10 Ways to Foster a Love of Reading in Your Child

How do we get our kids to fall in love with reading? What can parents do in their child’s younger years, so they will read for enjoyment all on their own one day? Here are some fun ideas to foster a love of reading in your child. I hope these ideas will inspire you and your kiddo to find reading delightful and grow your love of reading!

1) Get Cozy!

Make a super cozy spot that is made for reading together: couches, pillows, fluffy blankets, surrounded by books that are easy to see and grab. We read in our cozy spot once or twice a day, maybe even for a couple of hours on a snow day when we’re both into a book we just don’t want to put down!

2) Make It a Routine

We read 15-30 minutes before bed every night. We’ve done this for as long as my son remembers so he knows no different. Making it a routine might sound boring, but it’s really not. It’s a special time to unwind, snuggle, and do something together that we both enjoy. For us, it’s really a bonding routine. Mornings or after lunch, or on weekends might work better for your family, find what works for your schedule, even if it’s just certain days of the week and not every day.

3) Read Books You’re Interested In Too

I’m not saying only read what the parent is interested in, but when mom or dad is into it, usually your kids will get into it too. The excitement for reading will be infectious! I try to pick books we’ll both find interesting to read together at night. Because by the time evening rolls around, and if you’re not into the book, your eyes may gradually start shutting and you may start slurring and babbling your words (aka- falling asleep). Ask me how I know this!

4) Library Dates! 

Just going to the library and having the opportunity to pick whatever books your little one’s heart desires will grow their love for reading. And this will expose them to all the wonderful available books out there. Plus, going to the library feels like shopping but without the spending. (Or maybe that’s just me.)

5) Let Their Interests Take the Lead!

In second grade, my son particularly enjoyed the Who Would Win? Book Series, Skippyjon Jones books, and the Avengers Character Guide. These were all hits. These are ideal for 7-year-olds who aren’t ready to tackle chapter books on their own yet. Some kids may prefer magazines or read-alongs. Find whatever it is they are intensely interested in, and they will find a way to read it!

6) Watch the Movie After Reading the Book

This idea is great for reluctant readers. After reading the book together, snuggle up with popcorn and watch the book come to life on the screen. There are so many good movies of some of the classics. Here are just a couple we’ve read, then watched, and thoroughly enjoyed:

• Charlotte’s Web
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Giver

7) Ask Your Kids Questions About What They are Reading & Share What You Are Reading

For older kids that read (or listen to audiobooks) on their own, be genuinely interested in what they are reading and ask questions. What is the most interesting part of the story? What is their favorite book they’ve read in the last month? What are some key takeaways from the book? (Of course, without being interrogative). This is great dinnertime conversation and keeps communication open with older kids. Talking about what they’re reading might give you a peek into their inside world that they might not think to share if they aren’t asked.

Lastly, share what you’ve been reading. Because of course, a love of reading is more caught than taught. Some kids are born to read even if their parents aren’t big readers, but we can’t expect our kids to read if we aren’t reading ourselves and modeling it for them. 

8) Make $ for Reading

I’ll probably get some slack for this one. But some kids really don’t like reading, maybe they are natural auditory learners, or maybe they are left-eye dominant. But maybe they like to make money! I think I remember reading online somewhere that a dad paid his son $1 per chapter book that he read. Honestly, I’d be happy to be out $100 if that meant my son read 100 chapter books! Of course, the ideal is that your kid wants to read and happily does this on their own by finding the right books of interest. But for those kids that need an extra push, why not add a little incentive? 

9) Reading Challenge!

And speaking of incentives, do a reading challenge! It could be monthly, yearly, or just up to a certain number of books. Take a special trip when they rise to their challenge! Go to their favorite restaurant, go skating, go to the arcade, or have a pizza party. There are so many fun things to do! Whatever is out of the ordinary but a special treat. Locally, we have a Speedway race car track that kids get to attend for free if they participate in their reading challenge. Often the local library will have their own reading challenges with fun rewards. 

10) Make Reading Come Alive!

This is probably my favorite idea to foster a love of reading in children. And this can work for fiction or non-fiction books. After learning about the Founding Fathers I bought a state quarter’s coin collection map, and we went to visit Mount Rushmore. If your kiddo is reading all about dinosaurs, do a dinosaur field trip. If you’re reading about animals visit a homestead or a zoo. After learning about the Titanic, we built a Lego Titanic model. We had friends visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando after reading the magical book series.

For kinesthetic learners or reluctant readers, taking field trips or doing some fun, hands-on projects to make the reading come alive will create memorable experiences that they will remember and reinforce whatever they have read. Of course, you don’t have to make yourself crazy and do this all the time or with every book, but for some of their favorite books or topics, it would be worth it. 

I have a kiddo on the younger side, but I hope all the things we are doing now will inspire him to become a voracious reader on his own one day. For now, we enjoy reading together, listening to read alouds, and always have a messy pile of books on the nightstand and in the living room. 

If you enjoyed reading 10 Ways to Foster a Love of Reading in Your Child, read Educational Gifts for Boys, Ages 5-8.

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