Written by former primary teacher, Gill Budgell

Sometimes the support and encouragement your child needs to enjoy reading calls for a little creativity, especially if they show a lack of interest. All families are different, which will mean they need to find their own methods. For my family, reading before school was never feasible whereas other parents find this to be a time free of diversions, when children's minds are clear.

Whenever a parent and child choose to read, it should not solely be confined to school, homework or bedtime; by encouraging children to read cereal boxes over breakfast, the quips on smoothie bottles and the jokes on the back of sweet wrappers, reading can be a frequent and informal task.

Similarly when out during weekends or holidays, prompt children to read sport scoreboards and football programmes before a match starts, the bus timetable on the way home and even any text on the television and on computer games. This way, reading becomes something that is critical to life and lots of fun too.

However, reading little and often does not mean that set bedtime reading is redundant. Many children and families still enjoy this experience, although as children grow up more quickly they may seek more independence. Finding time and motivation to keep up this habit is good practice and is important for a child's reading progress.

What should we read together?

Choosing appropriate reading material is vital. Do not be scared of reading comics or magazines with your child if this is what engages him or her; by being interested in the subject matter, children will be motivated to find out more.

Equally, remember that childhood now is much changed from when we were at school. Children are surrounded by technology and using what they know and enjoy is a good method of making reading more relevant. eBooks (electronic books) are now readily available if you know where to look; www.i-stars.co.uk is an eBookshop specifically for parents and teachers, where books can be purchased for approximately £5 each and can be read on computers, laptops or handheld devices such as PSPs. Just as we should not prescribe subject matter, it is probably unwise to thrust paperback books on children who are more engaged by technology.

Whether paper or electronic, it is of paramount importance to select texts which have interesting content, appropriate for a child's age. There are a growing number of resources available for older, reluctant or low-ability readers which are non-patronising in content but have a manageable, accessible level of English. Although every child likes something different, it is worth asking teachers or other parents for recommendations. At present there are many options on the market, including: a combination of fact and fiction (such as Download and Snapshots); dark, gripping fiction (such as The Extraordinary Files and Shadows) or girl- or boy-focused stories (Magic Mates or Mystery Mob).

To find out more about the listed reading resources, visit www.risingstars-uk.com