*Reading in the comfort of home can become your child’s favorite ritual – you just need to encourage it the right way*. Regular reading brings children enormous developmental benefits – it broadens vocabulary, increases knowledge and communication skills, and even makes kids smarter [arts.gov](https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2015/why-it-pays-read#:~:text=taking%20a%20walk%2C%20drinking%20a,Check%20out%20the%20titles%20in). Studies also show that reading can reduce stress levels by up to 68% [arts.gov](https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2015/why-it-pays-read#:~:text=reduces%20stress%20The%20bad%20news%3A,effective%20means%20of%20relaxation%20than), making it a valuable habit in today’s busy world. *Yet getting a child interested in books can be challenging,* especially when colorful screens vie for their attention. Here are five proven ways to spark your child’s love of reading at home – parent-friendly tips backed by expert advice and research findings. ## Be a Reading Role Model for Your Child Children learn by imitation – **if they see parents reading, they’re more likely to pick up books themselves**. So show your little one that **reading brings you joy**. Talk about an interesting book you’re reading, show them the cover, share your excitement. When a child sees that **books are an important, enjoyable part of home life**, they’ll start to view reading as something natural and appealing rather than a chore. Experts emphasize that positive examples from home have a huge influence on shaping a young reader [booktrust.org.uk](https://www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/find-resources/booktrust-research-children-are-40-more-likely-to-enjoy-reading-if-their-parents-or-carers-do/#:~:text=%3E%20Children%20are%2040,if%20their%20parents%20or%20carers%C2%A0do). In fact, **children are 40% more likely to enjoy reading if their parents do** [booktrust.org.uk](https://www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/find-resources/booktrust-research-children-are-40-more-likely-to-enjoy-reading-if-their-parents-or-carers-do/#:~:text=%3E%20Children%20are%2040,if%20their%20parents%20or%20carers%C2%A0do). In other words – **a reader raises a reader**. If mum or dad regularly reaches for a book (instead of, say, always the TV remote), the child will sooner or later want to “catch up” to them in this habit. ## Let Your Child Choose Books That Match Their Interests Nothing kills the reading spirit like forcing books on a child. **Give your child a say in what you’ll read together**. A fun trip to the library or bookstore, where your little one freely picks out a book, gives them a sense of ownership and shows you value their opinion. Choose books **on topics your child is passionate about** – if they love space, grab a vividly illustrated story about planets; if they adore animals, pick up tales of jungle adventures. A book aligned with their interests will hook them faster, because a young reader **identifies with the characters and topic**. Research confirms that choosing texts that match a child’s interests and letting them select what to read are easy ways to boost their engagement [readingrockets.org](https://www.readingrockets.org/reading-motivation#:~:text=alouds%2C%20small%20group%20reading%20materials%2C,easy%20ways%20to%20pique%20engagement). Also, start small – short stories appropriate to their age, with large text and pictures – so reading feels like fun, not hard work. When a child **finds something in books that truly intrigues them**, the chances rise that they’ll on their own want to know what happens next in the story the next day. ## Read Aloud Together – Even After They Can Read Themselves *Reading together out loud is not only educational, but also a chance to build your bond*. Don’t rush to give up storytime just because your child learns to read solo. Many studies show that **daily reading aloud from the earliest years pays off** – it develops imagination and listening skills, and correlates with a later willingness to read for pleasure [cls.ucl.ac.uk](https://cls.ucl.ac.uk/cls_research/reading-for-pleasure/) [readingrockets.org](https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-your-child#:~:text=Nurtures%20a%20love%20of%20reading). By reading together, you can also take turns – let your child occasionally read you a short passage from an easier text. They’ll be proud to show off their skills, and you get a chance to praise their progress. Importantly, shared read-aloud time is a ritual that **builds an emotional connection** – you’re spending cozy time together, immersed in the story’s world and sharing reactions. This positive atmosphere around books makes your child **start to treat reading as a hobby**, not a boring duty [readingrockets.org](https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-your-child#:~:text=Nurtures%20a%20love%20of%20reading). One long-term UK study even found that children who were regularly read to by parents at age 5 performed better on tests at age 16 than peers who weren’t read to [cls.ucl.ac.uk](https://cls.ucl.ac.uk/cls_research/reading-for-pleasure/). **So read together every day** – even just fifteen minutes – as an investment in your child’s reading future. ## Make Reading