6 Fun Tips to Motivate and Encourage Kids to Read (and Learn!)
Kids love screens. Videos, games, just mindlessly scrolling. (I wonder where they learn that?) But how do you get them to love books? It is possible to encourage your kids to read with these six tips.
For the longest time, my toddler thought helicopters sounded like “BRRRRRRR.” Why? Because his favorite board book involved counting everything from dump trucks to tractors. Including 8 helicopters.
As a girl who’s never been interested in machinery (except ones that sew) I ran out of appropriate vehicle noises after the 6 boats. So helicopters received a very un-helicopter sound effect. And he asked me to read that book over and over again.
That was just the beginning of his love of books. Now my house overflows with books. Not only on the shelves, but also on the tables, on the floor beside the chairs, and, yes, even on a rack beside our porcelain throne. (Is there a better place to read?)
I will forever believe those early days of reading to my children before they could speak encouraged them to love reading.
6 Ways to Encourage Reading in Children
Modern kids can access so many other forms of entertainment, they aren’t as likely to reach for a book. After all, trying to imagine something in your head is not as easy as seeing someone act it out. (Until you’ve done it for a while, then it’s not only easy, it’s much more fun!)
If you want to motivate your child to read, rather than zone out in front of the TV, you have to be intentional about it. Your kids probably won’t naturally start seeking out books to read at home without a little encouragement from you.
Use these ideas to encourage reading habits, make it a part of kids daily routine, and soon you’ll have kids who are addicted to reading.
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1. Read Aloud.
You can set your kids on the road to reading before they even learn to read if you read aloud to them. I know, it’s not always convenient to read aloud. Especially when your kids find that one book they love the most–and they want you to read it over and over. Over.
But when they get a little older and you hear them reading that favorite book to themselves, or to a sibling, you’ll know it was worth it.
Reading aloud is not just for kids who can’t read yet, though. Books with rhyming words or funny sounds make great read-aloud books that younger and elementary-level kids enjoy hearing aloud.
You may also choose longer chapter books to read aloud as a family. They may be books that are above a child’s reading level or not.
It’s fun to choose a chapter book to read in the morning during your homeschool. Or, if you’re like me and enjoy slow starts to summer mornings, read together while you’re all in your pj’s!
Chilly winter nights are also a good time to read aloud together. Since it gets dark so early, and you spend more time inside, snuggling and good books make for great family time.
Some favorite read-aloud books:
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (Farmer Boy is my favorite!)
The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Animal Friends Series by Janette Oke (these are hard to find, but are really worth it, even if you get them used.)
Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor
The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson
Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn
The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible
2. Eliminate Screens.
Here’s the thing: I am not anti-screen. I think they have their place. (Sometimes that place is saving mom’s sanity!)
But if your kids have unlimited access to screens, they will never choose to read a book. If you want to encourage your kids to read more, allow them to have less access to screens.
When kids get too old for naps, you can motivate them to read by exchanging naps for quiet time. Quiet time is a good time to give them picture or activity books.
I have a curious child who loves reading. And he loves reading big words that need some interpretation from Mommy. Those are not the books you want during quiet time.
My boys really like interactive books. Think, lift-the-flap, or hidden pictures. Those are great books for quiet times. If you have younger kids, hidden picture books are often board books.
If they can be trusted with markers, or are in a place you can easily see them, give them some dry erase markers. They can circle the hidden items, then you can wipe them off when they’re done. Easy peasy!
Some favorite interactive books:
Highlights Jumbo Book of Hidden Pictures
Lift-the-Flap Bible Stories for Young Children
Look Inside Space (my boys’ favorite!)
Look Inside How Things Work (another favorite!)
3. Choose the Right Books.
I truly believe that no child hates to read. They just haven’t found the books they love yet. It’s up to us as moms to help them find the right ones. When they have books they really enjoy, they’ll be motivated to read more.
When I was younger, I enjoyed historical fiction. (Like the above-mentioned Little House on the Prairie.) Those books are great for girls.
I tried to find books for my boys that were fun, exciting fiction. But it just wasn’t making them excited. Then, I heard somewhere that boys prefer non-fiction. WHAT?
Turns out, it’s true for my boys! They like reading or looking at pictures of animals, dinosaurs, space, or science. When I found the right books, they started to enjoy reading.
