5 Simple Ways to Get Your Child to Love Reading

It doesn’t seem like rocket science to most parents that reading to your child is beneficial, but between all the responsibilities of just keeping yourself and your family healthy, safe, and fed, encouraging a love of reading can feel daunting.

How do you help your child build a positive relationship with reading? Every stage has its own set of challenges—babies may get impatient, toddlers rarely sit still, and young children are often busy developing their other interests—and yet fostering a love of reading remains a top priority for many parents.

PBS noted in an article from 2018 that reading “strengthens children’s social, emotional, and character development,” critical skills for becoming the wonderful little human we know you want your child to be!

So let’s break this down together and go through some simple ways to get your child to love reading… even when you’re low on time, energy, and spoons.

Read Aloud to Your Child

It may sound overly simply, but just the act of reading aloud to your child is important. When children are first starting out, they often believe you’re reading the pictures, but as they get older, reading aloud allows them to connect your words with the words they are beginning to recognize on the page.

For young children, encourage them to come and sit with you while you read. During the day, try using an animated voice and pointing out extra details on the page. At bedtime, keep your voice calmer and quieter.

With older children, start using your finger to follow the words as you say them. Stop and ask questions about the story, the main characters, or what your child thinks might happen next.

Make It Fun and Engaging

No one likes to hear a droll, monotone voice unenthusiastically reading a book. Even if you’re speaking softly in preparation for bedtime, try and make it fun and engaging.

Use different voices for different characters or raise and lower your voice and cadence along with the story.

If your little one doesn’t sit still well during story time, this is the perfect opportunity to let them get their wiggles out. Ask your child to act out one of the characters and use other figurines or stuffed animals for supporting characters.

A Busy Little Book Club subscription is an ideal way to bring together storytime and playtime, as each box includes a treasure trove of new books along with a monthly Play Guide with activity ideas, printables, music playlists, and more!

Not sure which book club is right for your family? Find out here!

Create a Reading Routine

Children thrive on routine because it allows them to create expectations and prepare for upcoming transitions in their day—like the transition from dinner to bath time to bed.

Building a reading routine is a great way to allow your child to create that expectation. It allows your child to get excited about what’s coming next and even begin planning their book choices ahead of time.

Because children often use stories and imaginative play to work through their emotions, having a set reading time also allows them to choose books to meet those emotional needs.

A child with little interest in reading on their own may start by playing while you read, standing next to you instead of sitting in your lap, or going back and forth between you and another activity. Continue encouraging them to get involved with the story, and praise them when they join you for storytime.

Remember, a reading routine doesn’t mean you only read at bedtime. Read away any time of the day!

Focus on Your Child’s Interests

It’s so easy to only see the world through our own lens, but children are continually developing their own interests and preferences. If you’re trying to get your child to love reading, start with books about things they’re interested in.

Oftentimes, people who don’t enjoy reading haven’t yet found the right book, and children are no exception. It’s one of the reasons why book clubs for kids are so amazing—give your child a variety of new books every month without having to spend a moment trying to find them yourself!

We may be a little biased, but we highly recommend one of our book clubs.

Attend a Live Story Time

Elementary aged children often visit their school library for storytime with their class, but if your child is younger or homeschooled, that may not be an option for you.

Try checking out your local library for any kids storytimes they offer. Many offer both weekday and weekend options so all types of families can enjoy. There are even local bookstores that offer storytimes, often hosted by the authors themselves!

When it’s not possible to get to a local library or book store to attend a live storytime, check out storytime options online. There are quite a few channels on YouTube devoted to sharing children’s books. We even share read-aloud videos in the monthly Play Guide that comes with every book club box.

When all else fails, remember to that your child doesn’t need pressure to find their love of reading. Be patient, consistent, and encouraging. Like many things in parenting, this is a marathon, not a race.

Happy reading!