How To Inspire a Love of Reading - 11 Tips for Parents

We all know the quote:

"Readers are leaders."

As parents, we want the best for our children. To have them develop an imagination, problem solving skills, a keen interest for learning, and a love for reading.

To become critical thinkers and leaders, not followers.

Reading, at whatever level, helps develop these things in your child. But not all children are as keen to pick up a book as others. Some would rather watch a show, or play a game or talk.

While nothing is wrong with these options, if you’re like me, you see the value in raising a reader. To encourage a love of reading in your child.

Reading has many key benefits, to young and old minds alike. It reduces stress, improves concentration to our ever-shortening attention span, it exercises our brains and improves memory functions, it grows our ability to imagine and become storytellers ourselves.

And best of all, it’s free!!

There is nothing I love more than unwinding at the end of a long day, with a good book in one hand and a cup of hot tea in the other. Reading also improves our quality of sleep, believe it or not. Currently, white light and white noise have become an increased part of our daily lives.

By turning off the TV and the phones, and picking up a book, we’re signaling our brains that it’s time to settle down. Since reading de-stresses and calms us, it is a wonderful pre-sleep routine!

But my love for something, doesn’t always translate to my children.

Here are some of my tips and tricks on how to inspire a love of reading, and make it a part of their everyday lives.

1.       Encouragement!

It basically goes without saying that if you aren’t encouraging your child to do something, they just won’t do it.

Children thrive off love and praise. Give them those books! Make a big deal when they finish it! Make it fun and exciting!

If it’s dull to you, it will be dull to them.

 

2.       Read to Them

This is another one of those obvious tips, but it needs to be mentioned. There is a reason young children ask and ask for adults to read to them.

They love it! And it’s important to grow that love.

My husband and I made a rule between ourselves, that if our children ever ask us to read a book to them, we have to do it.

Believe me, it can get annoying.

But it’s so important for us to inspire them with other forms of entertainment, instead of just wanting to watch TV. I also make a habit of reading chapter books to them, and not always picture books. To their little minds, all they see is black words on a white page, but as I read, the stories come to life, transporting them to different places and worlds!

While I have no issues whatsoever with picture books and children’s books, showing your kids that chapter books are equally exciting, is a fun and creative way to switch up bedtime stories.

And while not necessary, I always try to add voices and sound effects, just to hold their attention and bring it to life more!

 

3.       Listen to them Read

Let your child read books to you!

Not just the other way around!

Children need to feel important and valued. While time consuming, and challenging to listen to them stumble over their words, it can be a beautiful bonding time between parent and child. If children feel listened to, they feel loved. They will draw pleasant connections with reading and positive memories.

My six-year-old loves reading me stories and seeing me react to them! He also loves reading them to his younger siblings. My eldest reads me at least one small story a day, and I listen attentively.

4.       Have Books in Your House

Again, this should not need to be said! But having approved books on their own bookshelf, encourages them to pick it up themselves and read!

If books are kept in hard to reach places, or aren’t around at all, don’t expect your children to go looking for them!

And on this note, it’s also imperative to train your child to value and care for their books. They should know not to rip the pages or leave them lying around. If nurtured properly, their love of reading should translate to their love of the physical book. Have a special place for them to go where they can find a book. A reading nook, a bookshelf or if you’re limited on space- a book box.

5.       Audiobooks/Radio Theatre

Gone are the days of Radio and listening, instead of watching! But listening encourages imagination, and attention to details.

We listen to audiobooks in the car, on trips, and anytime I’m in a lazy parenting mood! In our opinion, it’s a much better alternative to the TV.

Audible is a great place to source a lot of audiobooks, and there are many family friendly, faith based CD’s and downloadable shows as well. Some of our personal favorite radio theatre programs are, Focus on the Family Radio Theatre and Moody Audio “Adventures From the Bookshelf” which are easily found online and able to be listened to for free.

6.       Watch Movies

 A huge amount of movies are based on books. While I normally urge parents to keep screen time to a minimum, an odd show now and then will not hurt.

