How to make your child a reader

In a time where social media and technology are consuming our minds, it’s easy to struggle to entice children to read more, especially when it seems like extra work for them. I thought of a few simple things to focus on to get them in the habit.

Let them read whatever they want – whether it’s a magazine or a comic. If they’re reading, the habit is there and if it’s something they enjoy, even better! I think a lot of adults to this day will say they don’t like reading because they were forced to read the classics or things they found incredibly boring. We tend to overanalyse books in school and that sometimes makes the story dull. But there are so many genres of books, there’s something for everyone. Do they like space or sports? Or maybe they like rom-coms or sci-fi. It doesn’t really matter what they’re reading as long as they are reading. Sometimes we focus too much on being the best at something but we don’t need reading to be this huge pretentious thing. As adults we consume things we enjoy, so why not let them enjoy a magazine about celebrities? Who knows, they might just want to be a journalist when they’re older as a result!

Use your local libraries. Our libraries are crying out for people to use them and they curate so many wonderful things for children to become engrossed in the world of books. In the summer, check if your library does a reading challenge. Usually they will create a game of sorts, where the more books read during the six-week holiday, the more stamps you collect, and once you fill it all up you earn a prize. They also do reading sessions, games and other fun activities. Reading doesn’t need to be a solitude activity. If your child prefers to read along with others maybe they’d prefer to sit in on a reading from a librarian or an author. Libraries are also free so it’s silly not to use them. And again they have a range of things including magazines, newspapers, comics and manga that aren’t just novels – which could be a good way to taste test what your child likes when it comes to reading.

My final advice is important and perhaps controversial. Don’t force them to read. Who wants to sit and do something they’re told to do for an hour every night for hours on end? Maybe after school they’re tired and don’t want to sit by themselves and read a book that they’re not interested in. You could have a designated day or weekend where you read to them. But I feel forcing them to do something they don’t want to do when they could already be overwhelmed with schoolwork could just lead them to not want to for longer. Maybe out of pure stubbornness but also because it starts to seem like a chore. Instead of setting a timer for reading every day, you could implement it into a fun activity. Take a book out of the library, pop to the local cafe and grab a sweet treat and a nice drink. You could also put an audiobook on in the car on the way to school or a long drive so it could be a fun family activity. Chat about your books and what you’re reading too. I for one wouldn’t want to be told to do something by someone who sounded unenthused about it themselves. If they see you reading, instead of being on your phone or watching TV, then they might be encouraged to do the same thing.

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What are some things that helped your child enjoy reading? Let me know in the comments below.

I’m also on Instagram, Twitter and Threads – @bookwormgirl_24