As I completed the 6th book before 8.00am my son picked up the next one for me to read. I love reading to him and thankfully there are some great children’s books to choose from that I enjoy them as well, except perhaps after the 4th time in a row which is quite common however repetition is key to a child’s learning and development.
Our local library, like many, has a summer reading incentive scheme. The children get stickers for each book they read. I hate sticker charts. I know they are a staple in most family homes but having read Alfie Kohn’s Punished By Rewards I can see how it actually doesn’t foster long term change. The child’s focus goes from the activity to the reward. Alfie talks about how reading incentive programs to do same. He talks about the Book It program in the US where gets get pizza for reading books.
Research shows the focus moves from reading to the pizza/incentive. It actually lowers motivation to read. Children pick the shortest books so they can get more incentives/pizza.
So what do I suggest? I suggest utilising the child’s intrinsic motivation. If you watch a child a play they don’t need motivating. If you watch them learning something they are interested in, they don’t need motivating. They only need motivating to do something they don’t want to do at that particular time.
You can foster intrinsic motivation by ensuring they remain in control, they choose the books they are interested in. You can select a number for them to choose from so they have the choice but also have an element of control of what they are choosing. Read when they want to read whether in the bath or when they first wake up. It doesn’t have to be the same time each day. Go with their flow.
Make it novel. Get in touch with your inner child and do some character voices. Have fun together reading. Be interested in the story yourself.
Think about how you are motivated to do things you are interested in. You may find it is not external incentives it is an internal, intrinsic, motivation.
Thankfully our son (4) is not aware of the scheme in the library and he doesn’t need any incentive to choose a fistful of books on our regular trips.
Happy reading!