My Child Won’t Read
16 Ways to Make Reading More Enjoyable and Build a Positive Relationship with Books
Reading is a complex skill. While we all know the benefits of reading—such as learning new vocabulary and expanding knowledge—it isn’t always obvious why reading feels difficult for some children.
A child who struggles with reading comprehension may:
have difficulty understanding unfamiliar vocabulary
struggle to create mental images while reading
have trouble making inferences or “reading between the lines”
find decoding (sounding out words) challenging
become overwhelmed by having to manage many reading skills at once
When reading consistently feels hard, children often become frustrated or discouraged. They begin to associate reading with stress instead of enjoyment, and it’s only natural to avoid activities that don’t feel good. While our long-term goal may be for children to enjoy reading novels independently, it’s perfectly okay to take a step back and make reading fun again. Sometimes that even means interacting with books without reading words at all. Building positive experiences with books is often the first step toward building confident readers.
Ideas to Try
Let your child choose the book
Allow them to pick books that genuinely interest them—even if they choose them because of the cover, illustrations, or a funny title.
Take turns reading
Alternate pages or paragraphs so your child can participate without carrying the entire cognitive load.
Read aloud while your child focuses on comprehension
You might say, “I’ll do the reading today. Your job is to listen and think about what’s happening.” This reduces pressure while still strengthening language comprehension.
Set a timer
Knowing they’ll only read for 10 or 15 minutes can make the task feel much more manageable.
Choose highly visual books
Graphic novels, informational books, and books with lots of illustrations can support comprehension (National Geographic Kids).
Listen to audiobooks
If decoding is difficult, audiobooks allow children to enjoy stories while continuing to build vocabulary and language comprehension.
Tell stories from the pictures
With nearly wordless books (Tuesday), take turns creating your own story using only the illustrations. This builds narrative language without the pressure of reading.
Bring the story to life through food
Choose a recipe inspired by the book or eat foods the characters enjoy (Yoko).
Act out scenes
Use dress-up clothes, stuffed animals, dolls, or action figures to recreate favorite moments from the story.
Watch the movie first
Many children who struggle with comprehension also struggle to create vivid mental images. Watching a movie adaptation before reading the book can provide visual context that makes reading easier.
Talk about reading
If your child is willing, ask questions
"What don’t you like about reading?”
“What would make it more fun?”
“What feels hard?”
Sometimes children say reading is “boring” when what they really mean is that it feels difficult. Understanding why can help you better support them.
Read with someone else
Reading with a sibling, cousin, friend, babysitter, or grandparent can sometimes feel less stressful and more motivating than reading only with parents.
Ask about a reading buddy
Some schools may offer to pair younger students with older students for reading practice. Having an older role model can make reading feel exciting and motivating.
Create a cozy reading space
Build a blanket fort, add pillows, use a reading lamp, or create a special “reading nook.” Sometimes making the environment inviting encourages children to spend more time with books.
Turn reading into a game
Add playful challenges or rewards. For example:
Eat one M&M; every time Amelia Bedelia misunderstands something.
Clap whenever a favorite character appears.
Hunt for specific words or pictures.
Visit places connected to books
If possible, visit locations featured in stories or related attractions, such as:
your local library
museums
literary landmarks
themed attractions inspired by favorite books
One Final Thought
It’s okay to let things go.
As adults, it’s easy to fall into the habit of turning every reading experience into a quiz:
“What happened?”
“What’s the main idea?”
“Why did the character do that?”
While checking for understanding has its place, not every reading experience needs to become an assessment. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can do is simply enjoy a story together.
Our goal is to help children see reading as something that can be enjoyable—not something they constantly have to perform. Let them know you’re there to support them, that every brain learns differently, and that struggling with reading doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of becoming successful readers.