Our school librarian provides seven research-backed strategies to help your child grow into a confident, lifelong reader.
We all know that reading is good for kids. It builds vocabulary, strengthens academic skills, and nurtures curiosity. But here’s something you might not know: your child spends about 900 hours a year in school, but 7,800 hours at home. That means kids spend eight times more time outside school than in it.1
In short, what you do at home has a much bigger impact on your child’s reading habits than what happens at school.
So, what really works when it comes to helping kids become readers? Here are seven research-backed strategies to help your child grow into a confident, lifelong reader.
1. Fill Your Home with Books
The more books children have access to, the more they read. It’s that simple. Studies show that kids with more books at home read more often and a rich print environment supports stronger literacy development overall.2
Libraries are a huge part of this too:
Takeaway: Regular library visits and a book-rich home set the foundation for reading success.
2. Read Aloud (Yes, Even to Big Kids)
Reading aloud isn’t just for toddlers. It helps build vocabulary, listening skills, and love for a good story. Kids who are read to are more likely to become independent readers and show greater gains in comprehension and vocabulary development.6
Tip: Make read-aloud time a daily ritual—even 10–15 minutes makes a big difference.7
3. Be the Reader You Want to See
Kids mirror what they see. When parents read, kids are more likely to read too. In fact:
Tip: Let your kids see you reading—books, magazines, even newspapers. It all counts.
4. Make Time and Space for Reading
Reading needs a spot in your family routine. One powerful habit? Letting kids read in bed:
Tip: Create cozy reading spaces and protect quiet time for books.
5. Light Reading Leads to Big Gains
Not every book has to be a classic. Comic books, magazines, and even romance novels help build fluency and confidence.11 Light reading isn’t the final goal—but it’s a great place to start.
Tip: Let kids choose their own books—and support whatever gets them turning pages.
6. Support Boys Differently
Here’s a tough truth: boys lag behind girls in reading from elementary school through high school. They:
But there’s one thing that really helps: fathers reading to sons. Boys whose dads read to them—and read for fun themselves—have higher reading achievement.14
Tip: Men need to model that reading is masculine, fun, and important.15
7. Make It Enjoyable
Reading should be something your child wants to do—not just something they have to do. It’s relaxing, rewarding, and can create a mental “flow” state—when readers are fully immersed in a book and lose track of time.16
Also important: avoid bribing kids to read. Reading should feel like a reward itself—not a chore to get stickers or prizes.17 Only 7% of students read for external rewards.18 When asked, both teachers and students say the best “reward” for reading is… more interesting books.18
Tip: Help your child find that joy. The right book at the right time can make all the difference.
Final Thoughts
Helping your child become a lifelong reader doesn’t require expensive programs or elaborate plans. It’s about time, access, and example. By surrounding kids with books, reading aloud, modeling reading, and making it fun, you’re doing the most important work: giving your child a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Happy reading!
Works Cited
12, 13: Brozo, William G. To Be a Boy, to Be a Reader: Engaging Teen and Preteen Boys in Active Literacy. International Reading Association, 2010.
2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19: Krashen, Stephen D. The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research. Libraries Unlimited ; Heinemann, 2004.
7: Mackenzie, Sarah. The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and Lasting Connections with Your Kids. Zondervan, 2018.
1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16: Trelease, Jim. The Read-Aloud Handbook: Includes a Giant Treasury of Great Read-Aloud Books. Penguin Books, 2013.
