| Teens may turn into reluctant readers. | | | | forward to being able to drive. Get a driver's |
| Sometimes this is because the majority of the | | | | manual and have them study to take their |
| reading they do is for school and, therefore, work. | | | | driver's test. If they are having trouble reading |
| Another cause may be that they are struggling | | | | the manual, help them through it. |
| with reading at the level of their peers. Often this | | | | Weekly cooking. Work with your teen to set one |
| leads them to take a defensive position and they | | | | night a week as their night to prepare dinner. Let |
| declare reading is stupid, no fun, or boring. | | | | them choose the menu, find recipes, check to |
| Parents can help by encouraging independent | | | | see all ingredients are on hand and if not, add |
| reading. Independent reading is motivating because | | | | them to the weekly shopping list. When they first |
| it is about choosing subject matter of interest to | | | | start, you may need to provide a helping hand. As |
| the reader, in this case, the teen. This is the | | | | they become more experienced cooks, you will |
| reading we all do for our own enjoyment and | | | | need to provide less assistance. Not only does |
| entertainment. Instead of pressing for reading at | | | | cooking improve reading and math skills, it is a |
| a particular grade-level, let this reading be at | | | | vital life skill. |
| whatever level the teen feels comfortable. The | | | | Pen pals. If your teen has a favorite relative, see |
| point here is to reinforce success and create a | | | | if the relative would be willing to exchange letters |
| feeling of confidence. The teen will naturally seek | | | | or e-mails with your teen. In addition to reading, |
| more difficult material as he or she grows more | | | | the sense of connection to others is helpful during |
| comfortable and confident. Here are some ideas | | | | a time when teens search for answers about |
| on how to keep a teen motivated to read. | | | | themselves and their identity. |
| Schedule a weekly trip to the library. Obtain library | | | | Develop a personal library. Encourage your teen |
| cards for each teen. Let them choose any | | | | to develop a library of favorite books. In addition |
| material they would like to look at for the next | | | | to purchasing new books, they can add books to |
| week. Be open to CD's, DVD's, tapes, magazines, | | | | their collection through yard sale purchases, used |
| or books. When there is no pressure to pick a | | | | bookstores, and library sales. |
| particular type of material, teens feel able to pick | | | | Gift your teen with a magazine subscription. |
| something of interest and at a level they are | | | | Choose a magazine which covers a topic your |
| willing to tackle for enjoyment. Remember you | | | | teen is interested in - cars, wildlife, movies, or |
| want to develop a lifelong reader. | | | | anime. Another closely related approach is to let |
| Encourage your teen to join a book club. Many | | | | them sign up for an e-mail newsletter or ezine. |
| libraries and some schools have book clubs | | | | These ideas can help your teen become a |
| specifically for teens. Teens enjoy interacting with | | | | motivated reader and a reader for life, by |
| other teens and they get to share books of | | | | encouraging them to see reading as a way to |
| interest to them. | | | | enjoy and learn more about the world around |
| Get a driver's manual. Most teens are looking | | | | them. |