[Ntschotschi]

I guess that most of you, like myself, enjoy reading. I wanted to share this experience wtih my kids but they won't read.
When they were little I took them to the library. I read bedside stories to them. When they were older I gave them my favorite books. Our house is full of all kinds of books but they won't read. The older one is fourteen and has read about three books - only because he had to do a summary for school. The younger one is ten and has never read a book by his own - the hobbit we read together.Why is it, that they won't read? What can I do? Any suggestions?

[Bardos]

Just a suggestion: I think you should not push them. Let the books lie on the shelfs, and see if one of your kids is interested.

I, for example, didn't read when I was young, but then I started reading alot...

[Metosblat]

Get them a playstation or a game console (if they don't already have one) and buy them role playing games. And make sure their good ones, Final Fantasy 6,7,8,9 etc.
One game i recomend is Xenogears, it's pretty much a novel on disk. This worked for many people i know. After playing good roleplaying games they decided they liked reading instead of loathing it.

[Thoughtcriminal84]

don't push them, but you can make books sound very interesting to them. That's what my mom did, telling me summaries of books she had read when I was a kid. She made the summaries sound so cool I had to read the books to find out more.

[Pluvious]

I like Metoblat's idea. There needs to be some interest from some alternate source. Either from friends or games is good. I got into reading fantasy because I played dungeons and dragons. I never liked reading before that. Either that or lock them in their rooms without anything except books. That should work.

[FitzChivalry]

It doesn't always works.. my 12 years old brother plays D&D, he plays computer RPGs... Final Fantasy and such and he doesn't touch a book...
He does read a magazine about computer games though, so if you give up on books try magazines, it isn't the same but at least they will be reading something...

[Cadfael]

Ntschotschi... is it that you want your children to read, whatever the genre, or is it specificaly Fantasy you would like them to read?

If your children have a particular intrest, maybe books and magazines that cover that intrest would help.

If I am not being too nosey, would you mind telling us how old your children are? I respect you may not want to put this on the forum.

Don't bother to answer, I missed the ages in the top post, sorry http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

My younger brother never read a book until he was 17, but now he never has his nose out of one, okay it not fantasy, but he does read and collect books. My parents actually got a little concerned over the amount of time I spent reading, "why don't you get out and enjoy yourself" type of thing http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

You probably know not to push or force your children to read. If they think of reading as a chore, the will resist all the harder.

Do they like Harry Potter, there is a movie due out soon, and if they like that, you may uses this to introduce them to the other Potter books.

[This message has been edited by dennizm (edited January 23, 2001).]

[Rob B]

Ask them to read a book and give them a reward for the book.

I will agree that RPG's are a pretty good way to crossover interest--Icewind Dale and Baldur's Gate based on Forgotten Realms novels. There is also a Wheel of Time computer game as well as a few based on Raymond Feist's books.

One of the main reasons I got into reading big-time was that my parents were big readers; I saw how much my parents enjoyed reading and I followed suit. They may eventually catch on by seeing the enjoyment you get out of reading.

Hope this helps. If I came across too preachy, sorry.

[Ntschotschi]

Thanks for your suggestions.
Games didn't work till now. Especially the ten-year-old spends most of his spare time playing computergames. Sometimes I think that's why he doesn't have to read: he puts all his fantasy into the games. He reads a lot of PC-magazines though. The fourteen-year-old is more into music, he's reading that kind of fanzines.
So it's not that they don't read at all...
Of course I tried the Potter books hoping for a miracle but they were only slightly interested, started to read it to do me a favour I guess.
Nevermind, I keep on having books lying around with interesting colorful covers so maybe someday just the right book will get them hooked one day.

[Pluvious]

I know when I was younger I was primarily interested in sports and physical activities, so I didn't even consider reading. It really just depends on who you are and what you want at whatever time in your life it is. Some people read their whole lives, others read when they slow down or mature. Unfortunately, there are some people who never learn to enjoy reading. These are the people I try to avoid conversations with whenever possible.