Top tips: Making Reading Fun at Home 

Reading with your child is one of the most valuable things you can do. It strengthens your bond, supports their learning and development, and most importantly - it’s fun! Whether you have five minutes at bedtime or a little longer on a quiet afternoon, those small moments together can make a big difference. 

The key is to keep reading relaxed, playful and pressure-free. Here are some tips to help make story time enjoyable and engaging for both you and your child. 

Top tips for encouraging reading at home

1. Keep it relaxed and pressure-free 
Reading aloud doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t need special skills or a ‘story voice’. Get comfortable, put your phone aside for a few minutes and treat it as calm, shared time together. Even just 5–15 minutes makes a big difference 

2. Match your child’s energy 
If your child is active or mischievous, let reading reflect that. Act out the story, hop like a character, do a silly roll or stomp like a dinosaur. Reading doesn’t have to mean sitting still — movement can actually help children engage more deeply 

3. Ask lots of questions 
You can start before you even begin reading. Ask about the title, the cover or what they think the story might be about. As you read, ask open questions like “Why do you think that happened?” or “How are they feeling now?” Questions spark curiosity and keep children involved 

4. Build anticipation 
Pause before turning the page and ask, “What do you think happens next?” Let them guess and imagine. That sense of suspense makes stories more exciting and encourages prediction skills — an important part of learning to read 

5. Get it wrong on purpose 
Children love spotting mistakes! Call a dog a cat, or say snow is sand and let them correct you. It’s playful, boosts their confidence and quickly brings wandering attention back to the story 

6. Talk about feelings 

Look closely at characters’ faces and body language. Ask how they might be feeling and why. You can even copy the expressions together. This builds empathy and helps children learn to ‘read’ emotions as well as words 

7. Count, spot and notice 
Count objects on the page, look for colours, find repeated words or spot small details in the pictures. These simple activities build early literacy and maths skills while keeping reading interactive 

8. Use voices and sound effects 
Try different character voices, silly noises or dramatic sound effects. If you’re not comfortable doing voices, ask your child what they think the character sounds like. Sound play strengthens language skills and makes stories memorable 

9. Extend the story beyond the book. 
After reading, draw a character, act out the story, make up a new ending or connect it to real life (like pretending to mix a magic potion while cooking). Simple follow-up activities deepen understanding and keep the fun going 

10. Most importantly, make it joyful 
When children associate reading with warmth, laughter and connection, they’re far more likely to develop a lifelong love of books. 

NDNA products to support you with this tip

Early years resources for parents and carers - Online Parents Resources