Building strong reading skills isn’t just about time spent with books; it’s about engagement, variety, and making reading feel joyful and relevant. Whether your child is still sounding out simple words or diving into chapter books, parents play a powerful role in nurturing a love of reading at home.
Here are some creative, low-pressure ways to reinforce literacy that go beyond flashcards and reading logs.
Make Reading Playful
Turn everyday reading into a game:
- “Reading Bingo”: Create a bingo card with squares like “read under a blanket,” “read a book with an animal,” or “read for 10 minutes before bed.”
- “Word Hunts”: Choose a letter or theme and find words in magazines, signs, or around the house.
- Act it out: Read a story and perform it together with simple props or voices.
Read Aloud (A Lot)
Reading aloud creates warm, shared moments between parent and child. This strengthens:
- Vocabulary and exposure to well-structured sentences
- A sense of security
- Positive associations with books and learning
Let Kids Lead
Empower your child to choose what they want to read, even if it’s a comic book, joke book, or the back of the cereal box. Ownership fuels motivation.
Mix it up with:
- Audiobooks (great for car rides or quiet time)
- Graphic novels (especially for reluctant readers)
- Magazines or online articles (kid-safe platforms only)
The goal is to build a habit of reading, not to hit a certain number of pages.
Connected Pick
Epic! Reading App
is a digital library for kids 12 and under with thousands of books, audiobooks, and educational videos. It allows children to explore topics they’re interested in while tracking progress.
Get Epic!
Unplugged Activities
Build a Book Nook
Invite your child to create a cozy reading corner at home using pillows, blankets, a flashlight, and a basket of favorite books. Let them decorate it with their name or theme it around their favorite characters.