As an English teacher and book lover, I always imagined that my children would approach reading the same way I do. When they showed some affinity for it, I was thrilled. As they got a bit older, they began checking out longer, thicker books that were probably beyond their reading level. My husband and I cautioned them about this, but were secretly proud of their choices. That is, until we found bookmarks traveling through pages as if by magic. The kids claimed to have finished 200 to 300 page books in just a few days when we hardly saw them reading at all. We tried to call their bluff, but they were adamant. 

They told us they read faster in their heads than they did aloud. But there was no possible way they could read that much faster. The only thing that made sense was that they were skimming, not reading. And on occasion, they would reluctantly confess. They explained that they picked through the books to find the exciting or funny parts, but they couldn’t see what was wrong with that.

We had discussions with our kids about how important it was to read a book from cover to cover, and every sentence in between. If they didn’t, they would miss out on key details, plot twists, and other literary elements and devices that would help them understand the stories on a deeper level. I was concerned that they would have difficulty in their English classes as they progressed through school. And I didn’t want my kids struggling, especially when I had devoted so much of my life to literature.

However, they continued to read in their own special way, no matter what we said or how we tried to work with and motivate them. Eventually, we learned a better way. Instead of resuming the argument, we tried to understand what was really going on. We educated ourselves further on how the ADHD brain works. Naturally, it’s very different from the neurotypical brain. 

My children are able to read aloud fluently and accurately, but sometimes have difficulty comprehending what they’ve read. That’s reasonable, considering they admit to skimming and skipping around in their books. But the following quote explains why they might be doing this.

“Many students with ADHD can fall behind while reading, missing phrases in the text, skipping over words or sentences, losing track of where they are on the page, missing details and connections. This is especially evident when passages are long and complex. Boredom and fatigue can take over and attention can quickly wander elsewhere.” ¹

Essentially, they have to fight hard to cover any ground in their reading. No, it’s not because of laziness or apathy. It’s due to the way their brain is wired. And yes, there are great ways to help youth with ADHD have an easier time comprehending what they read. But there are a couple other things we’ve learned as parents that we find most valuable. First, when we don’t think or operate in the same manner, we cannot expect them to read the same way we do. Along with some coaching and helpful strategies, they need freedom to use the approach that works best for them. That is the only way they can develop a love of reading, which is the ultimate goal. Second, it is rather remarkable that our kids can skip and skim so much and get the amount they do out of a text. As a detail-oriented person, I certainly couldn’t do that. 

I have told my children that while their brains may not work as most people’s do, they have some pretty amazing superpowers. They are inventive, creative, curious thinkers. They can hyperfocus on something to the extent that everything else seems to disappear, making it possible to pick up new knowledge and talents rather quickly. They have limitless energy and charisma, the likes of which many of us only dream of. They can be direct, bold, and handle multiple things going on at once. I am beyond excited to see what they end up doing with all of these gifts. And when those thick books come and go over the course of a few days, I am so happy our kids keep deciding to pick them up.

¹ Low, K. (2020, September 25). Reading comprehension challenges for children with adhd. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/adhd-and-reading-comprehension-20806. 

Photo by Fabiola Peñalba on Unsplash