Hi, It sounds like you may need to set some limits regarding the television (such as unplugging it during reading or homework time, or requiring that those be completed before the television be turned on).

Here are some resources that you may find helpful to this parenting challenge...

Positive Discipline
http://www.education.com/topic/positive-discipline/

Parenting in the Digital World
http://www.education.com/special-edition/digital-world/

Pre-Teen Years
http://www.education.com/age/preteen-years/

Children and Television
http://www.education.com/topic/children-and-television/

All the best to you as you work to resolve this issue.

you should gain discipline with the children of which you care for.

You might also consider using his TV time to your best advantage by turning on the "closed caption" feature that will allow him to read while he is watching TV.

Maybe get him a good book in his on intersest.

well most tvs have a parental control setting, set it as locked from -:-- to -:-- or how ever long you want him to read

Well discipline would be a good start. Who is the boss you or him? If tv is a large problem I would set some rules. Unplugging is a good idea but so is just taking the tv out of the equation. Put it in your room or someplace out of his sight. Make him pick a book that he is interested in. My parents always made me read at the kitchen table at the same time everyday. Maybe that will help him. Though if I were you...I would just tell him he can't watch tv until his reading is done. Remember, you are the parent not him. Don't give into him, stick by what you say.

Reading is a skill that needs to be practiced regularly. Without practice, young readers will not develop the vocabulary, the skills, and the fluency necessary to become strong readers.  But many children, even those with strong reading skills, do not get enough practice and as a result become disinterested in reading, and can quickly become discouraged.  Here are some practical tips for encouraging reluctant readers:

Find books with cartoons or humor  -- which only a child would find amusing.

Not everything needs to be a learning lesson.  Letting children read books such as Captain Underpants or Diary of a Wimpy Kid will keep them engaged and entertained.  Although adults might find the language and humor distasteful, children find it very funny and are therefore more motivated to read.


Zero in on your child's passions and choose books and magazines focused on areas of interest.

Find books on specific topics to keep your child's interest, such as science, baseball, American Girl dolls, etc.  Children who already have the background knowledge, language and vocabulary before beginning a book will have an easier time getting through the reading.

Get your child an email account

Using the computer to read and write is a huge advantage for most students.  By letting young children write and send email, they practice reading, writing and spelling.  Teach your child how to use spell check before sending off messages. Be sure to monitor your child's 'pen pals' -- who is your child writing to and receiving mail from? Let your child pick out a few family members, including grandparents and maybe two or three friends.  You will find that by using email regularly, your child becomes very strong in typing (keyboarding) and using the computer.

For more tips and ideas you can visit the following site:

Hello, try a biography on someone he is interested in. I found this works really well and you both can read together at night. We are reading the life of Eleanor Roosevelt right now.

You have to be very specific with the child and instill the importance of reading. Something interesting can always be added at that time.

When it is reading time, turn the TV off. If that doesn't work, maybe put him in a room where there is no TV. If you have to sit with him while he reads then maybe you should do that.

Maybe a schedule would help. Set different times for TV watching and reading/homework.