One of the most powerful ways to encourage children to become readers is by showing them what a reading life looks like. While reading aloud to children, setting aside time for independent reading, and filling your home with books are all wonderful steps, there’s one simple (and often overlooked) practice that can have a lasting impact—letting your children see you read.

Children notice what their parents value and how they spend their time. If they see you doomscrolling more often than flipping through the pages of a book, they associate screens entertainment. But if they regularly see you curled up with a novel, reading the newspaper over coffee, or tucking a magazine into your bag for a trip to the park, they’ll understand that reading is a natural, rewarding part of everyday life.

Make Reading Part of Your Routine

The key is not just to read in front of your children, but to integrate books into your family’s everyday routines. Keep a book on the kitchen counter, on the coffee table, or by your favorite chair. Make reading time a visible ritual—something that is as much a part of the day as meals or brushing teeth. When you read in a room where your children are playing or relaxing, you normalize the act of reading as something enjoyable and accessible, not a chore to check off a list.

Share Favorite Books, Authors, and Genres

Another way to make reading visible is to talk about it openly and with enthusiasm about books you enjoy. Share a funny passage from your book at the dinner table, or tell your child about a character you love. Explain what draws you to certain stories, authors, or genres. This kind of casual conversation helps children understand that reading is more than just an academic skill—it’s a source of enjoyment. Your child doesn’t have to read the same books you do to be impacted by your enthusiasm; the fact that you’re reading, and that it brings you joy, is what really matters.

The Family that Reads Together…

Reading as a family doesn’t always have to mean reading the same book together. You can each read your own books side by side—on the couch, under a tree, or on a beach towel at the pool. These shared quiet moments are so special! Even the youngest children will absorb the message: books are a part of life, and reading is something to be enjoyed for its own sake.

Searching for the Perfect Books

Your local library can also be part of the visible “reading experience.” Let your children see you browsing the shelves, asking the librarian for recommendations, or finally picking up a book from on hold that you’ve been wanting to read. Check out your own books along with theirs. If you read ebooks, make sure your younger children know the difference between a Kindle and a iPhone. Clarity is important in a world where screens often mean passive consumption rather than actual engagement.

Ready to get started? With the hustle and bustle of the school year over, summer is a great time to start a “reading hour” during the heat of the day. Or bring books along on vacation. These simple traditions create memories and reinforce the idea that reading is something to be savored.

The love of reading isn’t just something we teach; it’s something we live.  

About Success Won’t Wait

Founded in 2002, Success Won’t Wait is a not-for-profit literacy organization based in Wilmington, Delaware. Want to learn more about Success Won’t Wait’s literacy projects, how to donate used children’s books in Delaware, or volunteer your time? Click on the About Us tab above.

Read now, because success won’t wait!