10 Sure-Fire Ways to Get Kids to Love to Read

Teach your kids to love to read by encouraging a love for reading while they’re LITTLE. Today we have a collection of the best ways to encourage the love of books in even the littlest readers.

Help Kids Love to Read

1. Read with your kids

No age is too little to start flipping through books together. Check out this great booklist by age  I have over on The Realistic Mama. It’s a great resource to use if you are starting at your at home library or when borrowing books from your local library.

2. Play Reading Games and Do Pre-Reading Activities

Play reading games or choose a beginning reader activity to do together. Associate curiosity with reading.

Related: Check out these childrens book ideas

3. Teach the skills of  sitting still and playing quietly

Reading isn’t only about opening books, focusing and sitting still are huge parts too. Quite time activities are a great place to start.  Here are a few of our favorites:

4. Make  letter crafts  to start early letter recognition

5. Don’t rush it

Kids will learn when their little brains are ready and for each kid the timing is going to look different. Pushing too hard too early will likely cause your little one to miss out on the fun part of reading.

6. Watch the Letter Factory

I used this with my kids and it was quick and easy and you will be singing along. Grab a copy of The Letter Factory and let it be your constant companion for one week and your kids will know all the sounds. Yep, one week – check out confirmation from our friend over at Your Modern Family.

7. Take trips to the library

Load up the minivan and take the kids to the library and bring home lots of books! We love keeping ours in a special book basket when not in use so they don’t get lost.

8. Reading Logs for Competitive Book Reading

For older kids start a reading log  — it’s the perfect visual way for your kids to see their success.

9. Never underestimate a bedtime story

Read out loud at bedtime. If you are looking for a new bedtime favorite book, check out our favorite bedtime story books list.

10. Create a Cool Bookshelf

Keep  lots of books around the house! And what better way than in an awesome book shelf?

I may have got a little carried away with all the cool bookshelves but hopefully my point came across: reading isn’t just about opening books, it’s about an opportunity to learn, have fun, bond, explore and create a whole world around your books!  

More Book Fun from Kids Activities Blog

What is your child’s favorite book? How do you encourage reading at your house?