I had the wrong idea about non-fiction. It doesn’t mean they want books of boring, dry facts. But books that present facts in a fun, interesting, or colorful way are right up their alley.
A trip to the library really gets them going. Last week my oldest picked out books about sea turtles and sharks, and my youngest got a book about lions. I would never have chosen books like that when I was a kid. But they love them.
Side note about non-fiction for Christian kids: it's important to make sure that we give our kids books that look at life from a Christian worldview. There is a lot of false information in the world, and we have to be careful that they learn the truth. I recommend that you check the contents of books before you allow them to read. Especially if they include topics like dinosaurs or space.
Some favorite non-fiction books for kids:
Pocket Genius Bugs (there are a ton of other topics if bugs aren’t your kids’ thing!)
Dinosaurs for Little Kids by Ken Ham
Dinosaurs for Kids by Ken Ham
4. Make Books Available.
Often we use our screens so much because they are readily available. And kids are the same.
If you keep books in areas where your kids can reach them easily, they will naturally pick them up. This might annoy you if you’re a person who likes things to be super tidy. (I enjoy a certain level of cleanliness, but to me, books are never clutter!)
Let your kids keep books near their beds, in the bathroom (yes, it’s a great reading time), beside the couch, and in the car. These are great places to keep books with short parts that can be read when you don’t have a ton of time.
You’d be surprised how much they can read in just a short trip. We drive about 15 minutes to church. Our son can easily devour several pages of his favorite bug or reptile book on the way. Get kids reading by putting books where kids can grab them in a hurry.
Some favorite short books:
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Courageous World-Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God by Shirley Raye Redmond
Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders: 50 True Stories of Daring Men of God by Shirley Raye Redmond
100 Adventurous Stories for Brave Boys: Memorable Tales of Men of Faith by Glenn Hascall
100 Extraordinary Stories for Courageous Girls: Unforgettable Tales of Women of Faith by Jean Fischer
5. Listen to Audiobooks.
Some people don’t consider audiobooks to be real books. However, I read a TON of audiobooks every year. If you find one that’s read really well, they are great for encouraging kids to read.
Plus, kids can listen to audiobooks while they do another activity. We like to listen while playing with LEGO or playdough, or coloring.
Your library is a great place to borrow audiobooks. But, if you’re like me, you don’t have a CD player in your house. (#firstworldproblems) You may be able to use your DVD player, and audiobook CDs are also great for long trips.
Many libraries also participate in digital lending programs like Hoopla or Libby. You can borrow books, movies, audiobooks, and music directly from your phone or device and stream them.
They have selections especially for kids that include classics and more modern books, too.
Another option is to get an Audible subscription. The new Audible Plus subscription includes thousands of books for unlimited streaming with your monthly plan.
Some favorite audiobooks for kids:
The Green Ember by S. D. Smith
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Ramona Quimby by Beverly Cleary
The Boxcar Children Gertrude Chandler
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Nancy Drew Diaries by Carolyn Keene
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Stuart Little by E.B. White
The Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osborne
6. Use a Reward System.
If you were a child in the 90s, you probably heard of the Pizza Hut reading program. If you read so many books, you could get a free personal pan pizza!
While I don’t think they have that program anymore, the idea is still a good one! Encouraging kids to read by using a rewards system is a proven method for success.
There are a few ways to do this, and they can vary depending on the age of your child.
One fun way is to challenge your kids to read one or two books per week. This might be over the summer, or as part of your homeschool program. After they finish the books you agreed on, give them a reward! It can be a pizza, ice cream, or treat. Better yet, make it a new book.
Encourage Kids to Read for Life.
The first time you go into your child’s room and find them reading with a flashlight, you’ll know you’ve succeeded! Motivating kids to read isn’t something that happens just once, but over and over again.
Encourage your kids daily to read by keeping books available, and finding new ones as their interests change. Borrow books from your library, exchange them with friends or buy them used to save money.
Reading is a lifetime pursuit, and you can encourage your kids to love it forever!
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My favourite stories to read aloud with my daughter are by Julia Donaldson; The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child and Room on the BRoom are my top choices.
I’ve heard of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. I need to add them to my list!