Raising a child who genuinely loves to read isn't about forcing extra reading time or buying every book on a recommended list. It's about a handful of small, consistent habits that make reading feel natural rather than like a chore. Here's a simple, practical approach any family can start today.
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1. Make Reading Part of the Routine
Kids build habits around predictability. If reading has a regular spot in the day — after school, before bed, during a quiet afternoon window — it becomes something expected rather than something extra. It doesn't need to be long. Even ten quiet minutes, done consistently, adds up over weeks and months.
2. Let Them Choose Sometimes
Giving your child some say in what they read — even if it's the same book five nights in a row, or something well below or above their "reading level" — builds ownership over the habit. A child who feels reading is something done *to* them is less likely to stick with it than one who feels reading is something they get to do.
3. Model Reading Yourself
Children notice what the adults around them actually do, not just what they're told to do. Letting your child see you read — a book, not just a phone screen — quietly communicates that reading is a normal, valued part of adult life too, not just a task assigned to kids.
4. Revisit Favorites
It's tempting to push a child toward new books once they've finished one, but returning to old favorites has real value. Familiar stories are comforting, and rereading builds a child's confidence — they already know they enjoy the story, which makes reading feel safe and rewarding rather than uncertain.
Resources to Make This Easier
Little Lamb Studios' read-aloud videos are a good option on days when sitting down with a physical book isn't possible, and our book catalog offers faith-based stories worth returning to again and again as your child grows.
See how these lessons connect in our Children's Books That Teach Kindness, Courage, and Honesty roundup.
Free printable: Lilly's Animal Crossword Adventures, a 20-puzzle animal crossword pack, is in our free printable pack.
Little Lamb Studios creates faith-based books, songs, and animated stories that help children grow in faith, courage, and kindness.