How to Raise a Kid Who Loves Reading

Learn practical strategies to nurture a lifelong love of reading in children of all ages through modeling, creating reading-friendly environments, and making books enjoyable.

1. Start with yourself. Children copy what they see, so the most powerful thing you can do is read yourself. Let your kids see you reading books, magazines, recipes, or even texts out loud. Talk about what you're reading at dinner. Say things like 'I can't wait to find out what happens next in my book' or 'This article taught me something interesting.' When kids see reading as something adults choose to do for pleasure, they're much more likely to want to try it themselves.
2. Create a book-rich environment. Fill your home with books at your child's eye level. Keep books in the car, by their bed, in the bathroom, and in common areas. Visit the library regularly and let kids choose their own books, even if they pick the same story over and over. Make sure you have books that reflect your child's interests, whether that's dinosaurs, princesses, trucks, or animals. Having their own books that they can touch, carry around, and even damage helps kids feel ownership over reading.
3. Read aloud every single day. Reading aloud is the single most important thing you can do to raise a reader, and it works at every age. For babies and toddlers, focus on rhythm, rhyme, and fun sounds. For older kids, choose books that are slightly above their reading level so they hear rich language and complex stories. Don't stop reading aloud once your child can read independently. Many kids enjoy being read to well into middle school, and it's a wonderful way to share more challenging books together.
4. Make reading feel special, not like work. Avoid turning every book into a lesson or quiz. Let your child simply enjoy stories without having to answer comprehension questions or write book reports at home. Create positive associations with reading by having special reading spots, letting kids stay up a little later if they're reading in bed, or having regular bookstore dates. Celebrate when they finish books, discover new authors, or share something exciting from a story.
5. Follow your child's interests. Don't worry if your child wants to read the same book repeatedly or only wants books about one topic. This is normal and helps build reading confidence. If they're obsessed with dogs, find fiction and nonfiction books about dogs. If they love graphic novels or picture books longer than you think they should, that's still reading. Comic books, poetry, joke books, and magazines all count as reading and can be gateways to other types of books.
6. Be patient with reading development. Every child learns to read at their own pace, and some kids who struggle with reading mechanics can still develop a deep love of stories and books. If your child is having difficulty learning to read, work with their teacher and consider professional support, but continue to read aloud and surround them with books. Many successful readers were late bloomers, and keeping reading enjoyable during the learning process is crucial.