Help Your Child Fall in Love with Reading, Starting Today!
Discover 10 magical tips to spark curiosity, build strong reading habits, and turn stories into nightly adventures!
By Eden J. Spark
Published Date: June 14, 2025
Updated on: June 15, 2025
Reading is now a cornerstone of our family life. We find ourselves surrounded by shelves stacked high with books. What some might call a literary treasure trove, and others might argue is just an over-glorified storage situation. Either way, we proudly own it.
But reading wasn’t always my passion. As a child, I wanted to love books. I admired the people who could disappear into stories, and I longed to be one of them. I tried it many times, but I’d lose interest just a few pages in.
It wasn’t for lack of example. My mother was, and still is, an avid reader. I watched her breeze through stacks of library books like they were snacks. She’d come home with arms full and finish most of them before the weekend was over. I didn’t understand it, but I admired her for it.
Some of my earliest memories are tied to libraries. I remember the scent of worn pages and ink, the hush in the air, and the quiet mystery behind every turn of another book aisle. Our local library felt sacred. It seemed to hold a thousand stories before I ever set foot inside. As a child, I was allowed to wander freely once inside. However, unlike many other children, I avoided the children’s section. I was drawn to the adult fiction shelves, weaving between titles I didn’t yet understand but somehow felt drawn to. I stood in wonder, amazed at what might be hiding inside each one. It felt like a world of endless possibilities, even if I didn’t know how to enter it yet.
As a kid, I was constantly outside. I raced through neighborhoods on my bike, built ramps, and collected bumps and bruises like trophies. It was a physically rich childhood, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But in hindsight, I missed something. I missed the imaginative, mind-expanding journey that books could have given me during those early formative years.
The truth is, I didn’t read enough. Not because my mother failed to inspire me, but because I never truly let myself lean into the magic of it. That was my choice.
Now, as both a parent and a creative, I’m in a unique position to help others avoid that same missed opportunity. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or guardian, I want to give you tools that make reading feel like an irresistible invitation instead of a chore.
These tips, tricks, and little story-hacks aren’t just practical. They’re designed to ignite curiosity and build reading habits in a way that feels natural, joyful, and lasting.
Let’s get started.
1. Lead by Example
Oh, how they love to mirror our every move. “I want to be just like you when I grow up!” isn’t just a sweet phrase. It’s a glimpse into what they admire most. If we want to raise readers, we have to be readers too.
Sit down with a book. Let them see it. Let them interrupt you with the obvious: “Whatcha doing?” That small moment is powerful. It shows them that reading isn’t just something we ask them to do. It’s something we do because we love it.
My own kids love showing me how they can do things just like I do. Whether it’s pretending to make coffee or copying how I sit with a book, they’re watching more than we realize. When they see you reading, especially without being told, you’re planting the kind of seed that grows quietly but deeply.
2. Make it a Game
Kids are wired for play. If reading feels like another task on a checklist, they’ll tune out fast. But if it feels like a game, something fun they can win at, suddenly they’re all in.
Try setting up a reading scavenger hunt. Can they find a book with a dragon? A book with the word “banana”? A story that takes place in space? Turn it into a challenge they want to beat.
Or grab a stack of picture books and see if they can guess what the story is about just from the cover. Give them “points” for each one they read or act out. Use silly voices, play dress-up with their favorite character, or let them "host" story time like a game show.
The point isn’t perfection. It’s laughter, movement, and engagement. When reading becomes a game, the learning sneaks in behind the fun.
3. Find Their Interests and Match Books According
Not every child connects with reading right away, but almost every child has something they’re already fascinated by. Dinosaurs, space, ballet, bugs, and silly creatures! You name it — there's a book out there waiting to match that spark.
Start by noticing what they talk about nonstop. What toys do they reach for? What shows do they love? Let those interests guide you to books that feel familiar, exciting, or just plain silly in the best way.
The goal isn’t to force a “classic” on them. It’s to open the door with something they already care about. If they’re obsessed with trucks, find books with trucks. If they love animals, go all in. You’re not lowering the bar. You’re meeting them where they are — and showing them that books can be just as fun, funny, or fascinating as anything else they love.
4. Read to Them Daily (or as Often as You Can)
We’re all busy. Work, chores, errands, and the endless to-do list of raising a family can make it feel impossible to slow down. But even just ten minutes of reading together can make a lifelong impact.
When time allows, read them a story. Make it an experience. Use silly voices for the characters. Overact. Whisper. Roar. I love messing with my kids by giving characters voices that absolutely don’t match — like a baby kitten with a deep mob boss growl. They laugh every time.
It doesn’t have to be a perfect performance. What matters most is that they hear stories come to life in your voice. That connection, even for a few minutes a day, builds trust, joy, and a love of storytelling that lasts far beyond the last page.
5. Share Your Own Reading Memories and Book Adventures
Kids love stories about you. They light up when they hear what made you laugh, what scared you, and what you stayed up too late reading under the covers. Your memories don’t have to be perfect or profound. Just personal.
Tell them about the first book that made you cry. The story you couldn't stop thinking about. The character you secretly wanted to be. Let them hear that reading shaped your life too — even if you didn’t love it right away.
