Getting Kids Interested in Learning to Read

Phonics is the best method. Sadly many schools rely on sight words and memorizing, but regardless-don't force it! Kids learn much easier LATER. Stick to books he likes and try to keep any phonics teaching you do fun. My 4 1/2 year old son LOVES basic phonics lessons-for FIVE MINUTES TOPS! But little tiny bit by little tiny bit he has learned to sound out all his short vowel one syllable words and enjoys barking out what street signs say etc. I use the "Ordinary Parent's Guide to teaching Reading" and use a little chalk board to show him the words (again, he doesn't love it for long, so I don't force it for long). He listens in to what I read his sister (tons, and I'm always reading), but I don't force it when he's not in the mood to read or listen. Several boys in my family barely cracked a book until third grade and now they're ravenous good readers.

Read to him.
Show him reading is important to you (and snuggle him while doing it).
We did every Dr Seuss book till we had them almost memorized.
They were silly and funny and I'm missing Fox in Socks right now!
We read not only at bedtime but anytime we had to wait for anything for more than 15 min.
We had our own DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time before I ever heard of it.
We read books about sharks, firetrucks, dragons, wizards and dinosaurs.
Anything that interested him, I'd find a book about it and we'd read it.

I agree with reading to him! and Make sure your husband reads to them and reads in front of them, showing that reading is not a "girl" thing.
learntoreadfree.com
starfall
raz kids
all fun educational sites!

Read to him but don't force it. Help him put things together through experiences rather than just on paper. My son was not interested in reading. He would only read for school. If I got them enrolled in a summer reading program, he would read the minimum required and that was it. But I kept showing it to him without shoving at him. I did not want him to resent it. When he got to about 4th grade, things changed. He really got into reading. Part of the key was his realizing there were things he really liked. One day I noticed he did not want to stop reading and that was when I realized he really got into it.
My son was a lot like yours, hand on, all about doing things. He is now a total science, sci-fi, and military history geek (just don't tell him I called him a geek). He gets so wrapped up in books about these types of things I have to take them away.

My SD loved the book "Dick and Jane and a Vampire" when she was learning how to read. It's like the normal Dick and Jane book but with a vampire guest star. It was fun for me and my husband to read because it was hilarious (Just think "Vampire meets a friend. Happy Happy Vampire.") and I think b/c we were having fun, so was she.

Also, we played a game with one of her little princess toys and a deck of flash cards w/ pictures and words on them where any time she "read" and spelled the word (while looking at it) she got to move a space on a board drawn on paper. As a pre-exercise to this one, you could maybe start with just letter flash cards and what sounds they make. I think the game gives it a little more dimension, especially if there is an incentive to "winning" like extra play time or a special snack or something.

Good luck!

Don't teach him HOW to read.
Phonics might conflict with what he's learning in school - depends on their teaching techniques/curriculum.

Get him books on the things he ENJOYS. Like building. Use the public lib ray so you aren't investing in things and then being frustrated if he doesn't use them! Let him pick out anything he wants at the children's library - you can show him the different areas but let him pick out anything he wants, even if it's based on the colors used on the cover!

Don't force it. He will learn. He will do better in school when all the kids are doing it than he will if he thinks it's a chore.

He's 5. It's too soon to "piece words together".

Probably (hopefully) is kindergarten will have fun reading areas, something like DEAR time (Drop Everything And Read), etc. Also, reading skills are worked into other curricular areas so they get the encouragement without the drills or pressure.

Read to him every night as quiet time before bed. Let him pick out a book and then get in bed with him or snuggle together in a chair.

Besides, what he's doing now is awesome! Coming up with this own inventions? That's tremendous creativity and too many kids are not able to be imaginative. My son was like that and now he's a civil engineer! Don't look at what he's NOT doing but celebrate what he IS doing. He's only 5 and his many interests are not yet determined.

It's great that you know and respect all of his strengths! You shouldn't worry about teaching him to read, but building interest in books is easy. Start looking for kid books about the things he really likes (building stuff, sports? etc) and read his something everyday. The most important pre-reading skills come from being read to. Also, you can point to key words as you are reading, this draws awareness to the text, but you don't have to actively try to teach him phonics or anything else. Lots of kids aren't ready for that at 5. What is most important is to show him that books are really interesting and that they have great information in them. The more you read to him the more he will build reading skills - without you noticing. I have a friend whose son finally got reading once she bought him magazines about the Red Sox and read him newspaper articles about games. Your son may not like reading fiction at all, but read him non-fiction about things he really likes. Hope this helps!

Reading to him every day or each night before bed (if you dont already) Find books about inventions and building that will hold his interest. My SB didn't like to read until Harry Potter ... Suddenly, he was reading voraciously. Now he's an English major getting ready to graduate in December. Boys are harder, but it's not impossible ... Just need to find something that peaks their interest.

Read to him. Make sure that he sees you and your husband reading. Make sure he knows that reading is just another part of everyday life for many. Share some of your favorite children's books with him. Make reading for a few minutes a day something you do together as a fun activity. Reading does not need to be a chore.

Read to him! That is the easiest and best way to spark an interest in a child - he can see that books contain wonderful stories. Depending upon what he likes, you could read him a Roald Dahl book (my girls loved James and the Giant Peach, The Twits, The Witches, etc), or even the first Harry Potter book! There are so many great ones out there, just pick something that you think he will find interesting, and read 20 minutes every day to him.

My GD became interested in learning to read when I introduced her to the computer. She wanted/needed to be able to read to play some of the games she wanted to play.

I would suggest introducing him to your computer!