Disclosure- Links in this post may be affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Unless noted, if I am reviewing a product, I have been compensated for my time. I write honest reviews. They are not required to be positive. I only recommend the resources we love and use.

There are a number of reasons why reading is big deal in our family. Simply stated, Dr. Seus says it best. We read because, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Reading opens doors and passageways towards our passions and goals. Reading gives us autonomy, relaxation, connection, and more often than not readers become writers.

For me, it’s never been enough to teach a child to read. I want to help children and teens love to read.

“The U.S. Department of Education found that, generally, the more students read for fun on their own time, the higher their reading scores.” *

Scores set aside, the truth is the more a child loves to read, the more they read, and the more a child reads, the more their comprehension, vocabulary, and knowledge grow.

Looking for ways to help your child love to read? Here are 100!

100 Ways to Help Kids Love to Read

1. Read to Your Kids

“According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a division of the U.S. Department of Education, children who are read to at home enjoy a substantial advantage over children who are not.” *

2. Read to your children, with your children, say yes if they ask if they can read to you.

3. Just like eating and brushing teeth, make reading a normal part of your family’s day. Find how to make reading a part of your family’s rhythm and great books to read The Family Read-Aloud- Book Lists and Encouragement for Families

4. Use cliffhangers to your advantage– Read books to kids that have a really exciting part early on. Read right up to the part where something big is about to happen and then put the book down. They will moan and groan and pick it up!

5. Read the Classics in a new way!

6. Read together at meals. I often read to my daughter at lunch. It’s a nice quiet break in the day and we’re already sitting together.

7. Take turns reading aloud. Pass a book around and let each person read as much or as little as they want.

8. Make one night a week family read together night. Take turns choosing the books you read.

9. Read to your children before bed. Even if they are big, offer. They might just snuggle up with you. It’s the best!

10. Read picture books together– even when they are “too” big. Some of our new favorites are-

11. Choice! Give Kids Autonomy

12. There are many reasons why we should let kids choose the books they read. Here’s one. Do you like to be told what to read? Being forced to read something you’re not into stinks!

13. Just because kids are choosing doesn’t mean you can’t help! Strew Good Books Around the House– leave books you think your kids might love where they play, eat, sleep, and hang out. Chances are they will pick one up!

14. “In a nutshell, the habit of reading does as much, if not more, than Direct Instruction and the rigorous demands of the Common Core. All without boring kids to death or persuading them that they’re dumb.” Washington Post- Why Kids Should Choose Their Own Books in School

15. Choice empowers readers. **

16. We learn about our children, their interests and ideas, based on the books they choose. **

17. Often times, kids/teens pick the books they need to read. Maybe they are working through a struggle, are curious about something, are looking for someone who relates to them. **

18. Kids are more likely to want to talk about what they read with us when they choose and are interested. Books are one of the best ways to enter into good and hard conversations. **

19. Kids need choices. Choices help kids become independent. **

20. “Researchers have identified a number of factors important to reading motivation including self-concept and value of reading, choice; time spent talking about books, types of text available, and the use of incentives.” – Reading Rockets, Reading Motivation: What the Research Says

21. It Takes a Village- look for resources outside your home

22. Use Your Library– Free books, librarians excited to help your kids find great books, free apps like Hoopla- you don’t even have to leave home anymore to check out awesome reads!

23. Let the authors help you get your kids excited! Go to book signings, readings, meet favorite authors.

24. We are in this together, “Be their partner, not their boss.”- Modern Mrs. Darcy

25. Create a family reading challenge! (Look We’re Learning)

26. Use fun and engaging reading program.

27. Look to the experts.

28. Be a Reader- some of my favorite reads are here and here.

29. Model– let your kids see you reading. Yup, here’s your excuse to take a break if you need one. Go grab a book and get cozy. You’re showing your kids that reading is important!

30. Hook kids with books by being excited about what you’re reading.

31. Pick up a book you think your child will like and start reading it to yourself when they are in the room. Laugh out loud, gasp, say things like, “NO WAY,” when appropriate. They will want to know what you’re reading. (A fav. college professor gave me this tip and it works!)

32. Share the books YOU love with your children. (This Simple Balance)

33. Read the books your kids are reading.

34. Is independent reading time a part of your classroom or day? Read with your children/students.

35. Interest is KEY

36. Focus on a Child’s Interests– what are your children into right now? Dinosaurs, trains, Minecraft, horses, a certain show or movie? I guarantee there is a book or many related to their interest. Head to the library and a quick search will have you hauling bags of books away.

37. If your child is interested in math, check these out!

38. Does your child love science, here’s a bunch of books they will love!

39. Does your child love a good story? Mine do! These are our favorites.

40. These ART books are so fun and inspiring.

41. Have a child who loves adventure or playing outside? Explore together!

42. Learn about ecology with these beautiful reads!

43. Does your child love animals? Animals can help kids love to read– (Nourishing My Scholar)

44. Find books for Insect Lovers. (Raising Lifelong Learners)

45. Find Ways to Help Reluctant Readers

46. These books hooked my kid who used to hate reading.

47. Have a teenager who thinks reading is boring? They just need a good book. Here’s 50!

48. Help kids Find a Just Right Boo k– a book perfect for them. It can take a little time. Be patient so they don’t get discouraged.

