It’s CBCA Children’s Book Week and parents all around Australia have emptied the Kmart dress-up aisles. You can hear the collective groan when the Book Week notice first goes out to parents. Another thing to organise and the inevitable stress about “what to go as”.
Then there are parents like me. I love bringing my children’s favourite book characters to life (ssshhhh, our secret!) and tend to spend an unnecessary amount of time pulling their costumes together.
Books and stories have always been a big part of our daily lives and routines. I suspect that is why all three of my children love books (the five-year-old can’t read yet but she is an audiobook addict). We’ve enjoyed many special moments through the stories we’ve shared.
I have been reading to my eldest daughter since she was two months old. Each evening, we would cuddle in the rocking chair, lights dimmed, snuggled in pj’s. I would read her a bedtime story before settling her in her cot for the night. I actually started a bit late with her, now that I think about it. My other two daughters had bedtime stories read to them in utero.
Whether books are a big part of your life or not, I hear so many parents say how they wish their children would read more. This is understandably so. A recent study published by Cambridge University Press found that reading for pleasure, especially in early childhood, has a significant impact on brain and cognitive development and mental well-being. This is just one of many studies looking at the link between children reading for pleasure and improved performance in their overall learning.
Perhaps you had dreams of raising a reallife Matilda, but due to a lack of interest, you have concluded that your child is simply not a reader. I would implore you to persevere. If you want to encourage your child to read more books, there are a number of things you can try before you abandon all hope.
Here are some of my top suggestions for promoting a love of reading.
Read with them for as long as they will let you
This is my Number One – “if you only do one thing” – suggestion!
I read aloud to my daughters most days, even though the older two are more than capable of reading to themselves. I’ve mentioned before how I start many children’s books but I don’t get to finish them. My eldest is usually too impatient to wait until the next night to find out what happens and will read ahead without me. The advantage is that she ends up reading books she otherwise may not have picked up on her own.
Sometimes starting a book can feel intimidating for some children. By reading it with them, they have the chance to engage with the story and it may feel less daunting to continue on their own.
Try letting them read a page to you once in a while. This is particularly helpful for those learning to read as it allows you to gauge their reading level and their comprehension.
We all lead busy lives but setting aside a few minutes to read with your child(ren) shows them that reading is a priority. It is also just a great way to spend quality time together amidst busy schedules. My children and I have shared so many special moments through the stories we’ve read together. There’s a running joke about Mum crying onto the pages of every animal story we have ever read.
Find books that relate to your child’s interests
It seems obvious but if your child is into dinosaurs and football, they are unlikely to engage with books about fairies and mermaids. Of course, this is a generalisation but I have seen this played out in my own home.
I have two children who have read almost every Rainbow Magic book available and love anything related to fairies, unicorns, mermaids, princesses, ballet, magic…you get my point. My other daughter is mildly offended by unicorn and fairy books and would much prefer to read about spies, animals, sport and “real life”.
Had I assumed she would enjoy the same books as her sisters, I might have incorrectly deduced that she simply wasn’t a reader when she didn’t show an interest in those books. If your child seems disinterested in reading, maybe try a few books about something they really love. There is almost certainly a book out there that is guaranteed to pique their interest.
My niece has told me, on numerous occasions, that she hates reading. Right…game on! I’m always up for a literary challenge. The last time she visited she mentioned she enjoys Goosebumps books. So, off we went to the library and borrowed a couple of Goosebumps books. And what do you know? She read one of the books from front to back in a day!
If you want to encourage your child to read more, you can start by helping them find the books they love to read. If chapter books seem too far a stretch for your child, let them try graphic novels or even non-fiction. Not every child is going to be into Harry Potter or David Walliams and that is completely fine.
Reduce screens
We have had really clear boundaries around screens for the last few years. Two of my children are sensitive to lengthy screen exposure so we have to keep screen-time to a minimum.
I will concede that screens have their place and can be used to great advantage, if managed well. My biggest problem with them, however, is the time they steal from other, more beneficial activities – such as time outdoors, exercise, playing and reading.
Minimal screen time in our home means larger blocks of time doing other things, such as reading. Sadly, if we had no restrictions on screens, I know my children would opt for the screens over reading most of the time. Even J.K. Rowling has a hard time competing with the addictive nature of gaming apps and meeting your friends in a Roblox world!
Place books all over the house (and in the car)
There is a lot of incidental reading that takes place in our home. I am typically a neat-freak. Books are the only items I allow in all corners of the house (as long as they are in baskets or neat piles).
