10 Ways to Help Children Read More

Reading is one of those things that is essential to life and our development. The ability to read can open doors (literally and figuratively), change lives and shape our world. Reading can improve brain connectivity, help reduce stress, increase vocabulary, aid with sleep readiness, increase your ability to empathise, and help alleviate depression symptoms.

The ability to read can save lives and we need to help develop a love for reading that children can take with them into adulthood and pass onto their own children.

1. Let children pick the books they way to read

One key thing to encourage young readers is to let them pick the books they want to read. Instead of giving them a book to read, or ‘forcing’ them to read something they’re not interested in, perhaps let children choose themselves.

In 2019 the publishing house, Egmont, conducted research through their Egmont Eager Readers Project. Children aged between 7 and 11 were given one £10 book token a month to purchase a book of their choice. As a result of the child having freedom of choice, they wanted to read the book they had selected, and spent more time reading during their free time without adult supervision/ support.

2. Read to and with your children

Children whose parents read to them on a regular basis hear on average 1.4 million more words. Hearing words read out loud can help stimulate their minds and imaginations, develop language and listening skills which will be essential in later life.

In the same Egmont Eager Readers Project mentioned earlier, the study also confirmed the importance of children being read to. Let them ask questions about what the story, what words mean. It’s also a great bonding activity.

3. Let them see you read

Alongside reading to your child, let them see you read. Children are imitators, especially young ones. If they see you read regularly, they may follow suit, choosing to pick up a book.

And if sitting down and reading a physical book is something you find difficult, try audiobooks. Audible dominates the audiobook industry but Spotify now include audiobooks in their premium subscription. Many libraries are connected to ebook/ audiobook apps such as BorrowBox. If all else fails see what’s available on YouTube.

4. Don't hide books

Keep them out and about. Place books that are suitable for them on lower shelves so that they can access the books by themselves. Even if they can’t read the words, the fact that they are looking at books is a good thing.

Have books in as many rooms as possible; playrooms, children’s bedrooms, lounges. Cooking and recipe books in the kitchen. Make them accessible as much as possible.

5. Consider using other reading options

Some people are sticklers for paper books. A handful of people insist on hardback only. But many struggle with hardback and paperback books, especially those who have difficulties, either learning or physical.

Some people struggle to read off a bright white background, and may need a cream or a yellowier one. Some people may need to change the font of the size of the text to make it easier to read.

Other people can’t physically hold a book or have vision impairment and therefore use audiobooks. Can you listen to an audiobook in the car with your children? What about adding an eBook app to a tablet/ iPad they use? Audio players such as Tonies and Yoto Players have become increasingly popular recently.

6. Visit the library

It’s common knowledge that libraries are a great source for free books. This links back to the first point. Libraries are a great opportunity for children to pick the books they want to read.

It also lets them see that other children and adults read as well. Many libraries run reading programs over the summer holidays, creative writing workshops, or have authors visit whilst on a book tour.

7. Start a book swap

Choose one or two friends and swap books with each other. This can be done with the children and parents, allowing everyone to read books they might not pick up.

With older children, extend it into a book club of their own, with some kind of discussion once a month. This could be something older kids can organise themselves - they pick a book once a month or once every two months, and then have a discussion, either in person at someone’s house or via video chat (with appropriate supervision of course).

8. Read the book. Watch the movie

This could be something you do as a family. Read the book, then have a family movie night, especially if parents have a book/ movie they want to share with their kids. The book club idea could be expanded to a movie club

Many people are of the opinion that you read the book first, then watch the movie. But watching the movie first might be useful to reluctant readers, or books that have complex plots and structures, like Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkein. Watching a movie adaptation helps with making the book come alive.

9. Don't force them to read

This will unfortunately take the fun out of reading. Sometimes we have days where we don’t want to read, or we want to read old favourites. If your child doesn’t want to read every single day, that is ok. If they want to read The Gruffalo for the 6 millionth time, that is ok.

10. Don't turn reading into a competition

We have slowly turned reading into a competition. Many schools run ‘how many books can you read in a year’ competitions. Libraries have summer reading programs (6 books in 6 weeks). Social media with BookTube, BookGram, and BookTok have turned reading into a competition, with having perfectly curated and aesthetically pleasing shelves, or challenges of reading 52 or 100 books a year.

It doesn't matter if child 1 has read 24 books a year, and child 2 only reads 3. It doesn’t matter if it takes three months to read 1 book, or you read 3 books in 1 month. All that matters is that you are reading.

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