How to raise a reader: tips to make books fun for kids

Parents know that reading is an essential life skill, but do you know how to raise a reader? Try these simple ideas for how to make books fun for kids.

Parents know that reading is an essential life skill, but how do you raise kids who love to read? Read on to learn several simple tips to make books fun for kids (and earn some free books, too).

“I cannot live without books,” claimed Thomas Jefferson. I’m with Mr. Jefferson on that one! In fact, I have this quote displayed in my house…on one of many shelves of books in our small front living room, which I affectionately call “the library” (so much cooler than calling it an office).

I’ve had a book in my hand (and a pile on my nightstand) for as long as I can remember. As a child, my home was filled with books. There was a bookshelf in every room, and we took regular trips to the library and bookstore to fill them up.

I still remember snuggling up next to my mom as she read me the final chapter of The Last Battle from the Narnia books, wishing it could go on forever.

Most young children love books, as I did, and research has shown time and again that reading to our children is essential to their development.

Consider these statistics:

Having books in the home is twice as important as the father’s education level. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 2010
Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week. Denton, Kristen and Gerry West, Children’s Reading and Mathematics Achievement in Kindergarten and First Grade, U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Washington, DC, 2002.
The nurturing and one-on-one attention from parents during reading aloud encourages children to form a positive association with books and reading later in life. Reach Out and Read, Archives of Disease in Childhood, Reading Aloud to Children: The Evidence, 2008.

Sadly, as kids grow older, many stop reading. Required school reading, the allure of the digital age, and a host of other factors cause a marked decline in our children’s enjoyment of reading as they mature.

In fact, according to the Pew Research Center’s 2016 report, 1 in 4 adults went the entire previous year without reading a single book. Bummer.

But our kids are not destined to lose their love of reading. We cannot force them to be readers, but when we show our young kids that reading can be fun, we can put them on the road to being life-long readers.

Here are some of the things that I do with my own kids to make books fun and instill in them a love of reading.

How to raise a reader: Simple tips to make books fun for kids

Start a Library Tradition

We go to the library almost every week. Each week, I let my kids pick a few books to bring home, and I grab a stack of new and different stories, too. We usually walk out with our library bag stuffed to capacity…I cannot be stopped!

Our library also has a great story time program, and we’ve been attending it since my oldest (now 6) was a year old. I LOVE story time because it gives my kids the opportunity to share the fun of reading with other kids and adults in a play-based setting. We sing, dance, make crafts, play games, and read stories.

By making library trips a regular occurrence, my kids are learning that reading is a priority in our family. They look forward to our library outings and the chance to discover new stories to enjoy together.

I know some people who say they don’t like going to the library because they forget to take the books back and then end up with fines. However, because we go almost every week, we hardly ever have that problem. In 6 years, I’ve only lost three library books. Paying for one book every two years (on average) is more than worth the benefits in my book.

Let Them Choose

There is something powerful about having ownership of something, including books. According to Scholastic, 91% of kids aged 6 to 17 are more likely to finish a book that they choose themselves.

Let your kids choose their own books. Don’t worry too much about whether or not they are picking “classics”. If the kid wants to get some poorly-written, mass market superhero book for the fiftieth time, let him. (Of course, you can retain veto power if your child chooses a book you feel is inappropriate).

My boys go through phases with loving particular books, and while I often want to throw the books in their favorite series out the window long before they move onto the next greatest thing, I try to roll with their preferences.

How, then, do you get your kid to read anything of quality?

You supplement their choices with your own choices. When we sit down to read, I let each of my boys pick one story, and then (if I don’t like their choices) I pick a book too. Often they end up LOVING the books that I pick out. Sometimes, I’ll also encourage them to go through the book basket by our couch and find any library books we haven’t read yet. This gets them to move past their tried-and-true favorites and explore new stories.

Try a Change of Scenery

We usually read on our family room couch, but sometimes we like to change things up. When I was pregnant and sick with baby number three, I would tell my boys to grab a pile of books and meet me in Mommy’s room for a book snuggle party. They don’t get to hang out in my room often, so it was a special treat to snuggle in Mommy’s bed and read books.

We also like to do book picnics. Just grab a pile of books and head outside. We take a picnic lunch, or even just some grab-n-go snacks, and read outside under a shady tree. About a month ago, we did this in our front yard, and within five minutes we had a bunch of the neighborhood kids piled on the blanket with us, listening to our story. Fun!

This week, we took some of our favorite snacks to a park near our house and had our book picnic there. It was a hot day, but we happily ate our snacks and giggled in the shade at silly Dr. Seuss rhymes as the breeze rustled the leaves overhead. Moments like those when I really connect with my kids are truly priceless.

Books in Bed

We don’t let our kids have toys in their rooms after bedtime, but we have always allowed books. Each of my boys has his own night-light with a pile of books next to it. If they aren’t tired when we say goodnight, they are allowed to “read” books in their room. Even though they can’t read the words on their own yet, they love looking at the pictures, poring over ever detail. Sometimes, in the morning they will bring me a book and show me something interesting they discovered in a picture. Fabulous!

Sure, they stay up a little later this way, but they are (usually) quiet, and it helps them calm down and get ready to sleep. Plus, it makes reading books a special, desirable activity.

Have your child “read” a favorite book to you

Have you ever had your preschool child “read” to you? It’s so fun! If you haven’t, give it a whirl. Tell your child that you think it would be fun to switch roles for a little bit. They get to be the parent (kids love to be in charge) and you’ll be the child. Let them pick their favorite story (you know, the one you practically have memorized), and encourage them tell the story to you.

When my oldest son was four, he told me one day he was going to read Danny and the Dinosaur to his little brother. I raised an eyebrow, but encouraged him to go ahead. To my surprise, he recited almost the entire story–verbatim–as he turned the pages and showed his toddler brother the pictures. I was amazed at how well he knew the story!

Even if you child can’t remember all the words, he can do a “picture walk” through the book, telling you what he sees on each page. This is a great pre-reading skill and it’s an effective way to get your child actively involved in reading with you.

Do the voices!

Whatever you read, narrate it with GUSTO! Maybe it’s my theater background, but I love doing all the voices for characters in the books. Don’t worry if you think you sound ridiculous (bonus points if you DO, in fact!). Your kids will be as enthusiastic about books as you are, so show them how fun they can be!

Have books everywhere

Well, maybe not everywhere, but you get the point. We have books in pretty much every room in the house. We have a basket in the living room, a bookshelf in the office, some book display ledges in their bedroom, and even a pile in the bathroom.

The house I grew up in was the same way (I learned from the best bookworms around). No matter where I went, there was a book nearby. Because they were readily available, I would often pick up a book to flip through. Calvin and Hobbes comics, National Geographic photographic encyclopedias, a vast assortment of picture books, and so many more.

Raising Readers Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Fostering a love of reading in your kids really is simple. By incorporating simple habits like frequent library trips, letting kids choose their own books, and creating special reading moments, you can help your children see books as fun, not just another chore. Remember, it’s not about perfection—it’s about making reading a natural and joyful part of your family’s life.

So grab a book (or ten), cuddle up with your kids, and enjoy a good story together. Because as Thomas Jefferson and I agree, life is just better with books.

Happy reading!

Need some fabulous book recommendations to get started? Try these!

How to raise a reader: tips to make books fun for kids