Not every child naturally reaches for a novel.
If reading has become associated with schoolwork, corrections or difficulty, telling a child they "need to read more" can sometimes increase their resistance.
Find the right material
Books aren't the only form of worthwhile reading.
Try:
comics and graphic novels
magazines
joke books
football or sports books
fact books
instructions
children's newspapers
books linked to films or games they enjoy
The first goal is to find something your child wants to understand.
Let them abandon books
Adults stop reading books they don't enjoy. Children should sometimes be allowed to do the same.
Trying another author, genre or format can transform their attitude.
Read together
Reading doesn't always need to be independent.
Take turns reading paragraphs or characters. You can also read a more challenging book aloud while your child listens.
Don't correct every mistake
If every reading session becomes a stream of corrections, the story quickly disappears.
Correct errors that affect understanding, but allow reading to remain enjoyable.
Talk about stories
Ask what they liked, disliked or found funny.
That turns reading into a shared experience rather than another task to complete.
The objective isn't necessarily to create a child who loves every book. It's to help them discover that reading can give them access to information, stories and subjects they genuinely care about.