6 Ways to Encourage Your Child to Love Reading

Are you trying to encourage your child to love reading? Do you find yourself wishing they would engage in reading for pleasure, not just because they have to? Some kids don’t get into it like others do but that doesn’t necessarily mean they cannot grow a love for it.

Getting your kid to read a book may seem torturous, but it doesn’t need to be! There are steps you can take and a few things you can do to help encourage them to enjoy it.

6 Tips on how to Encourage your Child to Love Reading

Tip #1 – Allow Your Child to Choose Books they Want to Read.

Rather than forcing books that your child doesn’t want to read, take them to the local library or bookstore to pick out books they’ll enjoy. My rule for the library is 2 non-fiction and 1 fiction book. Pick almost anything you want under that rule.

I find that my kids really have come to learn a lot just from picking up a couple non-fiction titles and it sparks an interest in learning along with a love for reading.

Tip #2 – Encourage your child to read books her favorites are based on.

If your daughter can’t get enough of the Star Wars series or if she adored the movie Matilda, encourage her to read the books. Not only will she appreciate comparing the books to the movies, but it may help her find a book she’ll enjoy! This could be the very game-changer you are looking for.

Tip #3 – Let Your Child Know How Fun Reading Can Be!

If your child knows that reading is something that you enjoy, it’s probably something that he or she will also come to enjoy. Be a good role model by reading in front of your child – and letting your kid know how much you enjoy it!

They will be sure to follow suit and find it interesting too. After all, in parenting, we know that kids learn more by example than by suggestion.

Tip #4 – Don’t Push Your Child to Learn to Read.

A child being pushed to read early usually ends in a child that is a reluctant reader. If your child is ready to learn to read you will know it. They will give you a few signs that are sure tellers that they are in the beginning stages the concept of reading.

If they pretend to read a book, know their letter sounds, scan from left to right on the page, begin to put sounds together they may be ready, but if they do all of these things and show no interest when you ask them to try to read something maybe wait a little longer.

I’ve found that when I was patient and didn’t push them, they learned easier and enjoyed it more than if I had forced it. 

Tip #5 – Continue Reading to Your Kids after They Learn to Read.

Another way that I think would really encourage your child to love reading is reading to them. Reading aloud to kids has so many benefits. One being usually kids that are read aloud to most of their childhood become lovers of reading.

Now that’s enough for me to keep reading aloud to my kids forever. Start when they are babies and don’t stop ever.

Keep reading aloud and you will notice that their interest in books will be astounding.

Tip #6 – Set a Daily Reading Schedule

When good reading habits are formed and kept it simply becomes a part of who you are. We read about 3 times a day. First thing in the morning we read the Bible, then twice more throughout our day.

If we keep this reading schedule, we tend to want to read more. It may start out as a chore, but when good habits are formed it somehow changes from a chore to a need.

Don’t let it stop there, however.

Encouraging your children to read is very important. Make time for it each day in your lives. These are just some ideas on how to get your child to love reading!

~>Download my Free Reading Log for your kids <~

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!