How to make your kids enjoy reading

Every parent has heard it: reading is one of the best gifts you can give a child. But knowing that and getting a wriggly seven-year-old to sit still with a book are two very different challenges.

Let them choose

The single biggest shift we saw in our own reading corner was letting kids pick their own books, even if that meant the same dinosaur encyclopedia every night for a month. Ownership over the choice matters more than the 'right' book.

Bookstores and libraries can feel overwhelming, so start small: three or four options laid out on the table, all approved by you, all genuinely appealing to them.

Make it a ritual, not a rule

Reading before bed works well precisely because it's predictable. The lights are low, the day is done, and there's nothing else competing for attention. Try to anchor reading to a moment that already exists in your routine rather than carving out a brand-new slot.

And remember: being read to counts. You don't need to hand over the book the moment they can sound out words. Shared reading builds the same love of story, just with less decoding effort.

Talk about what happens next

Pausing to ask 'what do you think will happen?' turns a passive listener into an active participant. It's a small habit that pays off for years, well past picture books and into chapter books and beyond.