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28 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • September 2022 WRITTEN BY JANEEN LEWIS ages & stages Hook a Book Lover 10 Clever Ways to Get Kids to Read One of the most important things parents can do is raise a reader. Successful reading leads to successes in academics and gives kids a solid start in life. In fact, recent research shows that kids who read at least 15 minutes a day have accelerated reading gains. But no matter how diligently parents support reading, sometimes kids resist. Books have to compete with those oh-so-scintillating devices, video games and streaming apps. Why not shake things up and try stealthy ways to hook a book lover? The following 10 ideas are sure to win over the most reluctant reader. 1. FREE STUFF! If your kids don't believe you, ask Alexa, Siri or Google "What free stuff can kids earn by reading" and oodles of items will pop up. By merely recording the titles they are reading, my own children have earned pizzas, frozen yogurt, books from Barnes & Noble and amusement park tickets. One time my son turned in the most reading logs in our local summer reading program and got to be inter- viewed on the radio by a DJ. She gave him a basket of goodies including movie tickets for our entire family. 2. LET THE BOOKS OUT. Don't cage them up on the shelves! Research shows that kids from print-rich homes are better readers, but it helps if the books, magazines and newspa- pers are out where kids can see them. When my son was 8, he announced that he didn't want to read non-fiction books because they bored him. I checked out a big stack of nonfiction titles from the library and in my most nonchalant voice said, "You don't have to read these, but I think I will. They seem very interesting." I strategically placed the books throughout the house, concentrating on his favorite places. That kid read every book by the end of the week. Put bins and baskets of books in the bathroom, in the car, and spread out books with inviting covers all over hard surfaces in your home. 3. REWARD WITH EXTRA BEDTIME READING. Have you noticed that your child who has a plague-like aversion to reading during the day suddenly develops a fondness for it at bedtime? Embrace this and let your child earn extra reading time at bedtime. If he or she reads for a specified amount of time or a certain number of books, extend lights out for a few minutes—as long as your child spends that time reading.