10 Ways to Get Your Teenager Reading This Week

This week (October 13-19) is one of my favorite weeks as a librarian—Teen Read Week! This is an annual celebration that's held yearly in October. The purpose is to encourage teens to become regular readers and library users.

If you are the parent of a teenager, here are 10 easy strategies to help get your kid reading this week (and every week):

1. Take a family trip to the library.
No kid is ever too old for this! Public libraries have all kinds of programs designed just for teenagers, and I guarantee your public library has a rich selection of books for young adults.

2. Talk to your child about what he or she is reading.
Show your teenager that reading is something that is valued in your household, worthy of time and conversation.

3. Read along with your child.
You could agree on something to read together, or simply read whatever your teenager has chosen to read. Reading together opens up the doors to all kinds of wonderful conversations, and, again, it shows your kid that reading is something that is valued in your family.

Note: Don’t shy away from young adult books. YA novels are actually some of the most well-written and thought-provoking pieces of literature on the market today. And did you know that 55% of YA readers are over eighteen?

4. Reward your child for finishing a book.
This isn’t bribery—it's providing a reward for a job well done. Finishing a book is a huge accomplishment for many teenagers. Reward your kid the way you would for any other achievement, like hitting a home run, getting an A on a difficult test, or dancing in a ballet recital.

5. Encourage your child to always have a book on hand for car trips or commutes.
If your family is traveling for Fall Break, make sure your teenager has packed more than just his smart phone or iPad. He’s going to need something to do after he uses up all his Candy Crush lives….

6. Listen to audiobooks in the car.
This is another great strategy for families who are traveling over the break. (Protip: Hide your child's headphones before you leave.)

7. Read to your child before bed.
Fact: Big kids, teenagers, and even adults still love being read to. You might even switch it up and ask your kid to read to you.

8. Have your child read to younger siblings before bed.
There are all sorts of perks to this one:

When younger children have reading modeled for them by an older child or an adult they admire, it helps them become lifelong readers.
Sibling bonding!
Your teenager is reading!
You finally have a moment to yourself to watch that episode of Dancing with the Stars you DVRed two weeks ago...

9. Set a time each day (even if it’s just fifteen minutes) when every member of the family will read, and stick to it.
This is called Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) time. The twenty minutes before bed are perfect for this.

10. READ!
Your child looks up to you.

As always, if you need book recommendations, ask a librarian!

Image credit:
Reading. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 11 Oct 2013. https://quest.eb.com/images/139_1919288