49. Head to the Animal Shelter! My daughter found a love of reading thanks to animal friends. They (kids and animals) love attention and time together.

50. Don’t push your child to read early or at all.

51. Give reluctant readers awesome books ! (Homeschool Mastery Academy)

52. Words are everywhere- Think outside the box! (The Homeschool Resource Room)

53. Forcing a kid to read for a set time each day can make kids not want to just because it’s assigned. Don’t assign reading time. (Learning Mama)

54. We all like rewards. Try a reading incentive program. (As We Walk Along the Road)

55. Find inspiration from Heart to Heart Homeschooling.

56. Try these five ways to get your reluctant reader reading. (As We Walk Along the Road)

57. Get ideas for when boys hate to read. (Brain Power Boy)

58. Read books for reluctant readers.

59. Take Reading on the Road

60. Plan a Literary Adventure– vacations are wonderful times to encourage a love of reading. Audiobooks, books about the places you’re traveling, books about summer, siblings, and topics your family enjoys can make car rides, plane trips, and lazy days so much better!

61. Take a vacation with the Little House Series.

62. Learn about Greece and Greek Mythology. Maybe even travel to Greece.

63. Looking for a cheap way to travel? Travel around the world while snuggling on the couch.

64. Listen while you drive! Three of our favorites are-

65. Inspire your kids to travel.

66. Bring activity books with you when you travel. Even reading directions is reading!

67. Listen and Watch

68. Watch the movie first. If they love the movie, let them know books are always better. In some cases, like with The Lightning Thief, not all the books in a series are made into movies. Read the ones that are missing.

69. Always have good books on hand! Try an Audible subscription– you’ll get two books for free just for giving it a try!

70. Plan a special movie night when they finish a book. Good snacks required!

71. Read, strew, or offer books to kids when a movie or play is coming to the theater. My students did a Stinebeck and Shakespeare unit around our local theater company’s productions of Grapes of Wrath and Romeo and Juliet. My kids and I read a variety of Peter Pan stories thanks to a local play, and are planning to read Narnia together soon, again thanks to a local production.

72. Fall in love with Audio Books!! (Raising Lifelong Learners)

73. Listen to podcasts! We love Sparkle Stories! These are great too!

74. Let kids listen to audiobooks before bed.

75. Always keep an audiobook in the car.

76. Make Your Home a Place to Read

77. Get cozy! Create a Book Nook.

78. Create a safe space– “Reluctant readers are often struggling readers, so creating safe, comfortable environments where fluent reading is modeled and where children are set up for success is key.” PBS- What to Do When Your Child Hates Reading.

79. Put books in every room!

80. Help Kids Who are Struggling to Understand What they Read

81. Use reading strategies to support struggling readers.

82. I love these THREE things that help kids love to read.

83. Read comic books! Many struggling readers find success when there are graphics to break up the text. Here are some t o try.

84. Seek support if you think your child might have dyslexia or another learning difference.

85. If your child does have a learning difference don’t let it define your child or how you think about your child.

86. Remember a learning difference means a child learns differently. There is nothing wrong with them!

87. All About Learning has some great ideas about how to motivate kids!

88. See all the ideas above!

89. Host a book club for kids

90. Organize a book swap– everyone brings their favorite reads they no longer need on their shelves, gathers, and leaves with new books to read.

91. Relax– the more you worry or stress over reading, the more your child will too.

92. It’s okay if your child isn’t reading. (Homeschool Mastery Academy)

93. Sitting still can be hard for some kids. That doesn’t mean you can’t read to them. H elp kids find focus during a read aloud. (Sonlight)

94. Resist pushing kids to read. (Raising Lifelong Learners)

95. Try Something New– join a book club or try an online class.

96. Teach Living Books. (Homeschooling Downunder)

97. Take assignments out of a reading assignment. (Hide the Chocolate)

98. Find inspiration from Heart to Heart Homeschooling.

99. Try a curriculum. This one is recommended for reluctant readers. (This Simple Balance)

100. Give a book talk– Sounds silly, but one of my favorite teaching tools, gather a handful of books you think your kids or students will love. Read the excerpt, a few pages, talk about the author, other books they’ve written, examine the cover. Make it seem like the best book ever. Then do the same for the next book and the next. Kids will want to read at least one if not many of them.

BONUS- Make Reading Hands-On

There are so many fun ways to make reading hands-on. One of our favorite ways is through our Kiwi Co Subscriptions. Doodle, Tinker, and Kiwi Crates have offered my children all sorts of fun reading practice. Not only that, but they’ve also learned about art, engineering, chemistry and so much more!