Reading for enjoyment as a child is important to becoming a lifelong reader and is linked to academic achievement, decades of research show. Yet research also indicates that the time children spend reading outside of school is on the decline.
Only 37% of 9-year-olds and 14% of 13-year-olds said they read for fun almost every day, according to data released in June from the National Assessment of Educational Progress program, also known as the Nation's Report Card. That's down from 53% of 9-year-olds and 35% of 13-year-olds in 1984.
Many factors are driving this trend, but the good news is that you can help counteract it. Here are our tips for supporting children's love of reading from an early age.
1. Make reading enjoyable
First and foremost, reading should be fun and interesting. Kids should have access to all kinds of texts, including fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, memoirs, comics, magazines, blogs, web articles … the list is endless. Let children know that all of these materials count as reading and approach their choices from a nonjudgmental stance. Kids will choose what they are ready for and interested in when given the opportunity.
2. Visit the library
We are fortunate to have an amazing public library system in Eugene and other parts of Oregon, so take kids often and let them choose their own materials to enjoy. Not only will kids get exposed to materials they may not have known they would like, but this practice also builds agency and a sense of ownership over their reading. That will make them more likely to continue to read as they grow older. It can also be fun to browse bookstores to buy books or even put them on a list to check out the next time you're at the library.
3. Model reading
Model the importance of literacy by reading yourself. When kids see their parents, caregivers and other family members reading for pleasure, they begin to understand that reading can be a fun and informative activity rather than a chore. Even better, share what you are reading with kids by telling them about new things you've learned or issues the book has made you think about more deeply. This authentic engagement with text is, after all, what reading is all about.
4. Develop routines around reading as a family
Reading to your child is important, and many families read at bedtime. But it's important to build routines outside of bedtime to really encourage kids to read. Maybe set aside one or two evenings a week as designated times when everyone reads instead of watching TV or being on other kinds of digital media. Everyone can read individually or one person can read aloud to the entire family. This time can both build positive associations with reading and strengthen family relationships. It can also be a great opportunity to have younger readers practice reading picture books aloud in a nonjudgmental space. Be sure to save time to discuss what was read, as discussion is known to improve comprehension and engagement.
5. Make connections
Connect reading to other popular media like movies and video games. If your child loves the Marvel or DC movies based on comic book heroes, use that as an opportunity to help them find comic books or novels about superheroes they might enjoy. Or consider helping a Spider-Man fan look for books about the characteristics of real spiders or the history of superhero movies in the nonfiction section of the library. Also, there are myriad spin-off books for popular games like Minecraft, Fortnite and Mario Kart that can engage video game-playing readers. Likewise, if the family is taking a day trip somewhere, have your kids look up information online to learn more about the place before and after you go. Remember, all reading counts.
6. Support all readers
Some kids find learning to read difficult and may even have dyslexia or other conditions that have the potential to make reading more work and less pleasurable. Consider practices that make reading more accessible for them. For example, listening to audiobooks while reading along can help readers build fluency with text while maintaining their engagement and enjoyment. Reading on devices like a Kindle or tablet gives readers the option to increase text size or get definitions for novel words or even have text selections read aloud on demand. Again, these practices send the message that all reading is good reading!
View the Oregon Library Directory Map for the library nearest you. Or link directly to several Oregon libraries:
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will send a free book each month to children ages 5 and younger in Oregon, other states and some countries.
United Through Reading is a nonprofit organization that offers the opportunity for service members and veterans to read aloud on video recordings to stay connected with the children in their lives. The organization published an article for all adults on how to model good reading habits for children.
Reading Middle Grade and HarperCollins Publishers created lists of books for children and young adults that have been adapted into movies, enabling children to make connections between reading and other popular media.
Want to read to kids? Contact SMART Reading to sign up to volunteer to read an hour every week to students in Oregon schools.
Explore UO research on reading
UO researchers are developing literacy screening tools for elementary school students learning Alaska Indigenous languages.
A HEDCO Institute research review identified the most successful strategies schools can implement to support K-12 students who struggle with reading comprehension.
Experts from the UO College of Education discussed research-based practices to help teachers and families support students who are learning to read.
