School holidays are a wonderful opportunity for children to slow down, recharge and enjoy experiences that aren’t always possible during term time. However, they’re also a time when reading habits can easily slip away.
The good news is that keeping children engaged with reading doesn’t have to involve comprehension worksheets, reading logs or reading targets. In fact, some of the most powerful reading experiences happen when children simply associate books with comfort, curiosity and connection.
A child can complete a holiday reading challenge, tick off ten books and still see reading as another task to be completed.
Another child might read fewer books but spend the summer genuinely excited about stories, fascinated by facts and looking forward to picking up a book.
If a reading challenge helps a child discover a new favourite author or develop a more regular reading habit, then that’s something to celebrate. However, it’s worth remembering that challenges are a means, not the goal. The real success isn’t completing six books. It’s reaching the end of the summer with a child who still believes that reading is enjoyable.
The important thing is that reading remains connected to pleasure rather than pressure.
Think about the activities children look forward to during the holidays.
Movie nights.
Trips to the beach.
Ice cream after dinner.
Board games.
Playdates.
These aren’t memorable because someone insisted they happen. They’re memorable because of the atmosphere surrounding them.
Reading deserves the same treatment: an enjoyable activity, rather than something they have to get through to earn a reward.
So, how can parents encourage reading without making it feel like another task? Here are a few ideas:
Family Book Club
Imagine this. It’s 7:30pm on a summer evening. The television stays off, not because it’s banned, but because tonight is Family Book Club. Blankets are on the sofa. Someone has made hot chocolate. Mum is halfway through her novel. Dad is reading a biography. One child is completely absorbed in a book about sharks while another is giggling at a joke book.
No one is testing anyone.
No one is asking comprehension questions.
No one is checking how many pages have been read.
Yet something incredibly powerful is happening.
Children are learning that reading isn’t something adults ask children to do. Reading is simply something that people do.
Everyone chooses their own book, snuggles up together in the same room and simply reads quietly.
No pressure.
No expectations.
Perhaps it’s on the sofa with blankets, on one big bed, or on the carpet with mugs of hot chocolate.
The important thing is that everyone is reading.
Children notice what adults value. When they regularly see parents or other members of the family reading for pleasure, they begin to understand that reading isn’t just something children do for school. It’s something people do because they enjoy it.
Create a Family Read-Aloud Tradition
Choose a book that everyone can enjoy together and make it part of your daily routine. An adult might read most of the story, or family members can take turns reading aloud. Reading aloud isn’t just for young children.
The magic isn’t just in the reading; it’s in the shared experience.
When children hear adults reading with enthusiasm, they begin to associate books with warmth, laughter and togetherness.
Even ten or fifteen minutes each evening can become something the whole family genuinely looks forward to.
Instead of saying,
“It’s time to read.”
Try saying,
“I can’t wait to find out what happens next tonight!” Or
“I’m about to carry on reading the book we started yesterday. Does anyone want to join me?”
That small shift changes reading from a task into an event.
Spark Curiosity Through Casual Reading
Not every reading experience needs to be planned.
Sometimes the most effective way to encourage reading is doing it unplanned.
Keep interesting books around the house: books full of fascinating facts, Guinness World Records, animal books, joke books, cookbooks, gaming books, atlases or ‘Did You Know?’ collections.
Instead of saying,
“Come and read this book.”
Read something aloud casually. For example;
“Did you know octopuses have three hearts?” Or,
“Apparently, honey never spoils. Archaeologists have found pots of honey thousands of years old that are still edible.”
Then watch the children gasp in surprise or look at you in disbelief, as they come closer to see if what you said is true. That moment of curiosity is powerful.
Then simply leave the book somewhere visible and easy to reach. If their curiosity has been sparked, there’s a good chance they’ll pick it up themselves to discover what other fascinating facts it contains.
I’ve seen this happen in my own home. Recently, I casually mentioned to my children that, “Did you know that toothbrush only cleans about 60% of your teeth?” They looked at me with complete disbelief until they read the fact for themselves. Well, the good thing is, not only did they read, they have also taken flossing their teeth more seriously ever since.
That’s the beauty of curiosity-led reading. Curiosity is a powerful motivator.
Very often children will return to the book later because they want to discover another amazing fact.
The goal isn’t to tell them to read.
It’s to make reading irresistible. They’re reading because they are genuinely interested. When knowledge is discovered rather than delivered, it’s often remembered long after the book has been put down.
Let Their Excitement Do The Talking
Resist the Urge to Turn Reading into a Lesson. Don’t ask questions like:
“What happened?”
“Who was your favourite character?”
“What do you think will happen next?”
At school, these conversations help us understand children’s thinking.
At home, however, they can sometimes make reading feel like homework in disguise.
Let the children choose to share what they’ve read if they want to. Let it happen naturally out of enjoyment. The most meaningful conversations about books are often the ones that happen spontaneously, fuelled by genuine excitement rather than prompted by adult questions.
You can help create this culture by modelling it yourself. Talk naturally about what you’re reading.
“I wasn’t expecting that ending!”
When children see us sharing our enjoyment of books, they begin to do the same.
One of my daughters is currently reading the second book in a series, and she’ll suddenly look up and say, “Oh my goodness, Mummy, you won’t believe what just happened in my book!” My other daughter, who is currently reading another book by her favourite author, might exclaim, “This book is getting so intense!” or gasp in surprise before eagerly explaining what has just happened.
These conversations aren’t prompted by questions like, “What happened in your book today?” They happen because they’re genuinely invested in what they’re reading. They’re sharing for the same reason we tell a friend about a brilliant film or an unexpected twist in a television series, because we can’t wait to talk about it.
That’s the kind of reading culture we want to create: one where conversations about books emerge naturally from enjoyment, not obligation.
