How to help a reluctant reader: Six Smart Tips for Parents
Finding it difficult to encourage your child to read? You’re not alone and it’s certainly not a reflection of your efforts. Reading habits are deeply personal. Developing them takes time, flexibility and a little creativity. Here are some practical ways to make the process easier, more enjoyable and far less of a struggle…
1. Help Them Find Their Book
Forget the ‘shoulds’. The best book is the one they want to read. Talk about genres they love - fantasy, adventure, comedy. Then head to a bookshop and let them explore. Blurb-browsing is half the fun. Let their curiosity guide the selection – give your child a sense of ownership to make the whole experience feel exciting.
2. Know When to Stick and When to Switch
If a book’s not gripping them, it’s ok to move on. Set a rule: give it a set number of chapters, then reassess. This removes guilt, keeps things moving and helps your child feel in control. The right book won’t need pushing.
3. Age Ranges Are Just Guidelines
Let them read ‘up’ or ‘down’ based on what grabs them. If they love animal stories but the shelf is full of teen thrillers then let them go younger. If they’re curious about more challenging texts, support them. Don't worry if they don’t understand every word - that's how vocabulary grows!
4. Let Them Listen Too
Audiobooks aren’t cheating - they’re a game-changer. Listening while you are reading (not instead of) models tone, fluency and comprehension. They are great for tired brains or reluctant readers who find long blocks of text overwhelming. Listening to books can bring stories to life as they model the pace, rhythm and grammar of good storytelling.
5. Build a Reading Routine and Make it Collaborative
Make reading part of everyday life. It just takes 10 -15 minutes a day - bedtime, post-dinner or curled up on the sofa. Read to them, have them read to you, get them involved in their younger siblings’ bedtime stories or just listen together. While reading is often a solitary activity, doing it alongside others, whether at home or in a group, can help bring books to life. Our Summer Book Club offers a chance for readers to connect through shared reading, quizzes, debates and discussion. It’s all about making reading feel lively, collaborative and naturally woven into everyday experience.
6. Make Reading a Treat, Not a Chore
Try to make reading feel like a treat, not a task. Rather than using it as a condition (‘No football until you’ve read!’), look for ways to celebrate it. This could be a trip to the bookshop, being allowed to stay up late to finish a chapter or even simple praise and recognition for giving a book a go. Positive associations help build lasting habits.
Final Thought:
Every reader’s journey is different. Don’t panic if they’re not book-obsessed yet. Keep the tone light, follow their interests and make reading feel like a privilege. If you’d like to discuss how we can advise you or support your child, please email us at info@linkythinks.com.