How to encourage Reading in children: 12 effective strategies

A Quick Guide

Encouraging reading in children can be achieved through strategies such as engaging with the material, re-reading favorite books, carrying books on the go, using reading to develop empathy, avoiding external rewards, developing literacy skills, creating a distraction-free reading environment, encouraging book discussions, modeling reading behavior, selecting age-appropriate books of interest, reading book series, and making reading a special treat. These approaches can help foster a love for reading and overcome the challenges of excessive screen exposure.

Introduction

Reading happens to be a healthy activity for a child’s cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development. Despite its benefits, parents of today are faced with the dilemma of children’s excessive exposure to screens which acts as an obstacle to engaging them in reading. (If you are a parent struggling with this, read more about how to regulate screen time in children in our previous article). Following strategies can be tried to encourage reading in children:  

1. Engage with the reading material

While reading a book with your child, try to engage with the written content by making it more relatable. Make connections with real life by applying whatever you learn from the book. Do any follow-up activities to make the reading process more interesting, For example, while teaching young children about body parts, ask them to point to their own body parts.

2. Re-read favorite books

Young children particularly like reading the same books over and over again. Though this can be burdensome for the parent, try to ignore this aspect. This is because you can maintain the child’s interest only by sparking your own. Any dismissing response from you may discourage any future reading behavior. So, re-read their favorite books to show you enjoy reading with them as much as you do.

3. Carry books with you

Keep a copy of your child’s favorite book with you for times when you have to wait in waiting areas. Instead of handing them over their tablet or phone, give them a book for independent reading. This can help them learn to spend time by themselves and make them more self-sufficient. Particularly, working moms can benefit from this.

4. Use book reading to develop empathy

Stories can help children connect with the story’s main character. Ask them questions about the character’s experience, thoughts, and feelings. Use it to establish a link with their own feelings. Helping children to understand a perspective other than their own can foster skills of empathy.

5. Avoid linking reading with external rewards

Do not reward your children with things or toys for showing reading behavior. Although this strategy may motivate them to read more, it will be short-term in terms of effectiveness. Due to this, they may lose any internal motivation to read on their own or because of their interest. Thus, reading will become reward-dependent. Similarly, do not force them to read. Give them space to do so when they are ready.

6. Develop literacy

Try reading out loud with your child to improve their skills. Help them when they make mistakes or spell out the word wrong. Ask questions in between to check their understanding. Similarly, introduce them to new words and their meanings to enhance their vocabulary. Encourage them to use these words in a sentence within daily conversations to retain the learned material.

7. Make reading a distraction-free activity

Make a reading corner in your room where no gadgets are allowed. Make it an attractive and lively space where multiple reading options are present. Furthermore, dedicate a separate space to your child’s books on the bookshelf. Set a daily time of the day dedicated to reading in the book corner in silence.

8. Encourage book discussions

Ask your child to discuss their book with their friends. Join a book club if possible to facilitate these discussions. Take them to book readings to help them enjoy reading as a group activity. Doing so will encourage the behavior of reading in children.

9. Model reading behavior

You may have heard the expression ‘Monkey see, monkey do’. The same can be applied to children and parents when it comes to reading. When they see their parents engrossed in their phones, they will do the same. So, try to model reading behavior so that your child tries to do the same. It can also be used as a parent-child bonding activity.

10. Choose books according to your child’s age and interest

Whenever you choose books, ensure that they are appropriate according to your child’s age. Filter out the ones with adult content and high difficulty level. Allow your child to also choose books of their own interest even if they don’t seem interesting to you. This can include comics, activity books, fantasy books, etc. This will assist in retaining their interest and encourage reading in children in general.

11. Read book series with your child

Choose books that come in the form of series. This can help gauge your child’s interest. They will look forward to what will happen next and keep on reading more. For example, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson series, Diary of a wimpy kid, etc.

12. Make reading a treat

You can reinforce reading behavior by treating it as a treat or reward. If your child puts on their best behavior, award them with their favorite book. Take your child to the nearest library at least once a month. Try to make the trip an exciting experience they can look forward to.