Tips to encourage kids to turn off the TV, put down the phone, and read a book.
The lights are dimmed in a cozy room at bedtime when a small voice pleads, “One more story, please?” For children the magic of books transforms the bedroom into a world of daring adventures, stretching minds beyond the story’s end. But when screens and TikTok trends vie for every moment of attention, cultivating a love for reading might feel like an uphill battle.
Paul H. Ricks (BS ’09, MA ’14), BYU professor of education and children’s literature specialist, says helping children develop a love—and capacity—for reading requires both intentionality and practice.
“Reading helps our children understand how they fit into the world,” Ricks says. “They realize a book like Seven Blind Mice or The Three Little Pigs isn’t just about animals, but they begin to see themselves in these stories, which is empowering.”
The benefits of reading are well documented: children who have early reading experiences activate brain function and accelerate cognitive abilities. Yet many educators and parents observe a troubling trend—a narrowing vocabulary and less reading stamina in children who grow up immersed in digital media.
Fortunately, helping children fall in love with reading doesn’t have to be drudgery; it can be fun. “Having a wide range of text types—like comics, nonfiction, and fantasy picture books—can be beneficial for our kids and help them discover things that they like,” he says. Ricks adds that parents and teachers should help kids see reading as playtime. “It’s not our job to judge or shame the things our kids choose to read.”
For parents looking to help their children develop a love for books while increasing reading capability and stamina, Ricks offers the following four practical tips.
1. Read out loud consistently. Research shows that children who are read to regularly acquire thousands of new words to build their vocabularies. “Start reading to your kids when they’re young and don’t stop,” Ricks says. As they grow, encourage them to join in and read aloud with you. “Reading out loud creates all sorts of connective tissue.”
2. Children are more likely to develop a love for books when they see their parents read, says Ricks. Just as you wouldn’t tell your children to eat their vegetables while you’re munching on a bag of chips, modeling your own enjoyment of reading sends a powerful message. “Sometimes we read when our kids are in bed and it’s quiet, but then they may grow up thinking their parents don’t read books,” says Ricks.
3. Celebrate reading in any form. Children are drawn to different topics and books, but whether it’s a comic book or a chapter book, reading should be recognized by parents. “Try not to shame kids or push them toward a certain genre of reading if they’re not interested,” Ricks says. There are things of value in a host of different texts. “Helping kids find pleasure in reading is the goal.”
4. Allow kids to put down books they’re not enjoying. Even well-meaning parents sometimes encourage reluctant readers to “push through for a few more chapters.” But forcing a child to finish a book they’re not interested in makes reading feel like a chore. Instead, say, “Not enjoying that one? Let me introduce you to something else.” Give children the opportunity to explore different books.
