Introduction To Nurturing Your Child's Inner Reader

We’re living in the 21st century, and with this comes the abundance of technology-related devices, niches, apps, and more. While these additions have made life easier in some ways, many children readers jump at the chance of playing on electronic devices more than they do at the opportunity to read. 

Now, there is debate around whether or not this influences a child's desire to read, but research by the Reading Agency states that "Only 35% of 10-year-olds in England report that they like reading 'very much'". Statistics like these highlight the issue of children not reading nearly as much as previous years, and the lack of interest among children readers.

8 Tips To Help Your Nurture Your Child's Habit of Reading

If you're at your wits end, and you want to unleash your child’s inner reader, the following 8 tips will help you to kick-start that journey. 

1. Start With Reading Ability, and Age-appropriate Books

Depending on your child’s age, you'll need to adjust the type of books you introduce as you ease them into the habit of reading. If your child is a young reader, then picture books are a good way to introduce them to reading. If they are still building their confidence, then early chapter, and shorter books are a much better pick. For teenage readers, I'd suggest series books, and shorter story books too.

2. Create A Reading List To Keep Your Reader On Track

Compiling a list of books your child actually wants to read is a great way to get them to read more. Especially if they are reluctant to pick up a book or unsure of how to select a good book on their own. If you create a list together, you will have a go-to location for your child to refer to when they find themselves struggling to find their next book.

3. Read To Your Child As Long As They Let You

If your child is still young and can read, but they are reluctant to read on some days, don’t give up. Use this opportunity to read to them. Even though you might feel like they are missing out by not sounding out the words on their own, by reading aloud to them, you are helping them develop their phonetic skills also. In addition, you can start the sentences for them, and ask them to read a word, or a string or words to ease the pressure of having to read everything independently.

4. Set And Establish A Daily Reading Time For Your Reader

If you can work a reading time into your child’s daily routine, then the concept of reading will become something your child is used to, and that they expect regularly. If you're looking to raise your child to be a reader, this is an effective way to start. 

5. Increase Your Child's Exposure To A Variety of Books

Back in the day, paperbacks were the only available reading format. Now though, there are audiobooks, podcasts, comics, graphic novels, manga etc. You don’t need to limit your child’s exposure to paperback books alone. By expanding their horizons and allowing them to read in different formats, you are more likely to pique their interest with one of the options.

6. Model The Behaviour You Want To See

If your child sees you reading, they will (hopefully) begin to associate reading as something they should be doing. After all, children learn best through imitation. With time, you’ll notice that your child will also pick up the habit of reading themselves (and without prompting.) If your child is an older reader, this tip may be a bit harder to establish, and so I'd recommend incentivising them to begin, with something you know you can keep up consistently.

7. Limit Their Screen Time

The earlier you set a limit to your child’s screen time, the better you are helping them to establish the habit of reading for leisure and relaxation. If you don’t, your child will end up opting for screens whenever given the chance; after all it is much harder for them to turn down screen time than it is for them turn down reading time.

8. Plan Trips To Your Local Library

Going to the library can be a day out once a month, or a weekly routine, whichever you can commit to. Either way, if you can work a library visit into being a regular family day out, your child will begin to see reading and books as an event to anticipate rather than one to avoid.

And there you have it, folks, our 8 tips to get your child reading more and nurturing their desire to do so regularly in 2024! 

Happy Reading, and we'll see you next week! If you don't want to wait till then to keep up with us, then head over to our Tiktok or our Instagram in the meantime! Or if you want to know a bit more about us, then read on here.

Do you have any further questions or you'd like to share how these tips have worked for you? Send us an email at hello@dreamteamtutoring.com to let us know, or just to say hi!