Getting a child genuinely excited about books, rather than just tolerating story time because it means a few extra minutes before lights out, is something most parents quietly wonder how to pull off. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), reading regularly with kids does far more than fill idle time, it actively builds their language skills, and books can become a gentle way to talk through big feelings or tricky real-world moments that are otherwise hard to bring up directly. The AAP has laid out ten simple, genuinely doable steps to help weave reading into a child’s everyday life, whether that’s something they do curled up alone or as a shared family ritual.
22 Sept 2026 | 14:56
Does your child tell you everything about school? What helps them open up?
Let them catch you reading too
Kids notice what the adults around them actually do, not just what they’re told to do, and reading is no exception. If your child regularly sees you with a book in hand, whether it’s a novel, a magazine, or even a recipe you’re flipping through in the kitchen, they’re far more likely to pick one up themselves without needing to be asked. Modelling the behaviour tends to work better than any amount of encouragement alone.
Make bedtime reading a real ritual, not a rush
Reading together before bed is one of the easiest ways to fold books into an already existing routine, and it doubles as genuine quality time at the end of a long day. Reading out loud helps bring the story to life in a way silent reading can’t quite match at a young age, and pausing to ask something like what happens next keeps them actively engaged rather than passively listening. For school-age kids, flipping the script occasionally and letting them read to you instead can be just as rewarding.
Get a library card and actually use it
Most communities offer free library access, and many run reading programs with games and small prizes to keep kids engaged, especially during school holidays. A good number of libraries now also offer contactless checkouts, e-book loans, and even virtual story times, making it easier than ever to keep a steady stream of new books coming without spending anything at all.
Read what they’re reading
Keeping up with whatever your child happens to be into, whether that’s a graphic novel series or a random nonfiction book about sharks, makes reading feel more like a shared interest than a homework assignment. It also gives you something genuinely fun to talk about together, rather than just checking in on whether they finished their assigned pages.
Let go of the idea that only certain books “count”
One of the more freeing pieces of advice here is that all reading counts as good reading. Fiction, biographies, kids’ magazines, comic books, even a cookbook read aloud in the kitchen, none of it needs to look like a “serious” novel to be valuable. The goal is building a genuine relationship with reading, not steering kids toward a specific type of book too early.
Build a cosy little reading corner
A dedicated, snuggle-friendly reading nook doesn’t need to be elaborate. Some blankets, a couple of pillows, maybe a bean bag chair and decent light from a window or lamp are enough to turn an ordinary corner of the house into a spot your child actually wants to curl up in with a book.
Turn it into a social thing with friends
A small book club with friends gives kids a chance to talk through what they’ve read, compare favourite characters, or debate how a story could have gone differently. It adds a social layer to reading that can make books feel less like a solitary task and more like something worth discussing.
Keep books within easy reach, always
If a book is always sitting nearby, on a coffee table, in a car door pocket, next to the bed, kids are far more likely to pick it up, even just for a few spare minutes. Making access effortless removes one of the biggest barriers to casual, everyday reading.
Bring books along wherever you go
Packing a book for car rides, waiting rooms, or any other stretch of downtime gives kids a genuinely engaging alternative to reaching for a tablet or smartphone. It turns otherwise wasted time into another small opportunity to read, without it feeling forced.
Make books a meaningful gift
Friends and family can turn birthdays or holidays into another chance to nurture this habit, gifting books instead of, or alongside, toys. Asking the gift-giver to write a short personal message inside the cover turns it into something a child can hold onto and revisit for years, long after the story itself has been read.
