50+ Ways to Create Reading Time for Your Kids
Every time I talk about helping your child develop a love of reading, one of the biggest things I talk about is making sure there is TIME for your child to read.
(I also strongly encourage NOT making things like video games dependent on reading books – that sets up reading as the slog to get through and video games as the end-all-be-all rewards, neither of which is what you’re probably looking for).
In our family, there are clear times for playing computer games (while I make dinner) and so they don’t compete with reading.
My kids read as part of homeschool – we have 30 minutes of family reading each day before lunch where everyone reads their own book in the living room together – and also before bed where they have 30 minutes after I read aloud to them to read in bed before lights off.
And, of course, they have lots of free time during the day to read books!
Last time I talked about this on Instagram, there were a lot of requests to hear how other families made time for reading books in their regular routine.
And wow, did people deliver!
Here are some of the suggestions for making book reading part of your child’s routine:
How to Create Reading Time for Your Kids
- Once they are in bed, we set a half hour timer to read on school nights and longer on weekends.
- They listen to audiobooks while they do other things like shower or play with LEGOs.
- Prioritize reading for yourself – modeling, putting ambiance on the TV, blankets and coziness
- Every day right after school they read their school book and before bed their choice of book.
- I strategically place books in the minivan so they will grab a book on the way to school!
- I read to my child during breakfast and sometimes lunch
- Every time we get in the car the kids each bring a book. We take them in restaurants and everything!
- Quiet time reading after lunch every day – we are homeschoolers.
- I bought my kids reading lights to read before bed. (Note: I have a post of my favorite book lights here!)
- It was part of their summer responsibilities.
- Choosing highly interesting books have our kids asking for more time to read before bed.
- Reading together. When it is about connection it doesn’t seem forced.
- As often as we can, whenever our kids want to read or want us to read, it’s an auto yes.
- We homeschool so they read when younger kids are napping. Quiet time for all!
- We go to their rooms right after dinner and read 15-45 minutes until bedtime
- Slow weekend mornings and after lunch quiet time with books
- When we do summer childcare for our grandkids, after lunch is reading time.
- Taking them to the library regularly! (Note: If you need ideas for library routines, I have a whole post here!)
- In the morning before school!
- Kids aren’t allowed out of their rooms until a certain time and if they wake up before that they can read until it is time to come out.
- We are VERY strict about screen time. Like, most days there is none. We don’t have iPads or video games for our kids. We don’t watch TV or do screens in the car so they often do audio with headphones or read.
- I consider it my job to curate books for them- maybe 1hr/week at library, putting holds, etc.
- We ended up quitting activities (sports, lessons, etc.) to make time for reading at home.
- On weekends, quiet time is mandatory. We’ve started doing family reading in our king bed!
- Driving to their sports games! It’s lost time anyway so why not bring a book or audiobook?
- House rule: screens off at 7pm
- In the summer we do reading snack time at 3pm.
- Once a week I pick up my granddaughter from school and head to the public library.
- If they finish their meal early, they can read until everyone is done.
- Friday night is Book Light Night- they can stay up as late as they want as long as they’re reading.
- I leave the books out at all times. Books are always accessible.
- My husband takes the city bus with our 6 year old and they read to/from school
- I gave them a Yoto player and now I can’t get them to STOP reading in every spare second (Note: I have a whole post about Yoto players here – we love ours!)
- We do FaceTime reading with family, like grandparents, uncles, etc.
- We have a set time we visit the library each week- then the rest of the afternoon is open for reading.
- We take 20 minutes before they need to leave for school to do homework/read
- During baby brothers bath time, she reads to him.
- Periodically my grandchildren read to their mom while she tidies their room.
- At home read-a-thons, during school breaks, pajamas and favorite snacks.
- I keep a basket of books next to the toilet.
- They get a new audiobook every time they are sick.
- I read to my little kids before we eat lunch or dinner. Or while they’re eating.
- Modeling it. A no screen policy the last 1.5 hours before bed. We usually all end up on the couch reading.
- Audiobooks while playing lego/puzzles, books in the living room
- Friday evening reading time with hot tea
- We read together. They see me reading a book and want to curl up with their own.
- We started 30 minutes of daily reading time, non-negotiable on the summer break and kept going.
- We live in a rural area so it takes 10+ minutes to get to the next town. My kids read/listen to a book then.
- I used to read in the car with my big kid before picking up my little kid from daycare and now I read in the car with the little kid while picking up the big kid from high school.
- They can choose bed or reading. They always choose reading.
- Unscheduled time and having books they want to read laying temptingly around.
- Have really comfy reading spaces and books they like for whenever the urge hits.
- Bring books when we go camping (great way to start something they’ve been reluctant to read)
Any other suggestions for making time for reading books in your home? I’d love to hear!