These stories turn reading into something deeper than homework or habit. They make it personal. They say, “Books matter in our family. Here’s why.” And that message sticks more than any rule or reward ever could.
6. Celebrate Small Milestones and Big Wins
A little celebration goes a long way. Reading a single book might seem small to us, but to a child, it can feel like climbing a mountain. Recognize that. Make it fun. Make it special.
I started paying my daughter a few dollars for every book she finished. Sometimes I surprise her with a reward afterward — maybe ice cream, maybe a slice of pizza. Her top request lately? Miso ramen. She’s hooked on manga, and somehow miso ramen has become her official reading celebration meal.
And you know what? She can have all the fishcakes and tonkatsu broth her heart desires if it means she’s building a lasting love for books. These small rewards aren’t bribes. They’re celebrations. And they help reinforce that reading is something to be proud of.
7. Create a Cozy Reading Ritual
Kids thrive on routine, and when reading becomes part of that rhythm, it starts to feel like home. Build a cozy reading ritual they can look forward to — something that signals comfort, connection, and story time.
It could be a specific spot: a corner with pillows, a cozy chair, a blanket fort, or even a reading nook in the yard. Add soft lighting or a favorite stuffed animal. Let them pick the book, then settle in together like it’s your favorite time of day — because it can be.
These small rituals send a big message. Reading isn’t just a task. It’s a shared moment. A pause. A time to breathe in a story together.
8. Let Them Choose Their Own Books (Even the Silly Ones)
You might have a shelf full of award winners and beautifully illustrated stories... and still, your child reaches for the glittery book with talking cupcakes.
Let them! When kids get to choose their own books, it gives them a sense of ownership. They’re not just being read to, they’re participating. They’re curating their own little library, even if it looks nothing like the one you imagined.
Some choices will be silly, some will be light and some will drive you a little nuts after the fifth re-read. But this is how a reading habit starts. Not with perfection, but with joy.
9. Turn Screen Time into Story Time
Let’s be honest. We all have a few too many screens in our lives. But that doesn’t mean they have to be the enemy of reading. Used with intention, screens can actually open new doors to storytelling.
Try audiobooks during car rides or while winding down before bed. Explore interactive eBooks that let your child tap, listen, and engage with the story in a way that feels playful. Some apps even let kids narrate their own versions or choose different endings.
The goal isn’t to replace physical books. It’s to meet kids where they are and use tools that already have their attention. When screens become storytelling tools, you turn a common struggle into a shared opportunity.
10. Libraries and Bookstores Like They’re Magic Portals
Let your child step into a place where stories live. Make it feel like an adventure — not just an errand.
Explore every library and bookstore in your area. Create a map and “check off” each one like a quest. Let them lead the way, open the doors, talk to the librarians, or ask the booksellers for recommendations. Let them see that reading isn’t something done alone at home. It’s something people of all ages are doing together, out in the world.
This is more than just about books. It’s about belonging. When kids feel like they’re part of a bigger reading community, they start to see reading not as an assignment, but as a lifestyle. Show them how to support local shops and appreciate the joy of borrowing a book that has passed through many hands.
Books aren’t just things we read. They’re places we go. And libraries and bookstores are the gateways!
Bonus Tips!
11. Start a Reading Jar or Adventure Box
Sometimes the hardest part is choosing what to read next. Turn that decision into something magical. Write down book titles, themes, or reading challenges on slips of paper and drop them into a jar. Let your child draw one at random to find their reading adventure for the week! You can also use categories like “Read under a blanket,” “Pick a book with a blue cover,” or “Find a story with a talking animal.”
It’s not just fun. It builds anticipation. It gives them a sense of agency. And it reminds them that reading is never boring when there’s mystery involved.
12. Invite Them to Create Their Own Stories Too
My daughter sees me writing all the time. It’s part of her world now. And without any pressure or prompting, she’s started writing her own stories too. Honestly, she’s getting really creative. She might even release something right here on our platform someday!
When kids are invited to tell their own stories, everything changes. They begin to see books not just as something to consume, but something they can create. Let them write in a journal, draw a comic, dictate a silly tale to you, or build a picture book with crayons and glue. Don’t worry about grammar or spelling. Focus on expression, ideas, and fun. Creativity and reading go hand in hand. The more they write, the more they’ll want to read. And the more they read, the richer their imagination becomes!
13. Take the Story Outdoors!
Change the setting. Change the story.
Sometimes a shift in scenery is all it takes to refresh a child’s excitement about reading. Books feel different under a tree, on a picnic blanket, or in a hammock swaying in the breeze. Even the same story can feel new when read somewhere unexpected.
Take them to the park. Read by flashlight at dusk. Let them sprawl out in the grass with a snack and their favorite character. Create a “reading hike” where you pause every so often to read a page or two under a shady spot.
These small adventures help kids associate reading with freedom and fun. When a book becomes part of the real world around them, it stops feeling like homework and starts feeling like magic.
Bringing It All Together
Helping your child fall in love with reading doesn’t have to be complicated. A little creativity, consistency, and connection can go a long way.
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© 2025 Eden J. Spark / Glasswood Storyworks. All rights reserved.