How to get children interested in the classics
In an era of decreasing attention spans, how do we get children to pick up a classic? We’ve put together four tips to help you encourage children to enter the rich world of the classic novel.
Before the alluring distractions of the internet and TV, many children would lie on the living room floor for the evening and open a good book. They’d scamper off to the countryside in Five Children and It, get into mischief with Katy in What Katy Did and meet a host of new friends through The Wizard of Oz. Classic authors have created imaginative worlds for young minds for generations. With modern entertainment threatening to change that, here are four recommendations for keeping classic stories vividly alive.
Reading aloud
The issue children often find difficult with classics is the language. When reading in your head it’s easy to skip big words or start letting your mind wander, and voicing the words can help deal with this issue. You could give each character a particular accent or tone, take turns to read each page or do both and turn the book into a play of your own making. This works particularly well when there are multiple main characters, for example with Little Women.
Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott
One of the best-loved children's classics of all time, Little Women is the captivating story of the four March sisters; Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy, who live with their beloved Marmee, who must care for them alone while her husband serves as a chaplain in the Civil War.
Film adaptations
Make good use of the countless film adaptations of classic texts. If your little one loved the Peter Pan film, get them started on the book. With favourite moments and characters already in their heads, it’ll be easier for them to picture the action, and hopefully, they’ll want to keep reading to get to the most exciting scenes. If this strategy works, next time suggest reading the book before seeing the film.
Peter Pan
by J. M. Barrie
J. M. Barrie’s thrilling tale of the boy who refuses to grow up is a classic story that never gets old. Befriend the magical Peter Pan and join Wendy, John and Michael as they are whisked away to Neverland to meet the Lost Boys and battle the villainous Captain Hook.
Illustrated editions
One of the joys of many classic books are the illustrations, often famous or iconic in their own right. Alice’s blonde hair and blue dress, the White Rabbit and his pocket watch, the Madhatter and the Queen of Hearts are all instantly recognisable elements of Alice in Wonderland thanks to the pictures. Reading a beautifully illustrated edition with your child will help hold their attention, and the images will feel familiar even if the (admittedly strange) story does not.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice in this beautifully illustrated Macmillan Collector’s Library edition of Alice’s Adventures of Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass.
Read classics yourself
Children are hugely influenced by the adults around them. If they’ve heard you say ‘I never managed to finish Pride and Prejudice’ they’ll think classics are unattainable. So why not read a novel together? There are so many children's classics that are adaptable for adult reading, such as I Capture the Castle or Anne of Green Gables. If they see you putting effort into reading something out of your comfort zone, they’ll be more enthused about doing so themselves.
Anne of Green Gables
by L. M. Montgomery
When orphan Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables sure that she’s finally found the home she’s always wanted. At first, the Cuthberts, who wanted a boy, aren’t so sure. But Anne quickly wins them over with her irrepressible optimism and loving charm.