How To Create A Reading Routine Your Child Will Love

Here’s the short of it: Some parents might feel ill-equipped or like they don’t have time. Let’s be clear, we do have the time. So will you commit to giving your child at minimum 5 minutes a day? No, really. Set a timer for 5 minutes and do a reading exercise, recite the alphabet, read a few pages, picture read, etc.

Whatever it is, just do it for 5 minutes every day.

You may find that you’ll want to spend more time in the activity or maybe you’ll see your child engaging with books in their free time. Either way, you’ll be building a routine that can help your child improve their reading.

Keep reading for helpful tips on how to build a reading routine in your home.

Read to your child.

A child is never too young or too old to be read to. Reading to your child models the way a text should be read. It teaches them that we read a book from front cover to back cover and its pages from top to bottom and left to right. Reading to your child also teaches them about inflection, or how our voice changes to reflect emotion, intention, mood etc. Think about the different ways you might read the following:

Did you read the first Gary differently than the third Gary? Our children learn this through modeling. Get silly! Make up voices, accents, sounds, gestures and facial expressions to bring the story to life.

Teach your children to care for and respect books, but know that pages will get torn or eaten!

It’s okay! Board books are great for babies and toddlers. Short picture books with large print are great for young children. Tape the torn pages or make up the story for the missing pages. Allow your child to develop a love for books by handling and interacting with them. Use rough handling as an opportunity to model careful handling.

• Visit libraries and bookstores.
• Integrate reading into daily life. Read signs, clothing graphics, food packing, etc.
• When reading picture books, let children “read” the pictures. Let them tell the story of the pictures. Kids love this!
• Read favorite books again and again and again.
• Point to words as you read them.

No such thing as too easy.

Children build confidence from doing what they know. Let your child read whichever book they like, even if you think it’s “too easy.” You can introduce a more challenging book by reading it to them and eventually with them. Speaking of challenging, leave the challenging books for instruction time. Leisure reading shouldn’t be a challenge, it should be enjoyable.

Model reading.

Children show interest in our interests. Let them see you read. If you’re not usually a reader, build the practice alongside your child.

Limit distractions.

Turn off the TV and put down your phone. Put your phone on silent in a different room. Be fully present for dedicated reading time.

Build excitement/anticipation.

You don’t have to finish a book in one sitting. You can read one or two pages and find your child looking forward to finding out what happens in the next reading session.

Pay attention.

If your child starts getting antsy, maybe they have lost interest in the book or are exhausted from reading. It’s okay to stop.

Honor the experience. Tell your child how much you enjoy reading with them.