Reading is a vital building block to success when it comes
to so many things in life and especially in terms of the subjects that your
child will encounter as part of the school curriculum. In fact, research has
shown that reading is one of the best ways in which a child can improve their
vocabulary; the more a child reads the more words they will learn and the
context in which these words can be used.

Being able to understand the ways in which different types
of texts work also helps children to improve their critical thinking methods
and interact with the ideas that this gives them. Of course, it can also make
them better at their own creative writing as well. The big problem that many
parents find themselves faced with is just how can you get a reluctant reader
to pick up a book and really start to enjoy reading rather than seeing it as a
chore?

8 Ways to Encourage a Reluctant Reader

Some children dive into books with unstoppable enthusiasm. Others… not so much. Reluctant readers aren’t uninterested in stories — they just haven’t found the right doorway in yet. Here are eight smart, compassionate strategies to help them step through.

1. Make Reading Feel Relaxed, Not Required

A pressured reader is a resistant reader. Create a cosy, low‑stakes environment where books feel like an invitation rather than a task.

gentle reading routines – gentle reading routines are soft, predictable moments in the day where reading is simply part of the atmosphere. There’s no pressure to finish a chapter, no timer, no “read for 20 minutes” requirement. It’s about creating a rhythm that feels natural and nurturing. They help children associate reading with warmth, connection, and calm — not performance.
cosy reading spaces – a cosy reading space isn’t about expensive furniture or Pinterest perfection. It’s about atmosphere — a little nook that whispers slow down, settle in, you’re safe here. The goal is to make reading feel like a treat, not a task.
choice-led book time – choice‑led book time is one of the most transformative approaches for reluctant readers because it shifts the power dynamic. Instead of reading being something done to them, it becomes something they control. That sense of autonomy is often the missing ingredient.

2. Let Them Choose Their Own Books

Choice is powerful. Comics, fact books, joke books, football annuals — it all counts. When children feel ownership, motivation skyrockets.

child-led book selection – let them choose what appeals to them and this in turn helps them feel more in control of their reading. It helps shape them as a reader, what they are interested in and what format they prefer.
embracing non-traditional formats – it could be comics, graphic novels, annuals, topic books. This free choice will let them know it doesn’t matter what they are reading, as long as they are reading.
celebrating all reading – this helps to remove the hierarchy of what is a ‘good book and what is a ‘lesser book’. If the are engaged with reading that’s worth celebrating!

3. Use High-Interest, Low-Demand Texts

Hi-Lo books, graphic novels, and dyslexia-friendly formats remove barriers while keeping engagement high.

Hi-Lo reading options – Hi‑Lo reading options are one of the most effective tools for helping reluctant, struggling, or developing readers build confidence without sacrificing interest. They’re clever, purposeful, and often misunderstood. Using age appropriate text can help remove two of the biggest barriers – ability and embarrassment. Your reader doesn’t want to be seen to be reading a ‘babyish’ book. Publishers such as Barrington Stoke and Badger have some great titles for the older reluctant reader.
graphic novel gateways – graphic novels are one of the most powerful gateways for reluctant readers — and honestly, they’re often the turning point where everything finally clicks. They offer story, momentum, visual support, and instant engagement.
accessible text design – Accessible text design refers to the visual and structural choices that make reading smoother, clearer, and less cognitively demanding. It’s about removing friction so the reader can focus on meaning, not decoding. Clear fonts, generous spacing, short paragraphs and predictable structure help to settle your reader into the rhythm of reading.

4. Read Together — Even With Older Children

Shared reading isn’t just for little ones. Taking turns, echo reading, or listening to audiobooks together builds confidence and fluency.

paired reading techniques -paired reading is when an adult and child read together in a supportive, flexible way. It’s not about correcting or testing — it’s about sharing the load so the child never feels stuck or alone. The adult acts as a safety net, not a judge.
audiobook partnerships – audiobook partnerships are one of the most underrated, high‑impact tools for supporting reluctant readers — especially those who struggle with stamina, decoding, or confidence. When a child listens and reads at the same time, something remarkable happens: the pressure melts away, the story comes alive, and reading becomes a shared experience rather than a solo challenge.
confidence-building read-alouds – confidence‑building read‑alouds are one of the most powerful ways to help a reluctant reader feel safe, capable, and genuinely connected to books. When an adult reads aloud with warmth, expression, and intention, it creates a bridge between loving stories and feeling confident enough to read them independently.