an Adventure – Have Fun with Stories To capture your child’s interest, try approaching reading creatively. **Turn storytime into playtime** – ask your child questions while reading (“What do you think the hero will do now?”), encourage them to predict the ending, or invent your own twists together. Children love when reading becomes interactive – you can take turns a**cting out scenes from the book**, use funny voices for characters, and pause to wonder “what happens next?” Such playfulness fires up the imagination and makes your little one fully engage with the tale. In fact, research shows that interactive “dialogic” reading – asking questions, discussing the story, letting the child chime in – builds vocabulary and comprehension, *and it shows kids that reading is fun* [readingrockets.org](https://www.readingrockets.org/reading-motivation#:~:text=The%20best%20read%20alouds%20are,nonfiction%20book%2C%20The%20Vegetables%20We). A great idea is to use **interactive books** that give the child influence over the story. For example, the *What Happens Next?* series – unique storybooks that pause at a cliffhanger and let the child decide the ending, essentially **inviting them to “shape the twists and turns” of the tale**. Each such book is an invitation into a world of family storytelling – **the young reader gets to invent the rest of the adventure**, and at the end of the book they can discover suggested endings for inspiration. The *What Happens Next?* books **truly encourage reading and spark creativity** – children read because they’re excited to find out what could happen, and along the way they learn to craft their own stories. This kind of approach turns reading into an exciting adventure that your child will look forward to each day. ## Create a Ritual and a Cozy Reading Nook The best way to win a child over to books is through a **daily routine filled with warm fuzzies**. Try to s**et aside a regular time for reading together** – for example, every evening before bed or after dinner. This ritual, repeated at the same time each day, signals to your child that reading is an important and natural part of the day. It helps to set up a **comfy reading corner** at home: a soft chair or pile of cushions, a cuddly blanket, and a shelf within reach stocked with favorite stories. When your little one associates reading with a snuggly spot and your close presence, they’ll be drawn into the story more easily. Remember to **limit distractions**, especially electronics – turn off the TV, put away phones. Research shows that children who use screens before bedtime take longer to fall asleep and get less overall sleep [sleeptrainingsolutions.com](https://www.sleeptrainingsolutions.com/blog/how-screen-time-affects-your-childs-sleep-and-how-to-limit-it-without-a-fight#:~:text=A%202022%20study%20published%20in,had%20shorter%20overall%20sleep%20duration). Instead of a tablet or phone, it’s better to reach for a traditional book – calm reading helps them unwind, relax before sleep, and builds positive associations (much better than scrolling a phone under the covers!). If you manage to **incorporate your child into a no-pressure nightly reading ritual**, before long they’ll be the one asking for a bedtime story or the next chapter of their favorite book. Just be sure to praise every sign of interest in reading and **never force it** – reading should be linked with enjoyment and togetherness, not with obligation. **In summary:** the keys to raising a little bookworm are patience, consistency, and a bit of creativity. Invite your child to read together on your own terms – in a cozy atmosphere, with interesting books tailored to their interests. You’ll see that over time **reading will become their favorite pastime**, and your home will be filled with the constant question: *“What happens next?”* If you’re looking for inspiring stories to get started, visit the [What Happens Next?](https://whathappensnext.online) website or check out the books from that series available on [Amazon](https://amzn.eu/d/1DwvGWT) – they could become your secret weapon in igniting a love of reading. Good luck! 🎉 --- **Sources:** Research and publications referenced in this article – including Ruthann Hughes, *“Reading in the Early Years: supporting generational cycles of readers”* (BookTrust) [booktrust.org.uk](https://www.booktrust.org.uk/resources/find-resources/booktrust-research-children-are-40-more-likely-to-enjoy-reading-if-their-parents-or-carers-do); the **National Endowment for the Arts** blog *“Why It Pays to Read”* [arts.gov](https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2015/why-it-pays-read); studies summarized by **Reading Rockets** on reading motivation and read-aloud benefits [readingrockets.org](https://www.readingrockets.org/reading-motivation) [readingrockets.org](https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-your-child); the official What Happens Next? site [whathappensnext.online](https://whathappensnext.online) and product descriptions [amazon.co.uk](https://amzn.eu/d/1DwvGWT); and a 2022 study on screen time and kids’ sleep (Sleep Health journal) [sleeptrainingsolutions.com](https://www.sleeptrainingsolutions.com/blog/how-screen-time-affects-your-childs-sleep-and-how-to-limit-it-without-a-fight).