An Ultimate Guide on How to Get Kids to Read

Are you wondering how to get kids to read? Don’t fret. This article seeks to answer that question.

How to Get Kids to Read at a Young Age?

To raise children’s interest in reading, it is important to find something they can feel comfortable with. If the kids have a language-based interest (for example, reading Spanish), then a bilingual activity may be what parents need.

Is the child a fan of reading about a certain topic or genre? This can make the process a lot more fun for them. When something they like is incorporated into the reading, they are more interested.

If the child has some kind of passion, then this could be the perfect opportunity for reading. It may take some time before reading becomes a regular habit. But with the right approach, books will make your kids the world’s best readers.

At What Age Should Kids Start Reading?

Kids should normally start reading at the age of 6 or 7, but this is not always the optimal age. However, studies show it’s probably best to start when they’re about 4 or 5 years old.

Some people have said that the best age to begin reading to kids is around 2 or 3 years old. You can start with one-word books or simple sentences. Your kids will love you for it. The earlier kids start, the more fun and understanding they have.

A young boy in kindergarten class preparing to read a book
Kindergarten reading photo by Pixabay on Pexels

The younger they start reading, the better. That way as they grow, they won’t need as much attention and the skill will develop naturally. This way, kids start developing a love for learning. They’ll learn how to read, write and speak.

But there’s an easy way to make sure your kids love books and reading. You can get them to read by “watching the story”. What does this mean? When a kid hears a book read to them, they need to listen.

You don’t even need to read every word. You just need to talk and make sure it’s a story they want to hear again.

Reading to kids is very important too. Children love to read, and they learn to read first before they learn to write. So, kids tend to read more and are better at it. Let’s look at more ways to get kids to develop a love for reading.

Top 10 Genius Ways to Get Kids to Love Reading

The best tips on how to get kids to read are provided below. They take home environments, school, and personal hobbies into account. It is important to consider these aspects when developing your child’s reading skills.

The 10 tips are:

  • Read aloud—even when it’s not necessary!
  • Turn a visit to the library into an adventure!
  • Ask them questions about the text to get them to understand what’s going on!
  • Don’t discount magazines! They learn the importance of current news while reading the latest gossip about the Kardashians!
  • Use nursery rhymes to help them learn sounds, syllables, and phonemic awareness!
  • Playing fun word games is always a win! Pictionary, Scrabble, etc.
  • Use technology to your advantage to keep your child engaged!
  • Read more for about an hour on the weekend to reduce reading time during the week!
  • Read the fun fiction pieces in the newspaper!
  • Sometimes, acting out the story to make it real, makes it more enjoyable!

These are tricks you can use to get your kids to fall in love with reading and think it was their idea. You get to spend fun, quality time with your kids while they learn to read.

Let’s look at the importance of getting kids to start reading more at home.

A woman and her daughter laying in bed having fun reading a book.
Mother-daughter reading time photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Encouraging Kids to Read at Home

Many experts believe that reading is like a drug: kids get hooked early in life when it’s stimulating, colorful, and exciting.

If your child isn’t already a fan of reading, it might be worth reading a book with them to get in the reading spirit. This will encourage them to read because they will associate fun with reading.

Parents often neglect the importance of practicing reading at home. But, it’s crucial to make sure that kids are having fun while they read. Some parents are firm believers in reading to babies. It gives them something solid to latch on to.

Reading to a baby is like planting a tree while they are in utero. That tree will probably grow to be tall. It will have leaves, flowers, and fruit. But if the seed is planted while they are in the womb, it will simply produce a seedling. It will not grow into a tree.

Reading to babies has just as much significance as reading to a toddler. Babies latch onto the enjoyment they get from you reading a book with them. They grow and want this practice to continue. Unbeknownst to them, their reading skills are developing day by day.

Final Words: Benefits of Reading From a Young Age

The benefits of reading from a young age are significant. Not only will it lay the foundation for a young child’s academic life. Most importantly, books can allow someone to escape their reality and enter into a world full of wonder.

After reading a book, they will learn many lessons they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Reading is an activity that will allow children to succeed in life. But it also benefits the family members who will read to them as well.

It’s not about making kids feel good about reading, but about learning the basics. Make reading a daily habit, regardless of the kid’s age. Parents should never talk negatively about books. The best way to overcome that problem is to let them pick the book.

Books can be a great pleasure for kids, so don’t underestimate the power of a good one!

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

What is Reading? — Making Sense of Letters and Symbols

When studying the English language, you should familiarize yourself with its different concepts. It includes spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and reading.…

July 4, 2022

What is Readability Score? — a Quick Guide

Your text should cater to all kinds of readers. When you’re writing an article that intends to reach various individuals,…

July 4, 2022

Causes of Reading Comprehension Problems

Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and interpret written words, connecting the information in the text with previous knowledge.…

July 4, 2022

What Is ZPD Reading Level?

Everyone unique and we all have a unique understanding of the world. So what should the level of difficulty be…

July 4, 2022

The Best ELL Strategies for Reading!

Non-native English speakers can be proficient readers in their original tongue. However, those who are enrolled in an ELL (English…

July 4, 2022

These Are the Best Practices in Reading!

Best practices have been a topic of discussion in the reading education community for a long time. Among these best…

July 4, 2022