5. Connect Books to Their Interests

If they love dinosaurs, football, baking, space, animals, or gaming, there’s a book for that. Interest-led reading is the fastest route to engagement.

interest-matching book choices – interest‑matching book choices are one of the most reliable ways to turn a reluctant reader into an engaged one. When a book taps directly into something a child already cares about, the motivation becomes intrinsic — and intrinsic motivation is the holy grail of reading engagement.
topic-based reading hooks – topic‑based reading hooks are great way to capture a reluctant reader’s attention. Instead of starting with format (chapter book, graphic novel, fact book), you start with content — the themes, subjects, and worlds that naturally spark a child’s curiosity. When the topic is irresistible, the reading follows.
building curiosity bridges – building curiosity bridges is helping a reluctant reader move from what they already like to what they might like next. It’s gentle, strategic, and rooted in how children naturally learn: through connection, not coercion.

6. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection

A page is a win. A paragraph is a win. A smile at a joke in a book is a win.

small reading victories – small reading victories are the little moments — often overlooked — where a child engages with reading in any positive way. They’re not about finishing books or reading perfectly. They’re about movement, however tiny.
positive reinforcement habits – positive reinforcement habits are one of the most powerful ways to help a reluctant reader feel capable, motivated, and genuinely proud of themselves. When adults consistently notice and celebrate the right things — effort, curiosity, persistence — reading becomes a source of confidence rather than stress.
confidence-first mindset – a confidence‑first mindset is one of the most transformative shifts you can make when supporting a reluctant reader. Instead of focusing on what they can’t do yet, you build from what they can do right now. It’s a mindset that prioritises emotional safety, self‑belief, and positive identity — because confidence is the foundation every other reading skill grows from.

7. Make Reading Social

Book chats, family reading time, or even a mini book club with friends can make reading feel communal and fun.

family reading rituals – family reading rituals are one of the most powerful, heart‑anchoring ways to nurture a child’s confidence, curiosity, and long‑term love of books. They turn reading from an isolated task into a shared rhythm — something warm, predictable, and woven into the fabric of daily life. For reluctant readers especially, rituals remove pressure and replace it with connection.
peer reading motivation – Peer reading motivation is one of the most quietly powerful forces in a child’s reading journey. When reading becomes social — something shared, talked about, or enjoyed alongside others — reluctant readers often discover a spark they didn’t know they had. Children are wired to learn from peers, mirror peers, and seek belonging. Reading is no exception.
conversation-based engagement – conversation‑based engagement is a natural, low‑pressure ways to help a reluctant reader connect with books. It shifts the focus away from performing reading and toward talking about stories, ideas, pictures, and feelings. When reading becomes a conversation rather than a test, children relax — and relaxed readers are far more willing to engage.

8. Show Them Reading in the Real World

Recipes, instructions, maps, menus, signs — reading is everywhere. When children see its purpose, they value it more.

real-world reading moments – real‑world reading moments are one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — ways to help a reluctant reader build confidence. They show children that reading isn’t just something that happens in books or classrooms. It’s everywhere. It’s useful. It’s meaningful. And most importantly, it’s normal. When reading becomes part of everyday life rather than a performance, reluctant readers relax, engage, and begin to see themselves as capable.
functional literacy opportunities – functional literacy opportunities are the everyday, real‑life reading and writing moments that help reluctant readers build confidence without even realising they’re practising literacy. They’re practical, meaningful, and rooted in genuine purpose — which is exactly why they work so well.
purpose-driven reading – purpose‑driven reading is one of the most effective ways to help a reluctant reader feel motivated, capable, and genuinely interested in what they’re doing. Instead of reading because an adult says they “should,” the child reads because the text helps them achieve something — solve a problem, answer a question, complete a task, or satisfy a curiosity. It transforms reading from a chore into a tool.