Ways to get kids to read more

When it comes to Reading amongst kids of all ages nowadays, it is a rare sight, unlike before learners had enough time to be occupied with a storybook, magazine, or pocketbook.

Reading Club

Today, most youngsters are busy with their gadgets or whatever apps they have on their smartphones or tablet device.

According to the Literacy Trust, the most notable benefits of reading for children include; comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness, and fun. Giving a child time and full attention when reading them a story tells them they matter.

It builds self-esteem, and vocabulary along with feeding the imagination and even improves their sleeping patterns.

This, of course, reflects the kind of readers we have in school and at home.

With these myriad problems or say challenges our kids are facing, there is always a time-tested strategy that, of course, is doable.

Supporting your child’s skills and helping self-esteem

Parent and Child reading

Developing the good habit of reading among our kids is timely and vital to their learning successes.

Note, slow readers, and poor comprehension are just bad effects of not having the habit of reading among kids developed at a younger age. Add to that the difficulty they encounter in spelling out words correctly, the inability to make a complete sentence, and so on.

“Reading aloud together and having a shared activity gives you and your child something to talk about, which in turn supports the development of reading and writing skills (per the vocabulary and reading comprehension areas of development)” – All4kids (

This proves a point in why parents/guardians must do something to encourage their kids the habit of reading.

Tips to develop reading skills

Here are tips so that kids can have a chance to learn some reading skills.

  1. Make sure there is a reading nook at home. Varied books, magazines, newspapers, etc must be there in shelves, and let kids read them. Encyclopaedia, a big dictionary, if you have some, must be used by kids; not just display materials. Books are meant to be read, and not to be a bragging thing in your house.
  2. Show them you are into reading. Yes, actions speak louder than words. If kids see you read, they would be encouraged to read.
  3. Have a reading time together. Family reading together is a sight to behold. Instead of watching television, why not have reading time once or twice a week? Yes, let this be wisdom for parents/guardians out there to make time to read together with their kids.
  4. Buy books for them or bring them with you to a bookstore. Yes, a trip to a bookstore once a month is a good reading boost for your kids. Not only they will have more fascination with books, but also they will be curious to see different kinds of books.
  5. When you read newspapers, make sure they also know the latest news, trends, and so on. A little conversation with them about what’s new in science, politics, etc could boost their reading habit to maximum learning. Yes, having this kind of bonding moment will be a fun and meaningful learning experience for them.
  6. Read to them. Having this kind of bonding moment could establish positive relationships with your kids. Yes, this becomes moments to remember when they are old and you are no longer with them.

Make reading a hobby

So there you have it. With these, your kids’ reading journey will be fun and meaningful, and someday they will be writers and speakers — with affluence.

Let our young learners be more curious about books, stories, and all things around them. Curiosity is the beginning of learning. Make curiosity your ally in encouraging them toward self-learning through reading. Yes, it is more fun and meaningful when done right, at home.