Inside: Looking for simple and fun ways to foster your child’s love for reading? Here’s a toolbox packed with 5 things you can do every day, plus free 4-week access to a science-backed learning resource.
Several weeks ago, my husband and I received a compliment that nearly brought me to tears.
“I can tell you read a lot to Owen. He has a wonderful vocabulary and expanse of knowledge.”
Owen had just completed 3 hours of IQ and academic testing from a renowned neuropsychologist we hired to help us understand why our 8-year-old still wasn’t able to read.
It blew my mind that he could clearly see how hard we’ve been working to foster our child’s love for reading, despite his struggles in school.
5 Simple Ways to Foster Your Child’s Love for Reading
Today I’m partnering with Reading Eggs to share 5 simple ways parents can foster their child’s love for reading. Although my son has learning disabilities which make reading extra hard, he still loves books!
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1. Read Aloud for 20 Minutes Every Day
“Do the voices, Mommy!”
Cuddled together in a warm blanket, I opened the book we had already read hundreds of times, an abridged version of Swiss Family Robinson. Swept into the story, Owen imagined the horror of the storm, the relief upon finding his family safe, and the adventure of starting a new life on a deserted island.
Reading aloud to a child boasts many positive benefits; it builds memory, aids brain development, models fluency, increases vocabulary, and exercises attention while fostering curiosity and a genuine love for books.
To reap the most benefits from read-aloud time, educators encourage parents to read to their child for at least 20 minutes per day. My husband and I enjoy sharing this responsibility, as a recent study from Harvard University has shown that kids develop stronger language skills when dad reads.
Tip: Listening to audiobooks in the car is a great way to sneak in extra read-aloud time!
2. Make the Library Your Second Home
Our local library is a treasure trove of books, games, and toys for kids to borrow and enjoy. On our weekly library trip, my kids are greeted by name, then welcomed into the inviting children’s space.
Through free community programs, story time, summer reading programs, and monthly reading challenges, libraries help develop a love of reading, foster literacy, build resiliency, and improve school performance.
Our library has a knack for introducing kids to new books by hosting monthly Reading BINGO challenges. The BINGO squares present creative reading challenges to kids such as, “Read a book about a bear who gets into mischief.”
My kids love to participate!
3. Login to Reading Eggs
Reading Eggs is an award-winning early learning resource that supports learning to read with engaging online games, books, and activities that are backed by science. Vibrant animation, lively music, and virtual rewards keep kids hooked, motivated, and on-task.
After taking a placement exam, kids are given a custom dashboard to access their individualized, self-paced lessons which they can enjoy on a tablet or computer.
We were first introduced to Reading Eggs by my son’s online school. Despite enjoying a fiery love for books and learning, Owen’s dyslexia makes reading a challenge.
Using Reading Eggs is a fun and relaxing way for Owen to build phonemic awareness and phonics skills. Learn more about how Reading Eggs can help dyslexic kids here.
But Reading Eggs isn’t just an amazing tool for struggling readers or those who are challenged with a learning disability; it’s an amazing tool for all children ages 2–13.
After using Reading Eggs, over 91% of parents report a noticeable difference in their child’s reading skills within weeks.
Sign up for your family’s free 4-week trial of Reading Eggs here.
4. Let Your Child Get the Mail
Do you get as excited as me when you discover a letter, package, or new magazine in the mail? Kids love receiving mail just as much as adults, and reading mail is a creative way to support literacy and grow a love of reading.
Subscribe your child to a magazine that feeds their interests, or arrange for a beloved grandparent to send letters and cards. There are even monthly book subscription boxes specifically designed for kids!
Highlights For ChildrenHighlights High FiveRanger Rick Jr.ZoobooksLadybugAmerican GirlSports Illustrated KidsBoys’ LifeHumpty Dumpty MagazineJack & JillScooby-Doo! MagazineStar Wars Magazine
5. Make Books Your Child’s Greatest Resource
Though my son struggles with a developmental speech disorder and dyslexia, he is also blessed with giftedness. He is extremely intelligent, curious, and asks thoughtful questions. When Owen asks a question, sometimes I’m tempted to pick up my phone and relay it to Google. But instead, I reply, “Great question! Let’s write that one down.”
All of my son’s incredible questions go into a notebook, then are tucked away in my purse, ready for our next library visit. At the library, we choose books that will answer his questions, probably in greater detail than a quick internet search would’ve done.
Books are a trusted, permanent, and tangible source of knowledge that I want my kids to turn to. As Dr. Suess said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Your Turn
What are your best tips for fostering a love of reading in kids? I would love to hear them in the comments.
Lindsay says
You’re doing it right! Reading to our kids each night is all of our favorite time of day. Those magazines brought me back to my childhood. I definitely loved those! We just set up a Highlights subscription.
Erin J. says
Yes yes yes!!! I have been a reading teacher for over ten years and just so much yes!!! My biggest piece of advice for having your kids love reading is read read read. Find books they love and set aside time to do it!! Love these ideas!!
Teri says
These are great tips! We’ve implemented several of these ideas in our home and they absolutely work. We have even tried Reading Eggs and the kids loved it.
Angela Pruess says
Love these tips and knowing they are impactful for all different kids and learning styles!
Helen says
We love, Love, LOVE, the reading eggs app on the iPad. My son doesn’t even realize he’s learning and playing at the same time
Malini says
I love reading this tips! We do many of them but I had not heard of reading egg. What a great concept! Will have to check that out.
Family story time is our fave. We each pick a book and read it aloud. Also, we wrap up books at Christmas – a mix of new and existing and unwrap a book each night in the month of December to read together.
Mary from Mission to Save says
Thank you for this! I have 3 kiddos all along the reading and learning spectrum. And I am definitely going to check out Reading Eggs for one in particular.
And yay to the mommies who “do the voices”! 😉 We have a couple books that my kids (14, 11, 11) STILL want me to read aloud… with the voices of course!
Karen Patten says
Melissa! This game at just the right time for me. I am starting to wonder if my youngest has dyslexia. We read at our house all the time but it’s gotten less enjoyable for my son as the expectations increase around his learning to read. Going to sign up for my free trial now!
Melissa Lennig says
Hey – Happy to chat about it, send me a message if you want!