Fun Ways To Get A Little Boy To Read

I am in a new phase with my first-born, Rudy.

And like every new phase that he goes through, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M DOING.  Poor first-borns…they get all of our parenting “firsts” while we get all of their precious ones.

The new phase that we are in has to do with homeschooling.  I homeschool our 4 kids (not because we are antischool but, honestly, because we would never get to school on time) and Rudy (6) is kind of “stuck” in a reading rut.

He CAN read.  He can read fairly well, truth be told.  But he WON’T.  He doesn’t enjoy reading…except when we are driving down the road and he reads every road sign, billboard, and inappropriate bumper sticker along the way.  But sit down and read a book?  He would rather eat a bowl full of black beans…and he loathes black beans.

So here I am…a clueless first-time homeschooling momma with a 6-year-old who can read but won’t read except for trashy bumper stickers.   Awesome.

I’ve tried begging, bribing, threatening with black beans…the kid isn’t interested in reading.

UNTIL NOW.

He’s not going to know what hit him.  He’s going to be so sucked into Mommy’s Fun Reading Time Ideas that hours will have passed and he will have happily read the afternoon away.

Well…hopefully.

If you’re like me and you have a fun-loving, adventurous, not-so-interested-in-reading-but-can-read kinda boy:  here are a few ideas that might help.  I had to get into Rudy’s head a little bit and pull out things that he loves – weapons, dangerous insects, outer space, junk food – and channel those things into some reading material.

1. Make A Scavenger Hunt With Clues That Lead To A Treasure
Rudy was so excited that he literally didn’t even realize he was reading.

2. Make A Worksheet That Matches Words To Pictures That They Are Interested In
I just hope you can draw better than I do.

3. Write A Letter From Someone “Cool”
These are hilarious to write.

4. Make A Recipe That They Must Follow
Keep this one simple.

5. Read Jokes!
My boy is all about telling jokes, so this was really fun for him.

These may not be novels that he’s reading, but at least he’s reading…and having fun while doing it!

So, here’s to happy kids and little boys who will give reading a chance.

Related posts that you might enjoy:

• “Missionary Mondays” Series
• “Kids On A Mission” Series
• “Chapter Books To Read To Little Boys” Series

Photo credits:  here

Lauren Souers

Hi, my name is Lauren. I am the wife of one fine man and the momma of four (huge) young children – three boys and one princess! I love all of them. I mostly clean up messes and feed people all day, and it’s really fun to write about it. Jesus is the rock of my family – we love and serve a mighty King! I hope you leave here full of hope that “tired” can be good.