rewarding 7 yr old for reading books

[mjkacmom]

I see no problem rewarding a child to read if they don't like to read. A lot of people have commented that they don't reward reading, but it's not an issue, because their children love to read. My kids are middle of the road - don't love to read (unlike me, who always has a book open, and several more on the next book pile), but will read. My gf's dd7 HATES to read (her dd8 LOVES to read), and it's totally a different story. She has a rewards chart which appears to be working.

 

[The Princess]

My dds are much older than yours,(17 and 14)and we all love to read in my family so every year we have a contest on who reads the mosts books and pages of the year and the winner gets a gift card to Barnes and Noble. Infact we all get a gift card to Barnes and Noble just 1st place gets the "big" one.
We have a lot of fun doing it and has worked out good

 

[poohfriend77]

My DD7 is a total bookworm (she gets it from me!), so my first reaction was also to say reading should be expected, not rewarded. BUT... I also think that forcing a child to read could turn into a huge battle of wills and make the child hate reading/school/etc.

I like the dollar bill bookmark idea! I also think (if you aren't already doing this) you should sit with her while she reads. Maybe take turns reading pages with her. That way it's more about spending special time with you.

And let her "accidentally" overhear you brag. Tell Grandma that she is an AWESOME reader, and that she can read chapter books written for older kids, etc.

 

[momz]

check out www.bookadventure.org you will find a lot of helpful information about choosing level appropriate books. There are also quizes to take to evaluate comprehension. We are giving it a try at our house...the kids don't know it yet....luckily, they like to read.

 

[tommya60]

Our DD is a complete bookworm, so rewarding reading never was an issue....but I thought I'd pass along a budget tip. Goggle Scholastic Warehouse sales and see if there is a warehouse in your area. If so, sign up for the sale events (check volunteer). I have never seen them refuse entrance, they don't check at the door to see who you volunteer for, etc. I signed up when I was helping with the elementary school book fairs. Those sales are amazing. Books are frequently half price or less. Gift books, too--cookbooks, container gardening, Klutz, American Girl, all levels from elementary to adult (most are elementary/middle school). Be careful if you buy software, a friend bought some that required a very old operating system. Other than that, it's a great place to shop for books! Check out the $1 bins, remember to look for reference books, ask a friend what's needed for the next grade. I love this sale!

 

[Crystal0608]

Reading is a requirement from school on daily logs/tests for both kids. I have to reward it differently with each kid, both involves more books.

I reward my dd (9) by buying more and more books, since she loves to read and reads about 80-300 pgs per day and is on a middle school reading level. Usually I read a book/series while she is reading one then we switch so I know what she is reading. I'd be broke for $1 a book, but that's a great idea.

My ds (8) on the other hand, likes to read but has A LOT of trouble with it. He is tutored twice a week from a tutoring co & once a week by his teacher. The tutoring co. tested him at 41 wpm last week (39 wpm at end of 1st grade) and his teacher said this week he is now on a 2nd grade reading level which is awesome for him. He wants to be like his friends and check out thick hard chapter books at school, but he has to check out more easy readers b/c of his level. He hates reading the easy readers and begs for chapter books (more so he can carry them to school) though I know he can't really read them well yet. So...as a reward/incentive to read I buy him what he wants- Percy Jackson, Wayside School, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and most recently two all-boy chapter books Sweet Farts and the Day by Butt Went Psycho. The last two have really had him trying to read them. Sometimes I also buy him the overpriced WWE magazines as a reward.

 

[skw444]

My dd is 7 too. We don't really reward her for reading, but I do let her pick out a new book every so often when she finishes a book. Also, check with your school for a reading incentive program. Ours does the Pizza Hut Book It and Read to Succeed which rewards with a free ticket to Six Flags. The Six Flags tickets have motivated my dd to read her chapter books.

 

[abcboys]

I have a 7 year old who likes to read and an 11 year old who doesn't. My 11 year old is practicing the violin but I find I really need an incentive for him to practice so I told him if he gets 12 practices in at 15 minutes each I will take him out for lunch. So now my 7 year old said he wants taken out to lunch too and the only thing I could think of as a "goal" for him was his AR reading points at school. I will take him out to eat for every 25 AR points he gets. Really, I should be doing the AR thing with my oldest not my middle but maybe you could do something like that.

 

[dsneybride]

I like the dollar bill idea or something like a sticker chart that she can fill up and earn money for new books.

