How to Help Kids Enjoy Reading
Even If They Say They Don’t Like Books
How do you help kids enjoy reading when they say they don’t like it?
Begin by finding out what feels unappealing or difficult. Offer books connected to their interests, let them help choose, and share reading in manageable ways. If reading the words is a struggle, combine enjoyable stories with appropriate teaching and support.
“I don’t like reading” can mean several things.
It might mean, “This book doesn’t interest me.” It might mean, “I’m tired of being corrected.” Sometimes it means, “Reading is difficult, and I don’t know how to explain that.”
Those differences matter.
Before trying to persuade a child that books are wonderful, listen to what they are telling you. Their answer may help you choose a more useful starting point.
How to Help Kids Enjoy Reading: Listen Before Choosing a Book
Choose a relaxed moment to ask about reading.
You might try:
- “What makes a book boring for you?”
- “Do you like listening to stories?”
- “Is reading the words tiring?”
- “Would you rather explore something funny, factual, or adventurous?”
You do not need to ask every question. Follow the conversation rather than turning it into another assessment.
A child who loves hearing stories but avoids reading independently may need different support from a child who simply has not found a subject they enjoy.
Let what you learn guide the next step.
1. Begin With Something They Already Enjoy
Think about what captures the child’s attention outside reading.
Perhaps they enjoy animals, inventions, football, cooking, mysteries, or making people laugh.
Use that interest to choose a small selection of reading material. Include different formats where possible: a picture book, comic, illustrated chapter book, magazine, or factual book.
A child fascinated by animals may prefer an information book to an animal adventure. Another may want a funny comic rather than a longer novel.
Offer possibilities and let them explore.
Reading Rockets’ guidance on books children can and want to read considers both interest and accessibility when choosing material for readers who find reading difficult. Reading Rockets
Interest matters, and so does whether the child can comfortably engage with the text.
2. Make Choosing a Book Feel Manageable
A whole library shelf can be overwhelming.
Try selecting two or three possibilities together. Look at the covers, explore the pictures, and read a little of each.
Ask:
“Which one would you like to hear more of?”
A librarian can help find books that match the child’s interests and current reading needs. Explain what they have enjoyed before—even if that was a game, film, or favourite subject rather than a book.
For leisure reading, it is okay to decide that a book is not a good fit. Ask what did not work and use that information when choosing another.
You are learning about the reader, not asking them to prove they like your choice.
3. Share the Reading Without Making Every Page a Test
A child can enjoy a story that they are not yet ready to read independently.
Read aloud while they listen. Invite them to join in with a familiar phrase if they want to. If taking turns suits their skills, agree on a manageable arrangement.
Keep shared story time distinct from a session focused on practising a particular reading skill.
Both can be valuable, but they have different purposes.
An audiobook can also offer access to an interesting story. Listening supports enjoyment and conversation; it does not replace the instruction a child may need to learn to read the words themselves.
The important question is what kind of support fits this moment.
4. Choose a Small, Welcoming Reading Moment
You do not need a perfect reading corner.
A comfortable seat, a book within reach, and a little shared attention can be enough.
Try one short story, a few pages, or a brief chapter. Choose a time when the child is reasonably comfortable rather than already exhausted or upset.
If bedtime repeatedly becomes difficult, experiment with another part of the day.
A familiar book may be welcome, too. Repetition can be part of the pleasure: anticipating a joke, noticing an illustration, or joining in with words they remember.
For recreational reading, browsing pictures or dipping into sections can also be enjoyable. During supported reading practice, follow the approach agreed with the child’s teacher.
5. Notice Enjoyment Without Demanding a Big Reaction
Asking for “one more chapter” is lovely, but it is not the only sign that a child is connecting.
They might:
- mention a character later;
- return to an illustration;
- laugh at a familiar moment;
- ask you to read the same page again;
- connect something in the story to their own life.
Some children respond quietly.
Give them room to enjoy a book without needing to demonstrate enthusiasm. A small moment of interest is worth noticing, even if they are not ready to choose reading independently.
6. Talk About the Story Naturally
A question can open a conversation, but too many questions can interrupt the experience.
Follow something the child notices.
If they laugh, ask what they found funny. If they point to a detail, pause with them. You can share your own response, too:
“I wondered whether the character would tell the truth.”
Or:
“That part reminded me of our visit to the lake.”
Occasionally, a simple question is enough:
“What do you think happens next?”
They do not need to produce the answer an adult is expecting. Let the conversation include uncertainty, imagination, and different opinions.
Let Them Imagine What Happens Next
Sometimes a child enjoys inventing an adventure of their own. After sharing a book, invite them to imagine a different ending or create a new character.
For another playful starting point, try the Story Starter Generator in the Imagination & Story Growing Room. Explore a prompt together, then let your child talk, draw, or act out what might happen next. There is no need to turn it into a writing assignment.
7. Seek Support When Reading Remains Difficult
An engaging story can help, but choosing another book will not resolve every reading difficulty.
If your child regularly struggles with the words, becomes very frustrated, or avoids reading despite support, speak with their teacher. Ask which skills need attention and how you can help at home.
You can continue offering enjoyable read-alouds while that support is arranged.
Reading Rockets’ Literacy at Home resources provide parent guidance on reading development and understanding difficulties. Reading Rockets
A child deserves both access to enjoyable stories and help with the parts of reading that are hard.
Finding Stories That Invite Curiosity
When I write children’s books, I think about the questions that might invite a reader into the story.
What has changed? What will the characters discover? How will they respond when something goes wrong?
In The Storm That Wasn’t, curiosity about a storm warning leads the cousins into questions, teamwork, and discovery.
For children interested in inventions and energetic adventures, The Rocket Boosted Go-Kart offers a different doorway.
The best choice depends on the child’s interests and the support they need. You can read a sample together before deciding.
Explore children’s books from The Story House and look for something that gives your child a reason to be curious.
Try One Small Change This Week
Choose one adjustment based on what your child has told you.
Perhaps you will visit the library for a factual book, read aloud without asking questions, or move story time to a less tiring part of the day.
Notice what happens.
What held their attention? What felt difficult? What would they choose again?
Let that information shape the next invitation.
A Gentle Reflection
Think about something you enjoy learning.
How does it feel when you can explore at a comfortable pace, ask a question, and receive help without embarrassment?
Children need that kind of welcome, too.
We can take their reluctance seriously while continuing to offer possibilities.
Final Thoughts
Helping kids enjoy reading begins with understanding the child in front of you.
Listen to what feels difficult. Offer relevant choices, share stories, and make room for different ways of participating. Seek teaching support when reading skills need attention.
You do not have to convince a child to love every book.
Begin by helping them find one reading experience they would be willing to return to.
Debbie Blower 💛
Author/Illustrator
Founder of The Story House
Stories that inspire. Words that heal.
