parental involvement? Is that not typical?

You think it's typical that parents read novels to their kids through elementary school? Daily? That a family reading for 30 minutes together in the same room, also daily, is typical? Seriously?

I don’t think family reading is typical, but yes I absolutely thought UMC parents were reading novels to their elementary age kids. We do, our parents did, our friends did and do. Happy to be corrected in my impression but yes I’m shocked if this isn’t typical.

On a related note, how else are people putting their children to bed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going to give a piece of advice about raising readers based on my experience:

You need to read to your kids way more, and way longer, than most people do. You also need to start reading them novel length books earlier.

Most MC and UMC parents read to their kids nightly until school age. But they mostly read picture books, and the tendency is to stop reading on e kids can read a picture book themselves, around K. They might still "read together" but the focus will be on encouraging the child to read to them. I actually think pushing kids to read aloud to parents is when many kids stop enjoying books, because reading aloud is much harder than just reading, and especially for a new reader, it can feel like a chore.

Instead, I would encourage parents to continue to read to their kids, and to start reading chapter books as soon as their kid can tolerate it (choose extremely engaging books so that the lack of pictures will bother them less, and the excitement will sustain interest over multiple nights as you read).

And then keep reading. If you read good, engaging novels to kids, they will develop an interest in reading no matter what. Yes you also separately have to support reading skills. If they aren't getting proper phonics instruction in school, do a program like Hooked on Phonics at home. They need 10-15 minutes a day, minimum, of phonics instruction until it clicks. But that's different from reading for pleasure, and if you want your kids to read independently for pleasure, you have to read to them in a way that shows them how mature, more advanced books can be pleasurable.

I would read TO your kids as long as possible, all the way through elementary ideally. Even after you stop reading to them, I'd suggest keeping up the habit of reading together, and spending 20-30 minutes each evening as a family reading in the same room, even if you are all reading different books. No screens except a e-book reader.

This is what it takes.

Sorry doesn't ring true to me. My parents never ever read to me and I devoured books as a kid. Read everything I could get my hands on. I didn't want to be read at or to, I read myself. You can't force kids to love reading. They either do or they don't.