Between school, activities, homework, dinner, and everything else that fills a family’s schedule, finding extra time for learning at home can sometimes feel overwhelming.
The good news? Supporting your child’s growth as a reader doesn’t have to mean adding another complicated activity to your day.
Some of the most meaningful ways to build strong readers are also the simplest.
Make Reading Part of the Routine
One of the best ways to encourage reading is to make it a regular part of everyday life.
Even a short amount of time spent reading consistently can help children develop stronger reading habits. For one family, that might mean reading together before bed. For another, it might be reading after dinner or during a quiet part of the weekend.
The goal isn’t to make reading feel like another assignment. Instead, we want children to begin seeing reading as a natural and enjoyable part of their lives.
Let Them Choose
Children are more likely to want to read when they are interested in what they are reading.
Books don’t always have to be novels, either. Graphic novels, nonfiction books, magazines, biographies, joke books, sports articles, recipes, and other age-appropriate materials all provide opportunities for children to practice reading.
Sometimes the best book is simply the one your child is excited to pick up.
Talk About What They’re Reading
Supporting reading doesn’t always mean sitting beside your child while they read every word. Simply talking about a book can help children think more deeply about what they have read.
Try asking questions such as:
“What was your favorite part?”
“Why do you think the character did that?”
“What surprised you?”
“What do you think will happen next?”
For older students, you might ask what they agree or disagree with, what they learned, or how the text connects to something happening in the world or in their own lives.
These conversations help children understand that reading is about more than getting the words right. It is about thinking, wondering, connecting, and understanding.
Let Your Child See You Read
Children pay attention to what the adults around them value.
When they see parents, grandparents, teachers, and other adults reading books, newspapers, recipes, directions, or articles, they see that reading has a purpose beyond the classroom.
Consider talking about your own reading, too. Share something interesting you learned, tell your child about a book you enjoyed, or explain why you are reading something.
Showing children that adults are readers sends an important message: reading is something we continue to use throughout our lives.
Don’t Forget About Reading Together
As children become independent readers, it can be easy to assume that reading aloud is only for younger students. But children of many ages can still benefit from and enjoy sharing a book with someone else.
Read to your child, take turns reading pages, listen to an audiobook together, or choose a book that your family can experience together.
Shared reading also gives families something valuable beyond academic practice: time together.
Small Habits Add Up
Helping your child become a stronger reader doesn’t require a perfect routine or an elaborate plan.
Read together. Talk about books. Visit the library. Let your child choose something interesting. Ask questions. Let them see you reading. Most importantly, help them discover that reading isn’t simply something they have to do for school.
When we make reading a regular and enjoyable part of children’s lives, we aren’t just helping them become better readers. We’re helping them become curious, confident learners who understand that a good book can open the door to something new.
St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school that serves preschool and elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.
