5 Creative Ways to Encourage a Love of Reading in Your Child

Reading is one of life’s quiet pleasures and a powerful tool for learning. More than just a classroom requirement, it opens the door to imagination, learning, and self-expression. When children enjoy reading, they’re more likely to do it often — and the benefits are huge. If you want to foster a love of reading in children, try making the experience fun, interactive, and personalised to their interests.

Here are five creative ways to encourage reading in kids and help turn your child into a lifelong reader:

1. Create a “Reading Fortnight” with Themed Days

Make reading feel like a treat by setting up a special reading area at home. Add pillows, blankets, and soft lighting to make the space feel inviting. When children have a cosy, dedicated space to relax with a book, it becomes part of their routine.

This simple setup encourages relaxation and focus, making it easier to build a consistent reading habit and build reading confidence over time. You can also check out tips to build reading confidence in primary students for more support.

2. Pair Reading with Real-Life Experiences

Let your child pick books based on topics they love — from dinosaurs to dance or space adventures to sports. When reading feels connected to their personal interests, children are more motivated to read on their own.

Looking for seasonal inspiration? Try these Book Week ideas to engage young readers that align with your child’s favourite themes or hobbies.

Allowing them to guide the reading journey is one of the best ways to encourage reading in kids without pressure.

3. Add Fun to the Experience

Reading doesn’t have to be quiet or serious — it can be playful and active too! Try reading aloud in funny voices, acting out scenes, or drawing pictures based on the story. These fun reading activities for kids turn books into interactive experiences that bring the story to life.

Want to extend their literacy skills? Pair reading with fun writing prompts for kids at home to spark creativity and comprehension.

4. Host a Reading Picnic with a Twist

Pack up some snacks, a rug, and a few carefully selected books, then head outdoors to your backyard, the local park, even your lounge room floor transformed with a picnic vibe. The twist? Invite stuffed animals, pets, or siblings to be the audience, and take turns reading aloud. Children are more likely to embrace reading when it’s part of a shared, joyful ritual rather than an assigned task. Let them choose the books and lead the way. Even reluctant readers will be more engaged in a relaxed and novel setting.

When children see reading as something the whole family values, it reinforces the love of reading in children and helps make reading a shared experience, not just a school assignment.

5. Start a “Book Detective” Club

Turn reading into a mystery game. Pick a book with a puzzle, secret, or mystery at its heart. As your child reads (or listens), have them jot down clues, make predictions, and solve “cases.” You can design simple printable forms with magnifying glasses or fingerprint stamps. Make it a weekly event where they report their “findings.” This strategy encourages close reading, boosts comprehension, and adds excitement. Best of all, it works for fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels. Bonus points if you let them dress up as detectives!

How Tutor Doctor Can Help Encourage a Love of Reading

At Tutor Doctor, we know that every child connects with reading differently. That’s why we tailor our tutoring to match your child’s interests, strengths, and preferred learning style. Whether your child is just starting out or needs a boost in confidence, our qualified tutors use engaging, student-centred techniques to nurture reading fluency and enjoyment.

We help children discover books that speak to them and support parents with practical strategies at home. Our one-on-one support ensures that reading becomes not just a skill, but a source of curiosity, creativity, and confidence.