Your Can Teach Your Child to Love Reading. Here’s What Experts Say You Should Do.

Literacy is one of the most important skills for children to learn, but many are falling behind. A 2023 study found that approximately 40% of children in the U.S. are unable to read at their grade level. This number varied based on several factors, including the state, age level, and income group. But it isn't just reading skills that are at an all-time low – it's also the level of enjoyment kids get from reading.

While many factors can influence a child's desire to read, parents have the power to influence some of these. We speak with an expert in reading and comprehension to learn how to encourage even the most stubborn little reader.

Reading Starts Young: Building the Foundation

Developmental psychologist Irene Daria, Ph.D., is the author of I Didn’t Believe Him, a memoir about how she turned her son from a struggling reader into a joyful one. She shares realistic tips from both a professional perspective and her personal experience as a mother.

“Read to your elementary school child at bedtime. This is such a lovely bonding experience. Kids associate those tender moments when they snuggle up with you and books in general,” she says.

Dr. Daria explains that books can easily become a core part of a child's memory. This creates positive reinforcement that remains with them as they age and learn to read independently. However, Dr. Daria recommends taking this a step further, even after they've found their independence.

“Keep on reading to them even after they know how to read. You’ll be building their knowledge of stories and the world and also vocabulary, which will make reading easier for them.”

Another way to make reading easier is to lead by example. As a parent, one of the simplest ways to encourage your child is to be a reading role model. “When kids see you reading—whether it's books or magazines or online blogs—they learn that reading is fun and valuable and they will want to do it too,” says Dr. Daria.

She adds that filling your home with enticing and fun books is another way to pique your child's interest. “If you fill your home with books that interest them, and take them to story time at the library or your local bookstore and let them pick out books that they want to read, they will be much more likely to do so,” she says. Using their favorite fandoms is another way to entice them to read. Graphic novels, comics, or manga are great options.

Verbal Practice Is Just As Important

Making reading easier, Dr. Daria says, is the key to helping them enjoy it. When children struggle with reading, they're less inclined to invest time in books. This is true of most things, but is especially true of reading comprehension. “When young children say they hate reading, or are reluctant to do so, it is almost always a sign that reading is hard for them,” Dr. Daria explains, stating that pronunciation can also be a curveball.

“Those kids almost always do not have a solid handle on phonics,” she adds. Learning the phonetic spelling of a word is a crucial part of learning how to read. And sometimes, school-provided books can prove more challenging than helpful, Dr. Daria explains.

“Schools sometimes move too quickly through phonics rules and do not send home enough decodable stories—books with words kids can sound out—for kids to practice applying those rules,” she says. “Instead, they give them books that look easy but are full of big words like astronaut or dinosaur that little kids can’t possibly sound out. They are then forced to guess what the words could be by looking at the picture and guessing—instead of reading—becomes a habit for them. They will often guess wrong, and that turns into frustration, which turns into a dislike of reading.”

Children have strong connotative memories, which means frustration like this might be the only thing they associate with reading. As Dr. Daria explains, multiple levels of reading go beyond understanding a story. Understanding letters and their function within words is equally important.

One tool Dr. Daria suggests is a reading assessment. “On my website, StepstoReading, I have an assessment parents can give their kids to check their knowledge of phonics rules. Just have them read the words in order. When you reach a section where they get more than three words wrong, you have identified the point in the progression of phonics rules that is not solid for them,” she offers.

Don't Forget to Make Reading Fun

Learning to read is not one-size-fits-all. Each child is unique, meaning their preferred learning style will also differ. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to turn reading into a game rather than a chore. We asked Dr. Daria what she recommends for parents, and she offered some helpful guidance.

“With young children, you can have them read to a favorite stuffed animal,” she says. This is particularly helpful for new, unconfident readers. “You can also use incentives like a sticker sheet. Every time your child finishes a book, they get a sticker, and when they have five stickers, they earn a reward, like an ice cream or movie outing,” she adds.

Dr. Daria also provided options for older children, using socialization as an incentive. “You can also have your child join a book club at your local library, or read a book before you see a movie — Harry Potter and Percy Jackson books are some examples. Talk to your librarian about books that kids your child’s age love and ask the library to start a book club if they don’t already have one.”

This also encourages a visual connection between books and movies. Learning that reading can be just as much of an adventure as movies adds a positive association with books.

When Reading Is Especially Challenging, Reach Out to Experts

If reading is still too challenging after all this, it's time to seek an expert. Dr. Daria recommends reaching out to teachers sooner rather than later, so they can help implement a plan moving forward. “If your child is a reluctant reader, make sure you let your child’s teacher know that,” she says, encouraging parents to feel confident in their communication. “Ask your child’s teacher how they've performed on reading assessments, especially on assessments of phonics knowledge and comprehension. If your child has not performed well, work together to set very specific goals, such as ‘My child will learn the phonics rule for long vowels by this date.'”

She adds that parents should feel comfortable requesting additional support from their child's educators. When this isn't an option, she recommends finding a tutor or making extra time to work one-on-one with your child.

Problems that persist even after receiving extra help may indicate an underlying cause. “If reading is a real struggle or battle with your child, consider having her evaluated for possible underlying factors that may be impacting her ability to read, like dyslexia,” says Dr. Daria.

Exploring learning disabilities early on can make a significant difference in your child's education. In the world of reading comprehension, this can mean a routine that looks entirely different from that of another child.

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