No matter what room you are in, there is something for you to pick up and read in our home. I will often walk into a room and find a child reading a new library book or paging through a picture book they haven’t seen before. The key is having books on display so they grab attention in a moment of quiet.
I also have a small basket of books in the car for moments of boredom on longer drives. This is a tip I picked up from the incredible Megan Daley – teacher librarian, author and all-round children’s book guru!
Make use of your local library
Oh, how do I love thee local library? Let me count the ways. I visit our local library at least twice a week and I get a bit gushy when I talk about it (nerd alert). I mean…what is not to love about free books?
We recently took a family short break to Melbourne. As we wandered around the city centre, my children spotted the city library and asked to go in. Hubby, sensing this was not going to be a short-stay, quickly opted to get a coffee and made a speedy exit. We spent at least 45-minutes inside as my daughters marveled at the large selection of children’s books. I had a good chuckle to myself that we came to see the sights of Melbourne and my daughters found the library the most interesting part of our trip. But it was warm and snug and offered them a brief retreat from the busyness of the city. Books are such a great escape and libraries are awesome!
Taking your child to the local library and allowing them to select their own books is a great way for them to try books in different genres. Maybe they are inclined toward non-fiction or seek-and-find books or biographies. Let them explore and take books that you would never have chosen for them.
And best of all, if they read the first page and hate it, you didn’t waste a cent!
Make spaces for reading in your home
If you want to encourage your child to read more books, it is really important that their environment lends itself to reading. I have seen some impressive reading corners in bedrooms. Friends built their daughter a reading platform, complete with a ladder, in her bedroom. Others have princess tents or beanbags. My girls have reading chairs with cushions.
Almost every room in our house has a chair that is obviously intended for reading. There is usually a basket or stack of books beside it and the chair itself looks comfy and inviting.
Having dedicated reading zones away from the hustle and bustle or a blaring TV, add a sense of intentionality to your efforts to encourage your child to read more books. Whether it is a hanging chair on the deck, some cushions in a corner or an armchair in a bedroom, make space for the things you want to prioritise in your home.
Visit a bookshop and let your child choose any book
Full disclosure: I have a bit of a book-buying problem. I’m not a big shopper, but when it comes to books, I have very little willpower. I just love the smell of the books, all the beautiful covers and the pull of all those stories I will never be able to get through in this one life. Really, I shouldn’t be let loose in a bookstore without adult supervision.
Do yourself and your child a favour and visit your local bookshop, if you haven’t done so recently. Your child may not be a reader yet, but who doesn’t enjoy the thrill of going to a shop and being told they can pick something? Let your child choose any book they like; one they think they might enjoy. Often our children surprise us with their choices. At the end of the day, they know their preferences best.
Perhaps a memorable visit to a beautiful bookshop could be the catalyst for them to discover reading can be fun.
Reserve your judgement
I am preaching to myself here. My background is in literature, so I find it really hard not to judge and analyse books, especially the ones my children are reading. I can be a real literary snob when I want to.
I have learned to keep my opinion to myself (most of the time) when it comes to what my children choose to read. There are particular series – that shall remain unnamed in order to labour my point – that I deem completely devoid of literary prowess. Yet, my children have devoured them. One such series was the catalyst for my eldest daughter’s solo reading journey and now she will read most things you put in front of her.
Take it from someone who read every Sweet Valley Kids/Twins/High book in print. If my reading preferences developed enough to go on to study literature, I can trust that my fairy book-loving children will eventually find their way to books with more complex and developed story lines.
Let your child read what they love (within reason). Once they’ve caught the bug, they may just be a reader for life.
Model reading
I have left this one until last, but it should really be near the top. I can’t stress how important it is for your child to see you reading if you want to encourage them to read more books.
My husband is not a big reader and my children love to give him a hard time about it. We recently went away for a few days and hubby brought a book along. The kids were so impressed when he read the whole book in a matter of days.
Whether we like it or not, our kids watch us and analyse and learn from our ways and habits. If they never see us reading a book, it might not be the most natural action for them to pick one up and start reading themselves.
I do most of my reading once the kids have gone to bed but I have recently made a conscious effort to read in front of them. I’ll also talk to them about what I’m reading to encourage them to do the same.
If your children see you reading, it feels more natural when you encourage them to read a book. Let them see how reading adds to your life, how it relaxes and interests you. Let them see the joy that books can bring to your life when you take the time to embrace a life of reading.
If you have any further tips for how to encourage your child to read more books, please do leave a comment. If you found this post useful, then please also let me know in the comments. I love hearing from visitors to the blog.
