At Little Zak’s Academy, we know how important early literacy is in a child’s development. Reading helps with school readiness and builds imagination, emotional connection, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. As a parent, it can be tough to know how to inspire that love of reading, especially when screens are everywhere and attention spans are growing shorter.
The good news? You don’t need to be a teacher or have a library at home to help your little one become a reader. You just need a few practical strategies, some patience, and a bit of creativity. Here are some tried-and-true tips to encourage your child to read straight from us to you.
There’s nothing quite like snuggling up with your little one and a good book. Reading together creates strong emotional bonds and helps children associate books with comfort and joy. Even just 10 minutes a day can make a big difference. For younger children, choose books with repetition, rhyme, and simple storylines. Chapter books or picture books with more detail will do the trick for older children. Make it a time you both look forward to — after dinner, before bed, or first thing in the morning.
Children thrive on routine, and reading is no exception. Set a regular time each day to read and make it part of your family rhythm. This could be bedtime stories, a Sunday morning read-in, or even taking a book to the park for a picnic. When children know reading is a daily activity — just like brushing teeth or having breakfast — it becomes a natural part of their day rather than something they have to “make time for.”
One of the easiest ways to build a love for reading is to make books a visible, accessible part of your child’s environment. Have books in every room, not just on a high shelf in the living room. Use baskets, crates, or even cardboard boxes to store books at your child’s eye level. When books are easy to see and grab, children are more likely to pick them up on their own. You can also rotate books every few weeks to keep things fresh and exciting.
Children are more likely to read when they’re interested in the material. So, let them pick! It could be a book about dinosaurs, fairies, trucks, superheroes, or animals. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction, non-fiction, a comic, or a joke book — what matters is that they’re engaged. Take regular trips to the library and give your child the freedom to explore and choose their own books. Let them feel in charge of their reading journey.
Even if your child can only sound out a few letters or simple words, encourage them to “read” to you. This might start with them describing the pictures, retelling a familiar story, or reading sight words they recognise. This builds confidence and reinforces that they’re active participants in reading — not just passive listeners. Celebrate their effort, not just their accuracy!
Reading doesn’t only happen in books! There are words all around us—on signs, cereal boxes, menus, recipes, shopping lists, and even clothing tags. Encourage your child to sound out or recognise words in the world around them. Make it a game: “Who can spot the word ‘milk’ on this carton?” or “Can you read what this sign says?” This helps children understand that reading has a purpose in everyday life.
Nursery rhymes are more powerful than they seem. They build phonemic awareness, rhythm, memory, and language skills — all of which are essential for learning to read. Sing rhymes together, clap along to the beat, and let your child fill in the missing words. Rhymes like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Five Little Ducks might seem simple, but they’re building blocks for literacy.
Expose your child to all kinds of books — picture books, pop-up books, audiobooks, interactive books, graphic novels, and even magazines. This keeps reading fresh and shows them that books come in many shapes and sizes. Audiobooks are especially great for long car rides or quiet time. They allow children to develop listening and comprehension skills and are a fun way to “read” without needing to decode every word.
Turn reading into a game or an adventure. You can create voices for characters, act out scenes, or even turn the story into a puppet show.
Ask open-ended questions like: “What do you think will happen next?” “Why do you think the character did that?” “How would you feel if you were in that story?”
These conversations help with comprehension and keep your child engaged and thinking critically about the story.
Children imitate what they see. If you read regularly — whether it’s a book, a magazine, or the newspaper — your child will see reading as a normal, enjoyable activity. Talk about the books you’re reading, share interesting facts, or read a short passage aloud. When your child sees you choosing to read, they’ll be more inclined to follow your lead.
Did your child finish their first book? Recognise the achievement! You don’t need to throw a party (unless you want to!), but a simple “Wow, I’m proud of you!” goes a long way. You could also create a sticker chart, reading log, or mini-reward system to make reading progress more visible and rewarding.
Every child learns at their own pace. The goal isn’t to raise a perfect reader — it’s to nurture curiosity, imagination, and confidence. Some days, your child might not be in the mood to read, and that’s okay. Keep the experience positive, low-pressure, and full of encouragement.
And remember: Little Zak’s is always here to support you. If you’d like book recommendations, help building a reading routine, or ideas for at-home activities, don’t hesitate to reach out — parent-educator collaboration is so important!
Together, we can plant the seeds for a lifelong love of reading — one story at a time. Contact us today to enrol at Little Zak’s Academy.
