Reading for pleasure is vitally important in improving children’s literacy levels, but there are other benefits too. Children who read for fun have improved cognition, self-confidence, and empathy, all of which contribute to their all-round wellbeing.
All the more concerning, then, is that recent research from the National Literacy Trust shows that reading for enjoyment is at its lowest level in twenty years. Only one in three children aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time, and fewer than one in five are reading daily outside school.¹
Sparking excitement
Whether as parents or teachers, we all have a role to play in helping children discover the joy of reading for pleasure. In our modern world of smart phones, social media and non-stop streaming, the idea of engaging children with a good-old fashioned book can seem like a struggle. But there are plenty of things we can do to encourage reading for pleasure and we can also re-frame how we think about it.
Here at Learning with Parents, we’ve learned a lot about reading for pleasure through our Digital Reading Log and our amazing partner schools, so we thought we’d share some of our top tips – simple, practical ideas to spark excitement around reading, both at home and in school:
1. Let children choose
Autonomy is powerful. Children are far more likely to engage with a book when they’ve had a say in picking it. Whether at home, in the classroom, or in the library, try offering a small selection and letting them choose. This sense of ownership makes reading feel like a treat, not a task. You might even follow the lead of Holy Cross School and install a book vending machine to give out books as prizes!
The vending machine has truly ignited a love for reading in our school. The children are thrilled to earn a token and can’t wait to use it to pick their very own book—it’s been a game-changer for building excitement around reading!
2. Mix it up
Who says reading has to be done sitting on the sofa or lying in bed? We see all sorts of interesting reading locations in the photos uploaded to our platform – under a blanket fort, on top of a car, bouncing on a trampoline – even up a tree! Teachers often set challenges like ‘read a book in a crazy place’ and children have great fun sharing their photos. Changing the setting turns reading into an adventure, and this novelty can be especially helpful for less enthusiastic readers.
3. Make time and space for reading
Children need uninterrupted time for reading – children who enjoy reading will read more frequently, but also reading more frequently can increase their enjoyment.
For some children, reading targets can feel overwhelming. Try setting lower, more achievable targets, like reading for five minutes. This really helped Emilia and Andrew and their children to make reading feel more manageable. By analysing the data from our platform, we noticed that lower reading targets can actually help increase overall reading rates, so we now recommend this to our schools. Remember to celebrate those milestones, however small. It’s the regular habit that counts.
4. Listening to stories can make them enjoyable and accessible
Listening to stories is fun, and a great activity to do together. Children love
taking time out of the busy school day to listen to a story read by their teacher,
and a bedtime story at home can be a moment of connection between parents
and children. Audio books and recordings can also open up the world of
reading for children who struggle with text. At home, parents might listen to a
story with their child during dinner or in the car. There are also lots of popular
audio gadgets available for young children to listen to stories independently.
Using the audio record feature on our Digital Reading Log, teachers can share
recordings of stories with families, or listen together in class. Hearing fluent,
expressive reading also models great storytelling skills.
5. Read with a dog!
No, seriously! We see so many photos of children reading with their pets and it’s seriously cute! Some schools even have school animals and our partner school, Camestone have used this to their advantage, rewarding children with reading time with Parker the dog! Thinking outside the box and offering incentives like this can make a huge difference in building a culture of reading for fun.
Making reading joyful again
Reading for pleasure shouldn’t feel like a chore – it should feel like an escape, a bit of fun, a shared experience. And it doesn’t require expensive resources or perfect conditions. It starts with little moments: taking a funny photo, reading in silly voices, snuggling up together under a blanket fort.
Together, as parents and educators, we can encourage these shared, joyful family moments and awaken a love of reading that will stand all children in fantastic stead throughout their lives.
Could our Digital Reading Log help your school foster reading for pleasure?
- https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/parents-support-for-young-childrens-literacy-at-home-in-2024/
