Ways to Encourage Reading at Home

Reading is an essential skill and an important part of our everyday lives. We find it everywhere; we use it to follow recipes, interpret street signs, and even follow the instructions to assemble new furniture! Yet many children feel like reading is a chore. We can change that. Children can develop a passion for reading—it’s all about how they engage with books at home! If you’re trying to get your youngsters to put down the controller and pick up a book, consider these suggestions. If you can pinpoint your child’s interests, you should have a reader on your hands in no time! 

Tune into your child’s interests

Children enjoy reading about things they like. Play the role of the observer. What does your child like to do in their free time? What kinds of toys do they prefer to play with? If you notice your child spends time hunting for bugs in the backyard, try checking out a nonfiction book about insects. If they always sleep with their Batman action figure, try reading stories involving superheroes. Remember that we often read books that line up with our personal preferences. 

Leave out a variety of different reading material

We all know the saying “out of sight, out of mind.” This is very true of books. If your child’s books are crammed back in their closet or under a stack of old papers in the den, dust them off and place them at your child’s eye level throughout the house. Choose areas of the home where they can easily access them, such as the living room, bedroom, bathroom and even the yard! Books aren’t the only reading material available to young children. Include magazines, manuals, and recipes to the stack.

Read for pleasure

Show your child that learning can be fun by reading for pleasure. Encourage them to find a book of their own and join you on the couch. Demonstrate that reading isn’t only a functional skill—it’s a gateway to exploration and adventure! 

Encourage older children to read to their siblings

If there’s one thing we know about small children, it’s that they can’t wait to be all grown up! Have your school aged children read to your preschooler. They’ll love to listen along—and they’ll want to emulate what they see! 

Visit your local library 

Teach your child that there is a wonderful place in the community dedicated entirely to books. Take a trip to the library and simply browse. Look at pictures and grab a few books to read together in a cozy chair. Interact with the librarian to demonstrate how you would find a book by subject or author. At the end of the visit, get your child their very own library card! 

Try these suggestions in your home and watch your child transform into an enthusiastic reader!