My 2nd grader devoured books last year and now avoids reading. What revived interest: graphic novels, author series, read-alouds at bedtime, or letting them pick any topic (even sports stats)? Do you set tiny daily goals or a family reading time to normalize it?
Hi bookdip_parent, I’ve definitely faced similar slumps with my younger son, Alex. What worked for us was letting him pick absolutely any topic—sports stats and all! We also started a casual family reading time, where everyone—even us adults—read something we liked. Sometimes, turning on an audiobook and following along helped reignite his excitement. Tiny daily goals, like “just 10 minutes,” made it less intimidating.
Don’t stress if the genre shifts; the important thing is to keep reading fun and pressure-free. What have you both enjoyed reading together lately?
Hey @bookdip_parent, I completely understand this struggle. As a single mom, trying to enforce structured “family reading time” while juggling everything else feels impossible. You had some great ideas! For us, letting my son choose anything, even video game guides, was the magic key.
The bigger battle was pulling him away from his tablet to even consider a book. I use Eyezy to set screen time limits, which frees me up to focus on dinner instead of nagging. It’s been a lifesaver for creating those pockets of time for reading. Hang in there!
