Hook a Book Lover: 10 Clever Ways to Get Kids to Read

One of the most important skills a parent can encourage is to make their child a reader. Consistent reading leads to successes in academics and gives kids a solid start in life. In fact, recent research shows that kids who read at least 15 minutes a day have accelerated reading gains.

But no matter how diligently parents support reading, sometimes kids resist. Books have to compete with those oh-so-scintillating devices, video games and TV streaming apps.

Why not shake things up and try stealthy ways to create a book lover? These 10 ideas are sure to win over the most reluctant reader.

Free Stuff! If your kids don’t believe you, ask Alexa, Siri or Google “What free stuff can kids earn by reading?” and oodles of items will pop up. By merely recording the titles they are reading, my own children have earned Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizzas, frozen yogurt, books from Barnes and Noble and amusement park tickets. One time my son turned in the most reading logs in our local summer reading program and was rewarded by being interviewed on the radio by a DJ. She gave him a basket of goodies, including movie tickets for our whole family.

Let the books out. Don’t cage books up on the shelves! Put bins and baskets of books in the bathroom, in the car, and spread out books with inviting covers on the hard surfaces in your home. Research shows that kids from print-rich homes are better readers, and it helps if the books, magazines and newspapers are out where kids can see them.

Reward with extra bedtime reading. Have you noticed that your child who has a plague-like aversion to reading during the day suddenly develops a fondness for it at bedtime? Embrace this and let your child earn extra reading time at bedtime. If he or she reads for a specified amount of time or a certain number of books, extend lights out for a few minutes— as long as your child spends that time reading.

Make your book nook the envy of the neighborhood. Think of a tent with twinkle lights, plump pillows and comfy chairs. Make your child’s reading space as comfortable and inviting as you can. A reading space in a school was a model of the fictional Narnia ship Dawn Treader. Kids climbed a ladder to a reading nook on top that was cushioned with carpet and pillows.

But you don’t have to get fancy— sometimes what adults think is simple is a kid’s reading castle. Drape a sleeping bag over the footboard of a bed for a makeshift tent or build a “reading cave” with old moving boxes.

Make it a double feature. Every year new films come out that are inspired by books. If your child wants to see a movie that was based on a book, have them read the book first and then rent the movie and watch it together. Compare the two, and have your child explain which he or she liked better, the movie or the book.

Get graphic. Graphic novels may not be the conventional kind of books parents grew up with, but they may draw your child into reading. And while you are mixing it up, let them read comic books. Or throw in some audio books and let them read on a device sometimes. Imagine all the possibilities that might engage your child in reading.

Order a magazine subscription. Magazine subscriptions that come specifically for the kids of the house make them feel grown up and tempt them to read. Some good ones to try: Ask, Ranger Rick, National Geographic Kids, Sports Illustrated Kids, Cobblestone, Ladybug and Highlights.

Tickle a funny bone. From Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid, to Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia, or Sara Pennypacker’s Clementine, a funny story is a good way to hook a book lover. And if you read a humorous book with your child, you might find yourself chuckling along, too.

Let there be light. Let kids read with a flashlight under the covers! Also, there are a plethora of really cool reading lights in today’s universe. Headlamps are a unique option, and there are even book lights that keep track of minutes read.

Be a rock star reader yourself. Carve out time daily for your child to see you pouring over the paper, curling up with your favorite book, or discussing a tidbit from a magazine. Model a reading life, and your child will be more likely to embrace the same literature-loving values.

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