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Ways To Make Reading Fun & Interesting For Reluctant Readers

Reluctant readers are basically those who do not enjoy reading and are forced to do so. Such readers actively resist reading and become easily frustrated when coaxed to pick up a book. Such behaviour is observed in kids if reading books is not encouraged in the right way and fun way.

Often parents mistake by introducing reading as a curriculum which a child has to follow like any other academic subject. Reading is not a subject. It is an activity to be incorporated in the child’s life and introduced in a fun way like any other activity.

Ways to make reading fun for reluctant readers

While some children develop a natural love for reading, there are some who may find it difficult or simply boring. Many young children are reluctant to read because either they are missing foundational skills or they have trouble sitting with a book for longer periods of time. But just because a child is a reluctant reader does not mean he or she cannot learn to enjoy it.

Here are few ways to make reading fun and interesting for reluctant readers:

Pick the right books
Making reading fun begins with picking the right kind of book your child will love to read. Ask your child what kind of books he/she would love to read. Pick a book of your child’s choice and not yours. Remember he has to read.

Interactive Read Aloud
Reading aloud a book to your child will ignite excitement in him/her. Make the story more fun with voice modulation and expressions. Ask questions in between and involve your child. Create the love for characters in your child’s heart by reading it interestingly and excitingly.

Act out the story
Help your child in adding excitement to the story with his/her imagination. Ask the child to draw a picture or act out the story as perceived by him/her.  Applaud and appreciate the child’s efforts. 

Create a separate reading space
Create a separate reading corner. Make it a colourful and cosy one. Allow the child to absorb the feel of the space.

Join the strings between books and life
Make associations between what the child is reading and his real life experiences. Read an adventure book before taking the child for camping. Then associate both. This will make reading more exciting for the child.

Introduce audio books
To children who are reluctant for reading, audio books create wonders. They are a great alternative to help make reading more enjoyable and also aid in improving the comprehension skills.

Join a book club
This will develop a fondness towards books in children. Meeting friends is also an excitement. This will encourage reading as children learn through imitation. Seeing other kids pick books they too will do so. Turning and flipping the pages will gradually attract their attention towards the content.

There’s no doubt that reading  works wonders in shaping a child’s imagination and develop various skills. So it’s important for parents to try to make reading fun from an early age.


This post is a part of Blogchatter’s A2Z challenge – #BlogchatterA2Z  on the alphabet ‘V’. My theme for this challenge is ‘Books for Kids’. You can find all 26 posts on this topic under the hashtags #themomsagas_books on InstagramFacebook and Twitter

This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. Neha

    These are some great tips! I agree when, kids pick their own books they are more inclined to read the books.

  2. alpanadeo

    Reading is a skill that can be developed and when it is done from an early age then it can do wonders at later stages. Not all kids are book lovers but with the methods yo have mentioned, we can develop their interest in books. Picking age appropriate books is very important.

  3. Dr. Surbhi Prapanna

    Luckily my both girls love reading, so I m happy mom from this perspective. Your post is really informative and you had suggested great options to make reading fun. I had heard a lot about audio books but never tried it personally. Will explore it for sure.

  4. Preeti Chauhan

    My both kids are off and on readers and I would feel why I could not get them interested in reading books more often.Choosing the right books and reading out aloud could definitely do the trick.

  5. Archana

    I totally agree on this that reading works wonders in developing child’s skills, I have witnessed many gradual positive changes in my child since very little age when he was just 2 YO and now he is 10 YO, the ritual of reading books before bedtime is still running smoothly in my family, hoping my lil daughter would also adopt this ritual willingly.

  6. I am glad that both my kids are avid readers and never have to push them to read. But joining a book club can be a good idea. There is nothing called enough reading, they can explore, read and learn as much they want.

  7. jhilmildsaha

    Even i make it a point to let my daughter pick her own book. I have found out she gets more excited in reading it that way. Really helpful tips.

  8. Deepika

    Very nice tips to make reading fun for kids. My daughter loves reading and I want my son also follows the same. These ideas will definitely help to create an interest in reading.

  9. momtasticworld

    Listening to audio books and joining a few books clubs has helped us a lot. I can see visible changes and how much she has started to enjoy reading books on her own. Love the tips and I sure I am going to use a few soon.

  10. Judy

    I have started reaading books to my son as a bedtime ritual. He got interested as one of your pointers detailed out by visual appeal of book and secondly I used to narrate the book loudly with little voice modulations.

  11. Ruchie

    My daughter loves reading a lot and it’s actually good habit we should encourage for kids…joining book clubs are something very interesting to do and encourage!!

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