Have your child read a book, and ask them their opinion on it. Afterwards, let them watch the movie, and discuss how the show was different from what they imagined in their mind's eye. This can open the door to conversations that are both insightful and fun!

This is especially great for older kids, even teenagers!

7.       Go to The Library

As you’ll come to know, I’m all about free family activities and saving money. And the Library is an amazing source of both inspiration and fun!

A lot of libraries have fun play places, to entertain your children while you browse for books! I also let my kids pick out their own books that they think look interesting. This makes their choices feel valued as well, and I encourage creativity. They have different personalities and different interests.

Of course, it can open important talks as well, if they pick something that I don’t feel they should be reading. I count it all important to spare their minds from a lot of things I don’t think they're ready for, or that other people think is ok.

And that's normal.

People will always have different standards for their children. While the library is a great resource, it’s a good idea to use caution and supervise their choices, if you’re allowing your young children to pick out their own books.

8.       Start a Book Club!

Reading should be fun. And what better way to make something fun then have friends involved?

Friends make everything better! Having a group of friends reading the same book for a school project or just for fun, boosts interest in young minds, and increases consideration of what they are reading.

You can also theme their book parties to their current read! If you’re reading “The Little Princess” for example, set up your Book Club meeting in a Victorian Tea Party style. This brings books and characters even further to life. You can even do a book club with only your family, and set aside a time once a week, to go over the book you’ve all read.

9.       Do A Book Exchange

 

On the subject of getting friends involved, this is one of our personal favorite things to do.

Book exchanges are a new way to get your littles excited to read. When hosting a book exchange, each member should bring their favorite book to switch with a friend. The actual exchange itself can be done in a white elephant style, or a draw. I’ve done it both ways and both styles are a lot of fun.

And no need to buy new books! Resale shops are full of pre-loved books for low cost.

10.   Join a Summer Reading Program or Start Your Own

Are my kids the only ones who thrive off competition?

No?

I didn’t think so.

Kids love and need friendly competition. Summer reading programs are great inspiration for them to sink their noses into books. Reward each milestone, the five-book, and the ten-book milestone, and so on, to keep their interest and reward even those who might be slower readers.

Of course, there should be a grand prize for the reader who completes the most books. This is a fun and interactive way to encourage more reading. It doesn’t even have to be over the summer, book reading programs can be done at any time of the year.

On Tables of the Heart, we plan to create our own book reading program, full of clean, safe, and fun literature for children.

11.   Don’t Only Read! Write!

There are many people who make their careers out of reading, writing, and reviewing books. It’s never too early to start teaching what a wonderful world, the world of fiction is!

If your child has an interest in writing, nurture that.

Allow it to grow.

A great way to encourage deeper understanding of good literature is... book reviews! These can be done as a part of your family book club. They aren’t as boring as they sound!

Dissecting a book is grand fun and helps develop skills that can last all their life. We at Tables of the Heart write and review books for a living. Who knows if your youngster might become the next trusted Christian Fiction influencer? The next big name amongst an elite group of authors? In whatever genre of their choice!

The options are limitless when it comes to the scope of books.

Readers are leaders

You’re teaching your child how to discover things for themselves, how to activate their brains and pay attention to the small details.

Reading is a key skill that is becoming less and less used in our day and age. Illiteracy is on the rise. People are dependent on screens, editors, and artificial intelligence to help them write simple advertisements, blog posts, and essays.

As parents, our goal is plain. To raise children in the way God would have them to go. If we wish for them to have a desire to read the most important book of all -God’s Word- we must teach them young.

I know plenty of adults who struggle with the task of reading a chapter or two of God's word daily.

And I don’t want that for my children.

I want thinkers, who can form their own opinions on what they read, and make sense of it. Not skimming or skipping, but genuinely delving into the words and loving every moment of it.

What are some tips you use to help your child fall in love with reading?

I know I’ve only covered a few. There are so many neat ideas out there! What works for you? Feel free to comment below! I’d love to write another list, someday after I’ve tried some other ideas out there!