“Why Is It a Fight to Get My Child to Read?” Fostering a Love of Reading By Building Comprehension Skills
Reading should be an enjoyable and enriching experience for children, but for many struggling readers, it feels like a frustrating chore. When kids don’t understand what they’re reading, they are less likely to engage with books and more likely to avoid reading altogether. If your child doesn’t enjoy reading, it could be a sign of weak comprehension skills. Here’s why—and what you can do to help foster a love of reading.
When Reading Feels Like a Chore
Children with strong comprehension skills find joy in books because they can visualize stories, connect with characters, and understand the information being presented. However, when comprehension is weak, reading feels meaningless or confusing. This frustration often leads to avoidance, making it harder for kids to improve their skills over time.
Signs Your Child May Be Struggling with Reading & Comprehension
A child who dislikes reading might exhibit signs of comprehension difficulties, such as:
- Skimming instead of truly engaging with the text
- Struggling to recall key details or summarize a story
- Avoiding books or claiming they are boring
- Preferring books with pictures over text-heavy material
- Showing frustration or fatigue when asked to read
Read More: Signs of Reading Difficulty (& When to Seek Help) >>
How to Foster a Love of Reading
To help children develop a love for reading, it’s important to address comprehension struggles while making reading an enjoyable experience. Here are some strategies to try:
Choose the Right Books: Select books that align with your child’s interests and reading level. If the material is too difficult, comprehension may suffer, leading to frustration.
Read Aloud Together: Hearing a fluent reader can help children understand tone, inflection, and meaning, making comprehension easier.
Encourage Visualization: Ask your child to describe the scenes in their mind while reading. This can help build a stronger connection between words and mental imagery.
Discuss the Story: Talk about the book, ask open-ended questions, and relate the story to your child’s experiences to deepen their understanding.
Incorporate Audiobooks: Listening to audiobooks can enhance comprehension skills while making stories more engaging and accessible.
Strengthening the Skills Behind Comprehension
While these strategies can help in the short-term, they aren’t a long-term solution. To improve reading fluency and comprehension, you need to make sure your child’s brain has a solid foundation of cognitive skills that are essential for reading and learning.
At LearningRx, we specialize in helping children build the cognitive skills necessary for strong reading comprehension, including memory, attention, and processing speed. When these skills are strengthened, reading becomes easier—and more enjoyable.
If your child avoids reading or struggles to engage with books, we can help. Contact LearningRx today to learn more about how brain training can improve comprehension and foster a lifelong love of reading.
