Five Ways to Get Kids Reading

We all know it’s important for kids to spend time reading, but sometimes it’s a struggle to get kids to settle in for a book. While some kids are happy to have their nose for hours, others would rather do anything else. Some kids resist reading because it’s hard for them. Others just don’t seem interested.

We believe that reading is for everyone, but everyone doesn’t need to read the same things, in the same ways, or at the same pace. It’s important to ease off the pressure, give kids choices, and help them see how reading can be enjoyable.

Whether you have a born bookworm or a reluctant reader on your hands, here are five simple ways to get kids reading.

Think outside the book.

Not everything a kid reads has to be a traditional book. Mix up the reading materials with things like:

• magazines
• audiobooks
• read-alouds (including read-aloud videos)
• e-books
• graphic novels

…and more! It all counts! It can even help to pair mixed media, like having a child follow along in a physical book while listening to the audiobook.

Lean on the library.

If you’re not making regular use of your local public library, you are majorly missing out. Libraries are magical places. They have reading materials in every form, technology, story times, book clubs, reading programs, STEM workshops, arts and crafts, and SO much more (and it’s all FREE)!

Even so seemingly simple as a trip to the library can be an adventure for kids. If they love going to the library, they are more likely to want to pick up and read the books they see there. Some super simple things that make the library even more fun for kids:

• Let them put the books you’re bringing back into the return slot.
• Teach them how to use the self-checkout and let them scan their own books. (Warning: This will make checking out take approximately 1000x longer than usual so start the process long before you actually need to be out the door if you’re on the clock.)
• If they’re old enough, let them sign up for their own library card. (Our local library’s minimum age is “as soon as they’re old enough to sign their own name on the card.”) This makes littles feel so grown-up and makes them even more eager to check out books on their own.
• Take them on a tour of the children’s section of the library, showing them where all the different kinds of books are. They might not even realize all the options that are available, and once they know where things are, they’ll feel more empowered to choose their own books. (If you’re not sure how your library is organized, ask a librarian! They’d be thrilled to help.)

Also, librarians are like wizards who can find you anything. Use them! Tell them what your kid is into and they will hook you up.

Reward reading.

Make reading extra fun using challenges and incentives. Different types of motivators work for different kids, so talk to your kid and experiment with some different ideas to find what will work best for them.

A few quick ideas:

• Race to read a certain number of books. 
• Challenge kids to find and read different types of books on a scavenger hunt list or bingo board.
• Participate in a local reading challenge (most libraries sponsor one every summer, and some do them throughout the year).
• Let kids read books to earn allowance money or prizes.

Be creative! If you’re looking for a way to help keep track of the books they’ve read as they work toward their goals, our reading journals are a super helpful tool! 

Be a reading role model.

Kids take cues from their grown-ups. Let them see you reading and they’ll be more likely to do it too. Tell them about what you’re reading and how much you enjoy it. Share your joy- it’s contagious!

Try implementing a regular family reading time, where at a set time (e.g., each night after dinner, every Saturday morning) the whole family reads on their alone-together: quietly and independently but in the same room. This encourages everyone- including the adults- to make reading a regular habit. Those too little to read on their own can flip through a picture book. You can adjust the time spent based on the age and attention spans of the kids. Afterwards, talk about the books you’ve each been reading. Bonding over books is a great way to encourage reading and strengthen relationships.

Take off the pressure.

Finally, relax. Don’t suck the joy out of reading by piling on the pressure. Kids develop as readers at different rates and in different ways. Drop the comparison game and help your kid find their own way into reading by offering choices, appealing to their interests, and keeping it fun. Also, let them know you’re proud of their progress!