Should your child be reading ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’?
One of the questions I get asked most often by parents is along the lines of, “My child only wants to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid (or Dogman/Dork Diaries/Tom Gates). How do I help them read something more challenging?”
This is a really common concern and it comes from such a good place: wanting your child to stretch their vocabulary, deepen their comprehension and transfer these skills into their writing. But here’s the thing: those seemingly ‘easy’ books absolutely do have a place on your child’s bookshelf (and it’s often a more important place than you might think).
Just like us, our children sometimes need ‘comfort reading’
After a busy day of lessons, homework, clubs and social activities, reading something light, funny or familiar can be exactly what your child needs to relax. As adults, we do the same: sometimes we reach for something lighthearted on the tv, a feel-good movie you’ve watched before or even a celebrity gossip magazine. For children, series like Dogman, Tom Gates, Dork Diaries or Diary of a Wimpy Kid offer the same sense of ease, predictability and enjoyment. These books actually help keep reading associated with pleasure, not pressure. This is so important!
Variety matters too
At the same time, we know that reading more complex books, whether that’s fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, historical, mystery or something else entirely exposes children to:
Richer vocabulary
More complex sentence structures
Broader ideas and viewpoints
Themes and concepts they wouldn’t meet elsewhere
These skills do transfer into their own writing, as well as other areas of learning. So, it’s about finding the balance: how do you encourage that, without making reading feel like a chore?
Let someone else do the recommending!
A helpful tip many families find works well is to visit a bookshop or library and let a member of staff guide the choice. Encourage your child speak to a staff member and explain what kinds of stories they’ve enjoyed before, for example, funny books, spooky adventures or stories full of action. Be honest with them and let your child lead. Staff are usually brilliant at listening, asking the right questions and then suggesting books that are slightly more mature in ideas or language, while still matching the child’s interests. This approach helps children discover new genres they might not have picked themselves and, because the recommendation comes from someone else (not just a parent or teacher), they’re often more open to trying something new.
Try audiobooks to break the pattern
Audiobooks can be another brilliant way to introduce children to slightly more challenging stories without making reading feel like hard work. Listening takes away the pressure of decoding the tricky words, so children can simply enjoy the plot, characters and richer language. You can suggest different times to listen - in the car, at bedtime or while drawing or building Lego. Listening while you are reading along also brings many benefits - it models tone, pace fluency and comprehension. Once children find the story that hooks them in, many naturally become curious to see what happens next on the page and often pick up the print version to keep going.
Read the first chapter together
Sometimes it can help if parents read the first chapter (or a few pages) aloud together with their child, particularly if this is a new genre to them. This gives children an introduction to the story’s setting and characters, helping them get past that initial ‘this looks too hard’ feeling. Once the story has started to come alive, parents can gently step back. This shared start often builds confidence and curiosity and makes the transition to reading something different feel more interesting and less like hard work.
Make space for both on the shelf
It’s not about banning Dogman and forcing them to read Dickens. Think of your child’s reading life like a healthy balanced diet: there’s room for treats, comfort food and new and adventurous flavours. Graphic novels and lighter reads are like the comfort food that helps them unwind on a tired evening. What matters is also encouraging them to explore other kinds of books that offer a deeper level of nourishment: richer language, broader ideas and more complex stories that help them grow as readers and writers. Together, these choices keep reading both enjoyable and enriching, so your child learns there’s a whole range of stories to discover, ready when they’re hungry for something different.
Need more ideas?
If you’re stuck on how to get your child interested in reading, have a look at our blog: How to help a reluctant reader: Six Smart Tips for Parents.
Final Thought
We don’t want to stop children from reading books they love, it’s about gently widening what they see as ‘books for them.’ Those light, funny, easy-reads have an important role: they keep reading joyful and pressure-free. At the same time, exploring new genres and more challenging stories helps children stretch their vocabulary, spark fresh ideas and develop as readers and writers. It doesn’t need to be an either/or situation – there is space for both.