How to Make Reading Fun for Kids (& Why It’s Good for Their Mental Health!)

When parents, caregivers, and educators celebrate the joy of reading together with kids, it’s rewarding to see how stories can bring people closer. However, for many kids, reading often feels more like a chore than a fun activity. 

Whether your child struggles to focus, gets frustrated easily, or just hasn’t found a special book yet, there are creative ways to enhance the fun of reading and turn it into something they look forward to and value. 

Making reading fun doesn’t just build better readers and lifelong learners among kids. It supports your child’s mental health, self-confidence, and emotional growth, too. 

Effects of Reading on Child Development 

Reading has a significant, positive effect on many aspects of child development. It builds focus, enhances imagination, and strengthens empathy. Reading helps kids understand the world around them and introduces new ideas to their minds. 

Comprehension and vocabulary skills that develop with reading allow children to better express their feelings as well as perform successfully in school. 

Yale School of Medicine in 2025 shows through research and review that childhood literacy and regular reading can:

• Strengthen cognitive skills and understanding of concepts
• Encourage emotional awareness and empathy
• Reduce stress and anxiety 
• Improve language development, communication, and social connection

For children who have experienced big life changes, like moving to a new home or school, reading can also be a source of comfort and stability. Sharing stories with family members and peers builds connection and trust, helping kids feel a sense of belonging and support. 

With the right approach by parents, educators, and communities, reading can become a source of inspiration and something that kids truly enjoy. 

7 Ways to Make Reading Fun for Kids

1. Let them lead the way.

Kids are more likely to love reading when they have a say in what they read. Make regular visits to your local library to find a variety of reading material and let them choose books about their favorite topics like animals, superheroes, or sports. Even comic books and graphic novels count! 

Encourage exploration of various books and ideas. The goal is to build and support your child’s habit of reading for pleasure, learning, and understanding. 

2. Make it interactive.

Parents have a unique opportunity to positively influence their child’s literacy and love of reading at any age. Interact with your child by reading together, asking questions, sharing ideas, and modeling interest in books and stories.

Regular sessions of reading aloud to young children bring stories to life. Use silly voices, sound effects, or simple props to make storytime feel like an adventure. 

Engage older kids by discussing the books they are reading and listening to their opinions. Share with them books that you remember loving at their age. You can even start a family book club to exchange ideas!

3. Pair reading with real-life fun.

Connecting stories to real experiences can help kids see reading as meaningful and exciting. It can also lead to making fun memories outside the book. 

For example, if your child enjoys reading about animals, consider a trip to the zoo. If they are interested in reading about art or history, a family visit to a museum is a great opportunity to learn more and build togetherness.

4. Compare books and movies.

So many books and stories are adapted into movies, from fairy tales to classic novels. Comparing the similarities and differences between the original text and the film version can be a fun and rewarding activity. It also allows kids of all ages to understand artistic choices and the many ways to interpret a narrative.

5. Celebrate storytelling in addition to reading.

Encourage kids to get creative in telling and understanding stories. They can build on tales they already know by making up their own endings, inventing new characters, or telling stories from memory to the family. They can also create pictures and illustrations of what they read to share.

Older kids may have an interest in writing different kinds of fiction or even trying their hand at blogging or reporting. Journaling is also an excellent addition to reading. 

Storytelling builds connection, vocabulary, and confidence. It shows that words and language help us share and express who we are. 

6. Read — and listen — together.

Audiobooks and read-aloud sessions are wonderful for kids who struggle to read independently. Listening together also creates shared moments of fun, especially during car rides or bedtime routines. 

7. Make it social.

Most people consider reading to be an individual activity, but it can be social as well. Libraries often have reading programs for older kids and storytime for younger children. Some schools or community centers may have book clubs to join.

You can host a family book night, where everyone reads their own book for 20 minutes or so, then shares a favorite part. Celebrate milestones, like finishing a chapter or a series, with praise or small rewards. 

Reducing Screen Time

In addition to creating ways to make reading fun, parents can also consider finding a balance when it comes to screen time.

Studies overwhelmingly show that a significant amount of screen time and early exposure to digital content have negative effects on language development in children. This impacts a child’s vocabulary, comprehension, and overall reading skills.

Here are some ideas to reduce your child’s screen time, enhance their language development, and encourage communication:

• Create screen-free time each day and focus on togetherness, such as during meals and before bed
• Prioritize regular screen-free family activities like games, puzzles, and outdoor walks
• Avoid using screen time as punishment or reward
• Limit your own device usage and participate in daily conversations with your child

How Reading Supports Kids’ Mental Health

In addition to enhancing learning, imagination, and self-awareness, reading also supports mental health in childhood, adolescence, and beyond. It’s a rewarding activity that can be done almost anywhere, at any time.

While building academic skills, reading nurtures emotional intelligence and resilience as well. Stories help kids recognize and name their feelings, understand other perspectives and cultures, and find comfort in knowing they’re not alone. 

Reading also promotes mindfulness and reduces stress through the focus it requires to follow a story. For children coping with anxiety, trauma, or behavioral changes, that sense of calm and control can be powerful in terms of mental health outcomes and overall well-being. 

Practice Patience Over Pressure

Some children are hesitant to read due to several factors, from potential attention issues to different learning styles. Though it may be worrisome for parents who feel their kid is not up to a prescribed reading level, it’s important to remember that each child is developmentally different — and reading is a lifelong pursuit.

Putting pressure on reluctant readers, therefore, is more likely to result in stress and negative associations with reading and learning in the long term. Instead, it’s helpful for parents to be patient and play an encouraging role in their child’s reading journey. 

Remember that you can find support in helping your child achieve positive reading outcomes by consulting with their teachers or other school professionals.

Giving your child time and access to a variety of books, as well as modeling a love of reading yourself, will help them grow in confidence, curiosity, and emotional strength.

How Pediatric Partners Can Support Families and Children

If you believe your child could benefit from additional help, connect with Pediatric Partners online or at a partner location. 

We believe in supporting every stage and part of a child’s growth, from learning and play to emotional and behavioral health.

Through the Pediatric Partners program, children receive personalized care that helps them thrive at home, at school, and in their communities. Behavioral health services provide compassionate support for kids and families who need help managing emotions, building confidence, or navigating big life changes.