In the Loop with Andy Andrews

ITL180: How to Encourage a Child to Read (Even if Your Child Is Older and Hates Reading)

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On this week’s episode, I answer a listener question asking if the teen years are too late to get kids to start reading.

 

I am dealing with this every day with adults.

  • I was 23 when Jones found me under the pier and gave me biographies.
  • Nobody ever told me, “Let me tell you why you want to read this.”
  • We’ve all heard that experience is the best teacher, but I think somebody else’s experience is the best teacher. This is why reading biographies is so important.

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    While living under the pier, I went through periods of fear and periods of boredom.

    • Jones told me that the books weren’t biographies but rather tales of romance, mystery, and adventure.
    • I grew up hating history, but it’s a passion of mine now.
    • I believe that sometimes people do not think things through to their foundation; many have surface-level thoughts about what they do and don’t like.

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      It’s amazing to me how many people will say, “Well, I don’t like to read.”

      • You mean you’ve never read something that made you laugh out loud, or cry?
      • I’ll ask just a couple questions, and it turns out that there is something they’ve read, whether it’s a magazine, newspaper, etc., that deeply affected them somehow.
      • So what you’re telling me is that the other books you’ve picked up are boring!
      • Find something you like to read!
      • Whatever your interest is—whether you’re a teen or a retiree—many have probably written about it, and someone has probably written about it well.
      • Regardless of their age, find your children a book or article they’re interested in, and they’ll want to read it.

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        In the full episode, I reveal the trick I use to get my kids to read whatever I want them to read.

         

        Questions for Listeners

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          In the Loop with Andy AndrewsBy Andy Andrews, hosted by David Loy
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