How to Encourage Children to Read: Building a Reading Culture at Home and School
Kids hardly read anything nowadays.
Or at least, that is what many parents and educators feel.
Some children read comics, which is actually a good start. Comics can introduce children to stories, characters, vocabulary and the joy of reading before they move on to more complex books.
But what about children who simply refuse to pick up a book?
Why don't they want to read?
I believe the answer goes deeper than simply saying, "Kids these days prefer screens."
If we want to understand how to encourage children to read, we need to look at the environment around them.
What Makes a Child Want to Read?
Children don't develop their attitudes towards books in isolation.
They learn from what they see around them.
They observe what their parents do. They listen to what teachers say. They notice whether books are valued. They see how adults react when they ask for a book.
Over time, these experiences shape a child's perception of reading.
Is reading something important?
Is it fun?
Is it something worth spending money on?
Is it something that adults respect?
Or is it simply another school assignment?
That is why building a reading culture for children is so important.
1. Start at Home: Is There a Reading Culture?
Look around your home.
Are there books?
Is there a small library that children can explore?
Is there a comfortable place where they can sit and read?
Do family members talk about books?
Do parents read themselves?
Do you read together with your children, or are you usually looking at your phones while asking them to read?
These small things matter.
A child may naturally ask:
"Do my parents buy books?"
"Are books important in my family?"
"What happens when I ask Mum or Dad for a book?"
"Do my parents encourage me to read?"
"Is there anything here that I actually want to read?"
Even the way parents respond when children browse books at a bookshop or book fair can influence their attitude.
Imagine a child finds a book he really wants.
If the immediate response is:
"No, that's a waste of money."
the child may not simply learn that the particular book is unnecessary.
He may begin to associate books with being a waste of money.
But if the response is:
"You really want to read this? Tell me what you like about it."
the conversation becomes completely different.
The child learns that reading is valued.
Make Books a Priority
If you have a budget for entertainment, consider having a budget for books too.
It doesn't have to be large.
You can buy one book at a time. You can visit a library. You can exchange books with friends. You can borrow books.
The important thing is to communicate:
Books are worth having. Reading is worth doing. Learning is worth investing in.
Slowly, build a small home library.
Celebrate when your child finishes a book.
Ask what happened in the story.
Ask which character they liked.
Ask what they learned.
You can even take it further. Ask your child to draw a comic version of the story, write an alternative ending, or create their own story based on the book.
Reading can become much more than simply finishing pages.
Let Children Read What They Like
One of the biggest mistakes adults make is deciding what children should read without considering what they want to read.
Your child likes robots?
Find books about robots.
Interested in dinosaurs?
Get dinosaur books.
Love football?
Find books about football.
Love comics?
Let them read comics.
Comics are still reading.
A child who happily reads a comic book is practising vocabulary, comprehension, sequencing, interpretation and storytelling.
Don't immediately condemn it because it isn't the type of book you would choose.
Reading is most effective when children are genuinely interested in what they are reading.
The goal is to build the habit first.
As the habit grows, their interests and reading ability can develop with it.
2. The School Environment Matters Too
Children spend a huge part of their lives at school.
So if we are serious about how to encourage children to read, we cannot focus only on the home.
We need to look at schools too.
Ask:
Does the school have dedicated reading time?
Do teachers encourage students to talk about books?
Are librarians actively promoting reading?
Is the library comfortable and inviting?
Are the books new, attractive and relevant?
Are there books that children actually want to read?
Are books available at different reading levels?
Can students get help when they don't understand something?
Are students rewarded or recognised for reading?
Are their friends reading too?
Does the school regularly talk about books and reading?
Most importantly:
Does the school make reading feel important?
There is a huge difference between having a library and having a reading culture.
A library can contain thousands of books.
But if students rarely open them, something is missing.
Give Children Books They Actually Want to Read
Sometimes adults look at children's books through an adult's eyes.
We may think:
"That's just a comic."
"That's not serious reading."
"They should be reading something more educational."
But children's books are often carefully designed to capture children's attention while introducing vocabulary, knowledge, ideas and stories.
Look at popular series such as Dog Man, Wings of Fire, Diary of a Roblox Pro, Geronimo Stilton, The Bad Guys and Captain Underpants.
Children love these books for a reason.
They are colourful. They are entertaining. They have characters children remember. They make children want to turn the next page.
And that is precisely what we want.
We want children to want to read.
The work of authors and illustrators should not be dismissed simply because a book looks different from the books adults grew up reading.
Sometimes, we need to look at books through the eyes of a child.
What captures their imagination?
What makes them curious?
What makes them want to know what happens next?
That is where the journey begins.
Reading Level Matters
Another important issue is that children in the same grade are not necessarily at the same reading level.
Two Year 5 students may have completely different reading abilities.
One may be comfortable reading a complex novel.
Another may struggle with the vocabulary and comprehension required.
If we give a child a book that is far too difficult, reading can become frustrating.
If the book is far too easy, the child may become bored.
This is why understanding a child's reading level can be useful.
One tool used internationally is Lexile, which provides a measure of text complexity and can help educators match students with appropriately challenging reading materials.
When educators understand a student's reading level, they can make more informed choices about books and help students progress gradually.
The objective is simple:
Not too easy. Not impossibly difficult. Challenging enough to help the child grow.
If you are interested in learning more about reading assessment and how Lexile can be used to support students, feel free to get in touch with us.
3. Reading Needs "Internal Marketing"
Having good books in a library is only part of the solution.
We also need to make children aware of them.
Schools can think of this as "internal marketing" for reading.
Teachers and librarians can work together to make books visible and exciting.
For example:
Reading challenges
Book review competitions
Story-writing competitions
Reading logs
Class reading challenges
Certificates for completing books
Book recommendation walls
Student book ambassadors
Reading awards and prizes
Book fairs and reading events
The objective is not to turn reading into another stressful academic exercise.
