How to Get Your Child to Love Reading

Co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA

Last Updated: December 28, 2021 References

If your child seems bored by books, you may be concerned that they are missing out on the benefits of reading. Reading does help children develop intellectually and emotionally, but many children don't take to reading naturally. Don’t worry, though—with a little creativity and some tweaks to your home and schedule, you can turn your child into an eager reader.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting Your Child Used to Reading

1
Read to your child from an early age. To get your child used to reading, you should familiarize them with books as soon as possible. It is equally important to make reading an integral part of their upbringing.
- Try to make a routine out of reading books. Choose to read either every evening before bed or just after dinner, but make sure you make a daily habit out of reading.
2
Keep your child interested in the book they are reading. Ask your child questions about the content of the book to grasp their level of understanding, but also to keep their interest hooked in continuing to read. Besides consolidating a hobby, this also helps growing their IQ. ^{[1]
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- By actively discussing what they are reading you can also help them get to the next level by guiding them through a more difficult text.
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3
Get your child to read in a distraction-free zone. Find a place in the house where they won’t get distracted by screens which are highly distracting and addictive, severely limiting the attention span of the child. Make sure you have enough “off-screen” moments during the day which you can focus on reading. ^{[2]
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- Make certain moments of the weekends a "no TV time", when only reading or outdoor activities are permitted.
- Alternatively you can also try the “no TV time” during the week and encourage the child to read instead.
- Make sure your child is actively reading during their designated reading time.
4
Reward your child for reading. Children will often want to do things that they are not allowed to, such as staying up late at night. If you allow them to go to bed later on the condition of reading during the extra time they spend awake, they will be more likely to pick up reading to be able to do something that is otherwise forbidden.
- Reading in itself however should also be a rewarding activity. Make this fun by keeping the books light but also by creating an entertaining place to do the reading such as a “reading fort” made out of 2 chairs and a blanket just in your living room.
- You can also reward your child for completing responsibilities or behavioral goals by reading together.
5
Set an example by allowing your child to see you read. The best way to get your child to read is to be the model for such an activity yourself. Children will closely monitor and imitate their parents’ behavior, therefore the best way to inspire children to read is for them to see you reading as well. ^{[3]
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- You could also propose to your child reading together as a child-parent bonding activity, increasing the quality time spent together.
- Speak to your child about the books you read. Sharing your love of reading can encourage theirs. You could even read them a passage from a book you’re reading, which helps promote literacy skills. ^{[4]
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Reading can be a straining activity for them, especially at younger ages. Your child needs to take their time to get accustomed to this new habit, so be patient with them. ^{[5]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Finding the Right Books

1
Pay regular visits to the library. Many public libraries have a librarian who specializes in finding children the appropriate books. Start by thinking about the type of literature you would like to introduce your child to. Choose appealing titles that will entice your child’s curiosity.
- Start with funny books. Making your child laugh out loud will make them want to continue reading. Books such as “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” or “No, David” will assuredly make your child giggle.
- Classic stories will also capture your child’s attention, so you should look at titles like “Winnie the Pooh”, “The Three Little Pigs” or “Little Red Riding Hood”.
- You can also pick your child’s interest by introducing science books about varied subjects such as dinosaurs, animals, plants or human anatomy.
2
Pick your child’s interest with age appropriate comics. Comics can prove to be great additions to your child’s reading list, fostering their love of books. Make sure you find the suitable type of comics according to your child’s age and level of understanding.
- For early readers take a look at Toon Books titles such as “Owly” or “Stinky”. ^{[6]
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- For the next level of reading look at popular titles such as “Scooby-Doo Team-Up” or “Uncle Scrooge”. ^{[7]
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3
Allow your child to choose their own books. While it would be ideal to convince your child to read the books you like, oftentimes they have their own preferences. Do not be discouraged if you do not have the same tastes, as this will only make the reading process more complex for both of you and the discussion points more interesting.
- Be open minded about the books your child would like to read. Although they may not seem like the books you would enjoy, they may be what it takes to get your child excited about reading.
- If your child is young, they might want to read the same book over and over again. That is perfectly fine. Eventually, they will move on to another book, but, in the meantime, let them read whatever they like.
- Take your child to get new books from the library or a thrift shop or bookstore on a regular basis.
4
Consider introducing your child to audiobooks. Giving children several options and alternatives to reading will entice their curiosity. Children are naturally inquisitive and curious to learn more, so make sure you offer them the chance to broaden their horizons. ^{[8]
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- You can try out audiobooks by getting a free listening app such as audible.com.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Getting Creative

Let your child be surrounded by books, giving them the opportunity to pick one out in any corner of the house. ^{[9]
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2
Start a book club! You only need a few neighborhood kids to come over and read the same book.The children can then discuss the best parts of the book or their favorite characters.
- You can also get the children to enact the story line. This will transform reading into a highly entertaining activity that will get them eager to come together to read and play.
- Alternatively, participate in a book club with your child by choosing a book you both want to read. Come up with discussion questions after each section or chapter so the two of you can talk about the book together.
3
Consider letting your child use a Kindle or a Nook. While it is important to closely monitor your child’s access to technology and modern gadgets, if you decide to let them use some, it is better to choose ones that encourage constructive activities such as reading. Kindles are entertaining and will encourage your children to read more.
- There are several places to get free ebooks for Kindles. You can start by looking at what Amazon has to offer. ^{[10]
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What do you do when your child hates reading?

Grant Faulkner, MA
Professional Writer
Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story, a literary magazine. Grant has published two books on writing and has been published in The New York Times and Writer’s Digest. He co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing, and has a M.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.

Grant Faulkner, MA

Professional Writer

Expert Answer

Depending on how old they are, you can encourage your child to journal about the books they read. Give them some time to write down their favorite parts of the book or questions they may have about the plot.

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How do I help a child who makes consistent spelling mistakes?

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Spelling errors are usually caused by not knowing the sounds associated with letters and groups of letters. Try sounding out the alphabet with your child, and then pronouncing common groups of letters (like "ing," "oun" and "aught"). Work your way up to various words, asking your child to spell them out as you go. And read aloud to your children! This will not only interest them in books but let them see how words look on the printed page. Finally, if your child's problem is truly severe, don't rule out eye trouble, ADD, dyslexia, or another physical condition. Tell your primary care doctor about the problem, and ask for referrals to specialists if needed.

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Be patient with your child. Reading can be a mentally intense activity which needs time to sink in.

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Don't be too pushy and insistent as this might make your child rebel against reading.

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How to Get Your Child to Love Reading

Steps

Getting Your Child Used to Reading

Finding the Right Books

Getting Creative

Expert Q&A

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Tips

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