I like both of those ideas also. That may be our weekend project, to make a chart!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

In our house, when you finish a book your reward is getting to buy another one, or going book "hunting" at goodwill. Then again my mom was blessed. I loved to read (and would go through a star trek (350 pages) book a week)

 

[KimFIGFern]

I am a reading specialist and to be very truthful, if you would spend the time and read the books with her ... your gift of time is the BEST gift you can give her. She will learn to love reading and the memories of time with you.

Here are some suggestions to read together:

She reads aloud to you, both of you read a chapter on your own and talk about it, or you read one page and she reads the other page.

I'm not too big on rewarding kids for reading (IMO) because it usually doesn't work in the long run.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[deerhart]

To get my oldest to read chapter books (and then to read books at his reading level and a little harder), I stopped counting any books that weren't up to par towards his homework reading requirement, towards the six flag ticket rewards, or towards the Summer Library Book program!

I don't think rewarding a child for reading is a bad thing. MANY schools and library programs do just that. Heck our library here for teenagers they earn a chance in a drawing for things like ipods for each book read over the summer.

Part of reading is getting the child to want to read, to realize they enjoy reading, and then reading for the pure pleasure of it. It is not always an easy course or even a straight one. Hence why when all my son wants to read are Calvin and Hobbes cartoon books or Diary of a Wimpy kid books, he gets no complaints from me (as they are both in his range, though his reading level is now SOARING past them)

Now that he's in 4th grade, he's eligible for his own library card and got one this year (and promptly checked out more Calvin and Hobbes books..)

 

[indimom]

And I believe that hard work deserves a reward. DH and I LOVE reading. There are always books laying around that we are in the middle of. I fully expected my children would love to read also.
DD12 gets As and Bs on her report card. She's smart enough, but reading is an absolute chore to her. She is slow, tedious, and it takes her so long to drag through a book that she gets no joy from it at all.
For the last few years in school, completing a large number of books for AR has become part of her grade. She cares about her grades and tries sooo hard and this has become a real challenge for her. We are talking hours of homework and reading nightly. Why shouldn't that kind of effort be rewarded?? I work hard and earn a good living. I don't see where rewarding hard work is bad...
Only in the last year have we started to "see the light at the end of the tunnel." She is actually starting to "like" some of the book series she has been reading and gets something other than a grade from the books. Thank goodness!

 

[merekc]

My ds (8) on the other hand, likes to read but has A LOT of trouble with it. He is tutored twice a week from a tutoring co & once a week by his teacher. The tutoring co. tested him at 41 wpm last week (39 wpm at end of 1st grade) and his teacher said this week he is now on a 2nd grade reading level which is awesome for him. He wants to be like his friends and check out thick hard chapter books at school, but he has to check out more easy readers b/c of his level. He hates reading the easy readers and begs for chapter books (more so he can carry them to school) though I know he can't really read them well yet. So...as a reward/incentive to read I buy him what he wants- Percy Jackson, Wayside School, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and most recently two all-boy chapter books Sweet Farts and the Day by Butt Went Psycho. The last two have really had him trying to read them. Sometimes I also buy him the overpriced WWE magazines as a reward.

I feel your pain, my DS7 had to have reading tutors the last two summers because he was behind. This year (2nd grade) it finally just clicked. He is now reading like a mad man. Another series that you might try for your son is the How to Train a Dragon. The movie is coming out in a few months. But the thing he might like is that it is set up a lot like wimpy kid with pencil drawings throughout. So it looks like a big book, but is still easier.

As for the OP, my DS7 LOVES going to the real bookstore. Not the thriftstore, not half price books, but a Borders or B&N. This is a special treat for him. He also enjoys when we just go to bed early and everyone reads in mom and dad's bed. This will probably only last for a few years until we are uncool, but I will enjoy it until then.

 

[shellyfive]

My last little one hates to read---so we did give him a sticker chart with a reward after so many stickers.....he was really excited the first week, then tapered off.....so I just let him vent....then a week later he came back with his chart all full, (he was working on the side with his sisters and dad!!)and ready to go shop for his earned reward!!! I am hopeful that when he gets enough books under his belt, he'll like to read for the adventure itself, like his siblings do now. They are all different, and you have to figure out what works for each one !!!!
Now getting the older one to browse 25 new words each day for his upcoming SAT's is a totally different animal!!!!! NO STICKERS THERE