How to Keep a Child Reading / Parenting Help
How to Keep Children Reading Books?
Motivating children to read more has become one of the biggest challenges for parents, educators, and—let’s be honest—authors too. After all, if kids don’t read, authors don’t survive. But this isn’t just about book sales. It’s about attention, imagination, and helping children discover that reading can be just as powerful as any screen in their hands.
We’re raising kids in a world ruled by TikTok, social media, video games, YouTube, and streaming platforms. Even adults struggle. I’ll be the first to admit it—Netflix eats away at more of my time than I’d like to admit. If I weren’t actively writing a book series, I probably wouldn’t read nearly as much as I do. Between researching story ideas, reading books on writing, and enjoying a good mystery or fantasy novel, reading has become part of my job.
But that brings us back to the real question:
How do we motivate children to read?
The answer might be simpler—and more surprising—than we think.
One of the most powerful ideas I’ve ever heard came straight from a child’s mouth, and it completely stunned me. The idea wasn’t about forcing reading time, offering rewards, or limiting screen use. It was about impact.
Give children something that affects them emotionally. Something that pulls them in. Something that makes them want to keep reading.
A particular student once found my book on Amazon and decided to give it a try. No assignment. No pressure. Just curiosity. One day, that student walked up to me and said:
“I’m reading your book… it’s weird, but I can’t stop reading it.”
That sentence says everything.
Kids don’t need books that feel like homework. They need stories that grab them. Stories that feel a little strange, a little exciting, and just mysterious enough to make them think about it long after they close the book. When a story affects them—when it makes them curious, nervous, excited, or emotionally connected—they don’t need motivation. The book does the work.
This is the main point we often miss:
Children read more when reading feels personal, not forced.
Motivation doesn’t come from saying, “You should read.” It comes from saying, “Here’s a story that might surprise you.” Let them choose books that match their interests—even if those books seem odd, intense, or different from what we’d normally pick. Mystery, fantasy, adventure, humor, and even slightly “weird” stories often hook reluctant readers far more than “safe” choices.
If you would like to support this author, consider this book series:
Both books are from the "Secrets of Whisper Pine" Book Series.
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