About a year or two ago, I made a conscious decision that I was going to help my kids develop a deeper love for reading. Since then, I’ve implemented a few small changes in our daily routine that have made a big difference.
Because I homeschool, we naturally have a little more time to dedicate to reading — but honestly, I believe that whatever you prioritize, you can make time for.
Here are seven ways I’ve encouraged a love of reading in our home:
1. Change Reading Curriculums
If you don’t homeschool, this one might not apply, but for those who do — don’t be afraid to change things up when something isn’t working.
When I felt like our reading curriculum had stalled and my kids weren’t progressing, I decided to switch to All About Reading from All About Learning Press. It completely changed the game for us. Their retention and confidence improved dramatically, and reading became more enjoyable for everyone.
If something isn’t clicking, it’s okay to pivot. Sometimes a new approach is exactly what your child needs.
2. Make a Reading Chart
I know reward charts can be a little controversial, but hear me out — this worked wonders for us.
When I first wanted to spark more excitement around reading, I created a simple sticker chart. For each book they finished, my kids added a sticker. Every 10 stickers earned them a small prize from our “treasure chest,” which I filled with fun trinkets from the dollar store.
When they hit 100 books, they earned a bigger reward — my son chose a Nintendo Switch game, and my daughter picked out a locket she’d been wanting. Eventually, they got into the habit of reading for fun, and we retired the chart completely. But I truly believe it helped establish that foundation.
3. Make Reading Accessible
Environment matters. I wanted to make sure books were easy to grab anywhere in the house.
In our main living areas, we have baskets for library books and another for early readers and board books we own. There’s also a short bookshelf that I rotate seasonally.
In the kids’ rooms, I use display shelves on the walls and floor baskets for their favorites. I switch those out every few months to keep things fresh and exciting.
Building a home library doesn’t have to be expensive — I find most of our books at the library bookstore (sometimes for 10¢ each!), Free Little Libraries, and thrift stores. Over time, these small finds have built a rich and varied collection of stories that my kids love.
4. Weekly Library Trips
Because environment is so important, we made library trips part of our weekly routine.
I found a local library that’s colorful, welcoming, and has the most passionate children’s librarians. It’s more than just a place for books — it’s a community space filled with hands-on play and learning.
Our favorite library has dolls, a play kitchen, trains, blocks, a light table, puzzles, and themed learning centers that change seasonally — from puppet theaters to farmer’s markets to science labs. They even have talking books, themed story kits, and curriculum boxes for checkout!
Most libraries also host amazing events like book clubs, robotics, cooking classes, yoga, storytimes, crafts, chess clubs, and homeschool programs. We’ve even visited a library that had a full indoor playground — how fun is that?!
If you haven’t already, check out what your local library offers and make it part of your family’s weekly rhythm.
5. Read Aloud Daily
One of the biggest shifts I made was reading aloud to my kids every night. We started with short stories and then moved to chapter books, which they quickly fell in love with.
Reading aloud keeps them engaged and excited — they’d often ask, “Are we reading tonight?” I even started doing different voices for characters to make the stories come alive.
As we read, I paused to answer questions or explain new words, and the next day, I’d ask them to recall what happened or guess what might come next. It made reading interactive, fun, and something they looked forward to each evening.
6. Model a Love of Reading Yourself
Kids mirror what they see. If they see you choosing to read, they’ll be more likely to pick up a book themselves.
Over the past few years, I’ve made reading a bigger priority for myself. I read daily — sometimes on my Kindle, sometimes with a physical book — and I display books throughout our home as decor.
My kids are always curious about what I’m reading, so I share quick summaries or talk about the characters. It’s a simple way to show that reading isn’t just “schoolwork” — it’s something enjoyable that adults do, too.
7. Use Audiobooks
This one has been a game changer!
I originally bought a Yoto Player for my oldest as a birthday gift to help him wind down at night. He loved it so much that a year later, we bought two more for my younger kids.
If you haven’t heard of it, the Yoto Player is a kid-friendly audiobook device that uses cards with stories, songs, or podcasts. Kids can insert the cards themselves, play stories independently, and even use headphones or Bluetooth. It also has a daily podcast and a kid-friendly radio station that plays 24/7!
We’ve collected a whole binder full of Yoto cards over the past two years, and it’s become such a special part of our routine. The kids listen to it at bedtime, while drawing, or during free play with Legos. We even use it during school some days!
The independence it gives them — and the love of storytelling it’s fostered — has been amazing. (Here’s a link for 10% off your first purchase!)
Helping my kids develop a love of reading has been one of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling. It’s shown me that the right mix of environment, encouragement, and modeling makes all the difference.
💬 If you have any favorite tips or resources that have inspired your kids to read more, I’d love to hear them in the comments below.
