How to create a reading routine for your kids

It seemed fitting that my first-ever post should be about how I helped my children find joy in reading. After all, they are the ones who inspired me to start my blog in the first place.

We read to them from the moment they were born as part of their night-time routine. When they were newborns, it was always the same book - 'How to Catch a Star' for my oldest and 'Lost and Found' for my youngest, both by the amazing Oliver Jeffers. Both these amazing picture books (and many more) can be purchased from my bookshop. When you purchase from here, I get a small amount and some money also goes towards supporting local bookshops.

Eventually, when they were old enough to request books, we would let them each choose a picture book for us to read to them, and then we would select a book to read. So before every bedtime, they would have 3 picture books read to them. Their favourites included 'Superworm' by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and 'Aliens Love Underpants' by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort. This continued until my oldest started school, and then our routine changed a bit. Click on this link to purchase these lovely picture books from my bookshop.

This daily routine taught them that reading at night is normal, something everyone does. Of course, books can be read at any time of day, and I encourage you to do this with your children as well, but reading at night is important for so many reasons (that might be another post!). It also helps with some parents' battles when their child starts school - having to read for 10 to 20 minutes daily. Most schools will require your child to read daily for a certain amount of time, and you might have to sign something to say that they have read to you. This brings us to our next routine!

When my oldest started school, he would bring home books that he had to read daily. This was considered part of his homework. But it NEVER felt like homework for him (or us) because reading was already part of our routine. So now our evening became something like this: they would choose a picture book each for us to read, then my son would read to us (and his little brother), then we would choose a picture book to read. Eventually, when my youngest started school, he would also read to us (and his big brother), and we also moved on to reading short chapter books rather than picture books all the time. Some of the first chapter books we read to them included 'Fantastic Mr Fox' by Roald Dahl, and 'The Famous Five' by Enid Blyton. Click on this link to purchase these fabulous books and more!

This routine continued for quite a few years until my oldest started year 5, and he didn't want to be read to anymore. However, my youngest is currently in year 6 and still enjoys being read to. We have read so many books to them now. Some they have loved, and others not so much. But the good thing about reading to them is that they are exposed to a variety of genres, so they get to know what type they like. Sometimes, they thought they wouldn't enjoy a book (based on the genre) and ended up loving it.

Fast-forward to today, and my oldest is an avid reader. He has about five books on the go (I wonder how he does that). On the other hand, my youngest is a reluctant reader. Not because he struggles to read but because he doesn't enjoy reading books with many words. So maybe I should say that he's reluctant to read big books rather than being a reluctant reader. For him, it's about finding books on subjects he's interested in that aren't too long. He also likes to see pictures when he reads. Despite this, he still reads every night WITHOUT complaining.

When our children didn't need to read out loud to us anymore, they started reading to themselves before turning the light out. We stay with them and read our own books when they do this. They enjoy seeing us reading our books; it shows that even adults read.

It isn't always me who does the bedtime reading routine. When my husband is home (He's a firefighter, so does shift work), he does it. I taught him what questions to ask while reading and how to encourage them with their reading. So it didn't matter who did the bedtime reading routine; their evening was always the same. The key to raising readers is consistency and not treating it like a chore. If you have other adults involved in your kids' reading routine, then make sure you are all doing the same thing to ensure consistency.

Top Tip!

Ask your child questions about the books they are reading, and about the ones you are reading to them to check their understanding. I can't stress enough how important this is for children. How can they find joy in reading if they don't understand what they are reading? I have created affordable guided reading ebooks for popular children's books (such as 'An Unofficial Guide to the book: The 13-Storey Treehouse which is just £6) to help you with this. In these ebooks, I have created comprehension questions to ask your child while they are reading to you, or while you are reading to them. I have also included example answers for you to give as well. Please go to my shop to see my resources.

Here are my top tips for creating an effective reading routine:

1. Start as soon as possible. If you still need to start a reading routine for your kids - don't worry - get started when you can and be consistent.

2. Let them choose the books. If you are at the picture book stage, let THEM choose it. Even if they choose the same one every time. Then you select a picture book to read. Picture books don't take very long to read, and kids love them.

3. It's great to do this routine at bedtime, but if it's only sometimes possible, try to find some time in the day to share some books. Again, be consistent.

4. When they become old enough, start reading short chapter books to them - ideally, ones with pictures.

5. When they start bringing books home from school to read, don't treat it like homework. It should become part of the routine if they are used to looking at books with you every day.

6. Change up the genre of the books you read. This will help them find out which book genre they really enjoy.

7. Eventually, when they start to read by themselves, read your own book simultaneously. Your kids should see you engaged in a book too.

8. It doesn't always have to be fiction books; non-fiction books can be a hit too.

9. Visit your local library with your kids and browse.

10. Have fun! When you read to them, be expressive - making listening more enjoyable.