It is to make reading visible, social, meaningful and rewarding.
Children should see their friends reading.
They should hear teachers talking about books.
They should discover new titles.
They should have something to look forward to.
And when they finish a book, their achievement should be recognised.
What We Are Doing With Schools
This is one of the reasons we started developing reading programmes through Acquire Learning.
We want to work with parents and schools to make reading more fun, meaningful and rewarding for students.
We are currently working with schools on reading competitions and programmes that encourage students to read.
For example, schools such as Sayfol International School and Oasis International School have invested in sets of Scholastic library books and are using them as part of their reading initiatives.
The idea is simple: give students access to a wide selection of attractive books, encourage them to read, and create activities and challenges around reading.
A good library collection should include both fiction and non-fiction, different subjects, different interests and different levels of difficulty.
Books can introduce children to worlds they have never seen.
They can teach history, science, culture, vocabulary and ideas.
Most importantly, books can teach children how to think.
Schools Need to Invest in Reading
This is an area where I believe we need to do better.
Parents place their trust in schools.
They invest significant amounts of money in their children's education because they expect the school to provide an environment where their children can learn and grow.
Part of that investment should go towards giving students access to good books.
A well-equipped library is not simply a nice feature to show prospective parents.
It is an educational resource.
And there is also a practical benefit.
The more children read, the more vocabulary, knowledge and comprehension they can develop. These skills can support learning across different subjects and, over time, may contribute to stronger academic performance.
A vibrant library can also become part of the school's identity.
Imagine a prospective parent walking into a school and seeing:
A library filled with attractive books.
Students actively reading.
A reading challenge displayed on the wall.
Certificates celebrating students who have completed books.
Teachers talking enthusiastically about reading.
That sends a powerful message:
This school takes learning seriously.
My Personal Experience: Why Reading Matters
I know this because I experienced the other side of it myself.
When I was a student, I mainly read textbooks and reference books because I wanted to do well in my examinations.
And I did.
I scored straight As. I became the top student at my school, was nominated for Student of the Year and eventually won a scholarship to study in the United States.
On paper, everything looked great.
But there was a problem.
My general knowledge was poor.
My vocabulary was not as strong as it should have been.
I had spent years learning what I needed to know for examinations, but I had not developed the habit of reading widely.
When I entered preparatory college and took my SAT and TOEFL examinations, I struggled.
For the first time, I felt completely lost.
I realised that getting good grades was not the same thing as knowing about the world.
I should have read more.
That experience stayed with me.
And it is one of the reasons I am doing what I am doing today.
I want to encourage children to read before they discover the same gap much later in life.
Reading Is More Than Academic Performance
Reading is not just about getting better grades.
It is about developing a person's ability to understand the world.
Books expose children to new ideas.
They introduce vocabulary.
They develop imagination.
They allow children to experience situations they may never personally encounter.
They help children understand different people, cultures and perspectives.
They encourage curiosity.
And they give children the opportunity to learn independently.
I believe every human being has a natural desire to learn and improve.
Reading is one of the foundations of that process.
But children need to discover that reading is enjoyable.
They need adults to show them that learning can be fun.
What Can We Do Today?
If we really want to know how to encourage children to read, we don't need to wait for a perfect reading programme.
We can start today.
At Home
1. Make reading a priority.
Treat books as something valuable, not as an unnecessary expense.
2. Build a small home library.
Even a few books can make a difference.
3. Let children choose.
If they want comics, let them read comics.
If they like robots, find robot books.
If they love animals, find books about animals.
4. Celebrate reading.
When they finish a book, acknowledge their achievement.
5. Talk about books.
Ask questions. Listen to their answers. Show genuine interest.
6. Read together.
Children learn from seeing adults read too.
7. Never make reading feel like a punishment.
Reading should be associated with curiosity, discovery and enjoyment.
At School
1. Make reading visible.
Talk about books. Display books. Recommend books.
2. Refresh the library collection.
Children need access to books that are relevant to their interests.
3. Provide different reading levels.
Not every student can comprehend the same book at the same age.
4. Create reading challenges.
Give students a reason to participate.
5. Celebrate achievement.
Certificates, recognition and appropriate prizes can motivate students.
6. Let teachers and librarians work together.
Reading should not be the responsibility of only one person.
7. Measure and support progress.
Use appropriate reading-level tools where helpful, so students can be guided towards books that match their abilities.
We All Have a Role to Play
There is certainly a lot that needs to be done.
Parents have a role.
Teachers have a role.
Librarians have a role.
School leaders have a role.
Education businesses have a role.
And so do organisations like ours.
I believe there are many passionate teachers, librarians, parents and school leaders who genuinely want to help children become better readers.
What we need is better coordination, better support and a shared commitment to making reading a priority.
Because the future of our children depends on how much they are able to learn.
And books open doors to worlds that children have never seen.
If we can help a child discover the joy of reading today, perhaps that child will become a better thinker, a better problem solver and a more curious person tomorrow.
That can only make the world a little better.
Let's Start Now
We don't need to wait.
Start with one book.
One child.
One conversation.
One visit to the library.
One trip to a bookshop.
One reading challenge.
One small shelf of books at home.
Reading culture is built one book at a time.
So if a child asks you for a book, don't immediately think about the cost.
Think about what that child is asking for.
"I want to learn."
"I want to explore."
"I want to discover something."
That is something worth encouraging.
At Acquire Learning, we want to work with parents, teachers and schools to make reading fun, meaningful, accurate and rewarding for children.
If you are interested in Scholastic books, library collections, reading programmes or reading-level solutions such as Lexile, get in touch with us.
Let's give our children more reasons to read.
Let's start now.
Comments