How to Get Kids to Love Reading:

In a world full of screens, swipes, and short attention spans, getting your child to fall in love with books can feel like a losing battle. But here's the good news: kids can learn to love reading — when it’s introduced the right way.

Whether you're raising a toddler, tween, or teen, these age-specific tips will help make books feel less like homework and more like an adventure.

Let’s turn your reluctant reader into a bookworm — one page at a time.

👶 Babies & Toddlers (0–3 years): Start Early and Make It Fun

Yes, it’s never too early to read to your baby. Even if they don’t understand the words, they’re absorbing your voice, tone, and rhythm — building brain connections that support future literacy.

Tips:

• Use board books with textures, flaps, and bright colors.
• Read expressively with funny voices and facial expressions.
• Let them turn the pages, even if it’s out of order!

🧠 Bonus tip: Keep books in every room. The more accessible, the more likely your child will reach for them.

👧 Preschoolers (3–5 years): Build Habits and Let Them Choose

Preschoolers love repetition, stories with rhymes, and books that make them laugh. This is the perfect age to turn reading into a daily habit.

Tips:

• Create a cozy reading nook.
• Let your child choose their books at the library or bookstore.
• Read the same books over and over (yes, really — it builds vocabulary and comprehension).

📚 Look for interactive books like Press Here or Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus to keep things playful.

👧Early Readers (6–8 years): Make Reading a Reward, Not a Chore

This age group is starting to decode and read on their own, but confidence varies widely. The key is to celebrate progress, not perfection.

Tips:

• Choose books that align with their interests (unicorns, dinosaurs, sports, space—anything goes!).
• Use graphic novels and early chapter books to keep things exciting.
• Celebrate reading milestones with stickers, small rewards, or a reading chart.

🎉 Turn reading into a “challenge” with goals like “10 books in 30 days” or a fun family book club.

👧 Tweens (9–12 years): Let Them Own the Journey

By this stage, kids crave independence — and that includes what they read. Avoid forcing them into “classics” too early. Instead, give them the freedom to explore genres and formats.

Tips:

• Encourage books in any form — audiobooks, eBooks, fan fiction, or magazines.
• Introduce series they can get hooked on (Percy Jackson, Wings of Fire, Diary of a Wimpy Kid).
• Talk about books like you talk about shows — “What’s your favorite part?” or “Would you read the sequel?”

💡 Ask for recommendations and read alongside them. It shows interest without being overbearing.

👩 Teens (13+): Connect Books to Their World

Teens want relevance. They’re exploring identity, emotion, and the world around them — and the right book can feel like a mirror.

Tips:

• Suggest titles with relatable characters and real-world themes (The Hate U Give, They Both Die at the End, Everything, Everything).
• Don’t pressure them to read what you think they should — focus on what interests them.
• Allow downtime — sometimes stepping away from books helps them come back refreshed.

🎧 Audiobooks, book-to-movie adaptations, or TikTok's #BookTok suggestions can reignite interest in a subtle, teen-approved way.

Final Thought: Reading Should Be a Joy, Not a Job

No matter your child’s age, the goal is to help them see reading as a source of pleasure, not pressure. Be patient. Be consistent. And most of all — be enthusiastic.

When reading feels like quality time, self-expression, or even an escape, they’ll keep turning the page.