Motivating your kids to read for pleasure isn’t only for big kids. It’s best to start prior to them reading independently.
However, if you have older children, don’t fret, it’s never too late.
This is the second post in the series Reading Series. Read the first post here – How To Teach Your Child To Read in 3 Simple Steps.
Plus, check back soon for a comparison and review of two very popular reading curriculums!
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Watch the YouTube video on Ten SIMPLE Ways to Encourage Kids to Read!
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#1 – Read in front of your child.
Yes, I’m looking at you mama. We need to model reading for pleasure if we want our children to do the same.
If you read on a Kindle, then make sure to communicate to your child that you are reading (and not doom scrollin’!)
#2 – Provide access to books.
How will your child read for pleasure if they never have access to books? Purchase some books and store them on a low book shelf.
And no, you don’t have to pay for hundreds of books. That’s what libraries are for.
Pro tip – Books make great Eid gifts!
#3 – Limit what is fighting for your child’s time and attention – screens.
You can’t expect your thirteen year old, that is addicted to screens, to be ecstatic when you tell him to read instead of scroll on TikTok.
You got them into screens in the first place, therefore take responsibility and help them get out of it. Offer alternatives, such as: boardgames, activities such as new sports, new hobbies, etc. When they develop interests in something else, they won’t want to be on their devices.
And if that doesn’t work, seek professional help for their addiction.
#4 – Read aloud to your child.
Spending time together while reading aloud helps create strong parent-child bonds and promotes healthy brain development.
Set aside twenty minutes daily for read-aloud time. If you’re busy, try ten minutes every other day.
If you find it’s hard to keep up, play audio books.
And when your child is reading independently, don’t stop reading-aloud to them.
#5 – Choose a GENTLE reading curriculum.
Let’s start in the beginning, when you first teach your child to read. Pick a gentle reading curriculum so that your child will love the process of learning to read.
This is especially the case if you’re teaching a very young child. If your young child isn’t up for a reading lesson that day, skip it. You’re better off baking cookies and playing outside instead. 🙂
I’ll be sharing a review and comparison of two very popular reading curriculums soon, God Willing!
#6 – CELEBRATE small wins.
Celebrate when your child reads their first letter, word, sentence, or book. Make a big deal about it – clap, shout, jump, give them a treat, etc.
And the opposite stands if they make a mistake. – Don’t point out mistakes often.
When they make a mistake, gently correct them. Don’t shout “no!” or say things like “how could you get that wrong!” Positve reinforment goes a long way.
What should I do when my child finally starts reading independently? – Have a party!
In a party that I had for one of my children, we baked alphabet cookies, played alphabet games, and book for gifts.
#7 – Try out a LITERATURE BASED RESOURCE.
Literature based resources focus on great kids’ books and go-along activities. We really enjoy this unit-study approach. However, that might not be what’s best for your family.
If you have time and it’s best for your family, try out a literature based resource. For very young children we loved Before Five In A Row (and the rest of the Five In A Row series) and have great memories of our time together, praise God!
We also love A Year of Tales. You can read more about AYOT here, here, and here.
#8 – Have your child read to a sibling.
When your child reads an easy picture book to a sibling, they will get reading practice without feeling like it’s “work”.
#9 – Try a READING CHALLENGE.
I fondly remember reading challenges at the library when I was a little girl. That was a looooooong time ago so I don’t recall exactly what the prize was but I think we had to read 100 books (and that was quite easy for me 🙂
#10 – DIVERSIFY your child’s reading pool.
Have your child to choose from a variety of books (after you screen them; yes, so sad). They can choose from: joke books, cookbooks, how-to books, graphic novels, biographies, and children’s magazines.
And for God’s sake don’t limit your child to picking only a few books! Allow your child to check out as many books as they’d like. Yes, you’ll need a suitcase. Get over it. lol
FAQs about motivating your child to read
What should I do if my child calls reading ‘hard’.
Find out why by identifying and addressing his areas of weakness. As he becomes a better reader, he will enjoy reading much more, God Willing.
What should I do if my child calls reading ‘boring’.
Find books related to what your kids are interested in. Do they love animals? trains? horses? Get books on those topics.
Otherwise, make sure to limit screen time.
Is is okay to persuade children to read for rewards such as sweets?
I believe that you probably want to raise your kids to consider reading a reward in itself. This is a very personal decision, however. I’ve met parents who’ve used a ‘reading chart’ and then they give their child candy after reading 10 books. I don’t suggest food as a reward, however. Perhaps a dollar tree item would be a better option.
Can you recommend more resources for helping children read-aloud for pleasure?
The Read Aloud Revival is the perfect resource for that. Sarah Mackenzie created RAR to help your child fall in love with books.
Helpful Links
This is the second post in the series Reading Series. Read the first post here – How To Teach Your Child To Read in 3 Simple Steps.
Plus, check back soon for a comparison and review of two very popular reading curriculums!