Reading of books often declines during teenage years as there are so many activities competing for young people's time - including school work, part-time jobs and their social life, as well as other leisure activities.

1. Encourage your child and their friends to talk about what they read and share good reads.
2. www.cool-reads.co.uk provides reviews of books for teenagers by teenagers.
3. Suggest older children read with younger members of the family.
4. Read yourself. Set a good example by reading for pleasure and talking about the reading you do at work and home.
5. If they say they don't have time for reading books or novels (after all, many adults say the same), encourage them to read other materials or non-fiction books that relate to their current concerns and interests - for example, biographies, true-life stories in magazines and news reports.