5 ways to make reading fun

The key to making reading a lifelong habit for children is to make it fun and engaging. With these practical strategies, you can create an environment where books feel like a treat and not a task.

1. Keep the pressure low and the interest high

Fun dies when there is too much pressure to perform. Instead of worrying about how many pages they’ve turned, focus on the enjoyment of the moment. Short, happy bursts of reading are often much more effective at building a love for books than forced sessions that leave everyone feeling tired.

Parents suggest:

Give them the freedom to read anything they want whether it be mystery, fantasy or even biographies, and give them a place free from academic pressure.
Set short reading times to start with and make it fun eg hot chocolate while reading or a cookie with milk so they will initially see it as a rewarding time.
Select simple novels with entertaining characters, keep sessions brief and acknowledge every effort - they quickly build confidence when it is enjoyable rather than coerced.

2. Find their level with the five-finger rule

There’s no fun in struggling with something that’s just too difficult. Make sure you’ve got reading material that suits them with the five-finger rule – an easy way to test if a book will work for your child.

Here’s how it works - ask them to read one page of a book and hold up one finger for every word they don’t understand or can’t pronounce. If they hold up 2 or 3 fingers, the book should be ‘just right’. No fingers or one finger and it might be too easy. 5 could be too difficult and 4 could mean a challenging read, but if they love the subject matter, they might just want to give it a try.

Let them have the final say and reassure them there’s no shame in putting down a book that’s too difficult for now. And it’s perfectly fine to pick up a book that’s ‘easy’, if that’s what they want to read – it could be just the ticket after a long day at school.

Parents suggest:

Get bright-coloured books with silly stories like The Wonky Donkey for small children and read them as often as they want. As they grow, longer story books with easy words and still bright colours.
Keep offering reading material that is at their level. Read lots of readable material not difficult material. 5 Finger Rule. If a child misses more than 5 words on first page, it’s too difficult.
Allow them to pick their own books. Be encouraging but don't push them too hard for an opinion. Discuss the idea that a particular book isn't working for them and that's normal. Find a new one.

3. Make it an experience

When you’re reading to younger children, make it an experience. Adopt different voices for different characters and supply sound effects – or get your child to make the sounds! Get interactive – have them read a short portion to you or if the story is familiar to them, “read” a version you’ve just invented and allow them to correct you.

Turn reading into a playful experience to spark excitement. Use funny voices for characters, ask open-ended questions ("What do you think will happen next?" or "Why is the character sad?") or act out scenes with props. For example, if your child loves pirates, read a pirate-themed early reader and use a cardboard tube as a telescope to spot treasure.

Parents suggest:

Say ‘I read one line, you read the other then when we finish, you read it by yourself and show me that you’re a big boy/girl’ and tell them you’re proud of them. It always works!

4. Take the story beyond the page

The fun doesn't have to end when you close the book! If you’re reading about a character who loves the outdoors or visits a specific place, try to recreate a tiny piece of that world in your own weekend plans. It helps children see that books are a gateway to the real world around them.

5. Make it a family affair

Who says you have to read to them every time? Sometimes the most fun way to read is simply doing it together. Grab your own book while they grab theirs and get cozy on the sofa. It makes reading feel like a "grown-up" hobby they’re invited to join, rather than something they have to do alone.

Parents suggest:

Have family reading time every day before bed or set a time every week for family reading.
I helped my children make reading as an important part of their life by giving them books to read together and creating special time for my family to read books together.
We have a rule in our house that means no devices for 1 hour each evening which includes adults too. This allows us to catch up on our day and read. We usually nominate one person each evening to read the story to the rest of us.
Make reading a family activity by sharing books, having conversations about stories, and demonstrating that everyone in the house - not just the children - values reading.

5 ways to make reading fun

The key to making reading a lifelong habit for children is to make it fun and engaging. With these practical strategies, you can create an environment where books feel like a treat and not a task.

1. Keep the pressure low and the interest high

Fun dies when there is too much pressure to perform. Instead of worrying about how many pages they’ve turned, focus on the enjoyment of the moment. Short, happy bursts of reading are often much more effective at building a love for books than forced sessions that leave everyone feeling tired.

Parents suggest:

Give them the freedom to read anything they want whether it be mystery, fantasy or even biographies, and give them a place free from academic pressure.

Set short reading times to start with and make it fun eg hot chocolate while reading or a cookie with milk so they will initially see it as a rewarding time.

Select simple novels with entertaining characters, keep sessions brief and acknowledge every effort - they quickly build confidence when it is enjoyable rather than coerced.

2. Find their level with the five-finger rule

There’s no fun in struggling with something that’s just too difficult. Make sure you’ve got reading material that suits them with the five-finger rule – an easy way to test if a book will work for your child.

Let them have the final say and reassure them there’s no shame in putting down a book that’s too difficult for now. And it’s perfectly fine to pick up a book that’s ‘easy’, if that’s what they want to read – it could be just the ticket after a long day at school.

Parents suggest:

Get bright-coloured books with silly stories like The Wonky Donkey for small children and read them as often as they want. As they grow, longer story books with easy words and still bright colours.

Keep offering reading material that is at their level. Read lots of readable material not difficult material. 5 Finger Rule. If a child misses more than 5 words on first page, it’s too difficult.

Allow them to pick their own books. Be encouraging but don't push them too hard for an opinion. Discuss the idea that a particular book isn't working for them and that's normal. Find a new one.

3. Make it an experience

Parents suggest:

Say ‘I read one line, you read the other then when we finish, you read it by yourself and show me that you’re a big boy/girl’ and tell them you’re proud of them. It always works!

4. Take the story beyond the page

The fun doesn't have to end when you close the book! If you’re reading about a character who loves the outdoors or visits a specific place, try to recreate a tiny piece of that world in your own weekend plans. It helps children see that books are a gateway to the real world around them.

5. Make it a family affair

Who says you have to read to them every time? Sometimes the most fun way to read is simply doing it together. Grab your own book while they grab theirs and get cozy on the sofa. It makes reading feel like a "grown-up" hobby they’re invited to join, rather than something they have to do alone.

Parents suggest:

Have family reading time every day before bed or set a time every week for family reading.

I helped my children make reading as an important part of their life by giving them books to read together and creating special time for my family to read books together.

We have a rule in our house that means no devices for 1 hour each evening which includes adults too. This allows us to catch up on our day and read. We usually nominate one person each evening to read the story to the rest of us.

Make reading a family activity by sharing books, having conversations about stories, and demonstrating that everyone in the house - not just the children - values reading.