Not a Bookworm? 7 Ways to Help Your Child Enjoy Reading More

What do you do if your child just doesn’t seem to enjoy reading?

Whether it’s a school reader, a bedtime story or a book they’ve chosen themselves, reading can sometimes feel more like something they have to do than something they actually enjoy.

Of course, children need to learn to read. They need to practise decoding, build fluency and develop their comprehension. But there’s another piece of the puzzle that matters too: reading for pleasure.

A research review by the Australian Publishers Association found that reading for pleasure can be a powerful indicator of a child’s future success, with benefits that reach well beyond simply learning to read. 

So while not every child is going to become a bookworm, it’s worth helping them discover that reading can be more than something they do for school.

Here are seven ways to make reading feel more enjoyable.

1. Start With What They Already Love

Instead of asking, “What should my child be reading?”, start with “What does my child already love?”

Dinosaurs? Football? Horses? Minecraft? Space? Gross facts? Magic?

A child who won’t touch a novel might happily spend half an hour reading about deadly animals. Another might devour a football magazine, joke book or Minecraft guide.

You don’t necessarily need to create an interest in reading. Sometimes you simply need to connect reading with an interest that’s already there.

2. Let Them Choose How They Read

Novels aren’t the only way to read.

Comics, graphic novels, non-fiction, magazines and audiobooks can all help children discover stories and information they genuinely enjoy.

This can be particularly helpful for children who have reached that awkward stage where picture books feel too young but novels still look overwhelming.

If that sounds familiar, take a look at Bridge the Gap: Helping Your Child Move from Picture Books to Novels. We’ve shared some of our favourite comics, graphic novels and early chapter books to make that transition easier.

Reading is reading. Find the version your child enjoys.

3. Make Sure Reading Isn’t Too Hard

Sometimes “reading is boring” actually means “reading is hard”.

If your child is constantly stopping to sound out words, losing their place or struggling to remember what they’ve just read, getting through a book takes a lot of effort.

Try offering something easier.

Reading doesn’t need to stretch your child’s abilities every time they open a book. A comfortably manageable book gives them the chance to read fluently, follow what’s happening and enjoy the experience.

And every time reading feels achievable, confidence has a chance to grow.

4. Let Them Give Up on Boring Books

Adults abandon books they don’t enjoy all the time. Children should be allowed to do it too.

If your child has given a book a fair chance and still couldn’t care less what happens next, put it down and choose another one.

Giving children genuine choice helps them work out what they actually enjoy. It also stops reading from becoming an assignment with a compulsory finish line.

There are far too many wonderful books out there to spend weeks battling through one they hate.

5. Keep Reading to Them

Being able to read independently doesn’t mean your child is too old to be read to.

Read a funny book together. Take turns with the pages. Start a longer series at bedtime or put on an audiobook during a car trip.

Reading together lets children enjoy stories that might be beyond their independent reading level without having to work for every word.

More importantly, it keeps books connected with something positive: spending time together and enjoying a good story.

6. Don’t Turn Every Book Into Homework

“What happened in that chapter?”

“Who was the main character?”

“Why do you think they did that?”

These can be useful questions. But sometimes a child just wants to find out what happens to the dragon.

If every book comes with a timer, reading log and comprehension questions, it’s easy for reading to start feeling like schoolwork.

Let some reading exist purely for fun.

7. Let Them See You Reading Too

Children are constantly told that reading is important. It helps if they see the adults around them enjoying it too.

That doesn’t mean you need to sit down with a classic novel every evening.

Read a cookbook, magazine, novel or non-fiction book. Tell your child about something funny or surprising you’ve just read.

Show them that reading isn’t something adults make children do for school. It’s something we use to learn, discover and entertain ourselves too.

Above All, Keep Reading Fun

Your child doesn’t need to love the same books you did, read the hardest book they can manage or spend every spare moment with their nose in a novel.

They just need opportunities to discover that reading can be fun.

Follow their interests. Give them choice. Read together and let them abandon books that aren’t working.

And if your child regularly avoids reading because they’re finding it genuinely difficult, it may be worth looking a little deeper.

At Attain Education, we know that every child's reading journey is different. Book your free consultation call today and let's talk about how we can help your child build the skills and confidence they need to enjoy reading.