How to motivate kids to read books
Children often need a spark beyond standard school material, such as mobile content or newspapers, to build a reading habit. However, parents worry about choosing the right approach, like whether introducing movies first or exposing young minds to outside cultural sensibilities might cause confusion or overwhelm.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Reading books together daily from birth
- 2Getting a library card and visiting the library weekly
- 3Limiting screen time and making books constantly accessible
- 4Making reading a game or fun routine
- 5Showing movies after reading the book to dissect adaptations and changes
- 6Trying comics and graphic novels
- 7Setting aside dedicated family reading times after dinner
- 8Allowing kids to stay up past bedtime as long as they are reading
- 9Reading to children frequently when they were babies and toddlers
- 10Considering leaving reading strictly to school work
- 11Using public libraries and digital library apps like Libby
- 12Subscribing to services like Amazon Kids for unlimited digital books
- 13Transitioning children to illustrated novels, hybrid books, or graphic novel adaptations
- 14Allowing kids to stay up late reading chapter books in bed
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My wife loves reading and wants our kids (elementary school age) to love it to. However she is kind of forcing it on them and I think that is making them hate it.”source ↗
“right now it is a fight ever time she wants them to read. She keeps trying to give them opportunities to read and they will pick another activity every time.”source ↗
“We have dedicated family reading times each day, usually after dinner (where everyone just reads)... the kids hate it.”source ↗
“I don't know what to do.”source ↗
“The problem is that she reads graphic novels in less than an hour, so I can't keep her endlessly supplied with them.”source ↗
“She hates novels, and now reading each night has become a fight because we don't currently have any new graphic novels.”source ↗
“She has an ereader that allows her to get books out from the library, but she has read most of the ones that are available.”source ↗
“How do you motivate yout child to read books?”source ↗
“I am concerned that sensibilities from other cultures might confuse or overwhelm her.”source ↗
“So, how did u do it. Dis it start via school bokks, newspapers or mobile content?”source ↗
“I showed the movie before studying the book. Is that a big no no ? I work with kids with minimal English”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 2Should I let my young kid read about 9/11?
- 2Non-religious parent whose kid wants to go to church
- 7Why won't my kids listen unless I yell?