Ways to Keep Read-Aloud Time for Your Little One Enjoyable

   

  "Being read to as a child is one of the great experiences in life." - American poet Billy Collins

     It is well known that there are a multitude of benefits gained when children hear stories that are read aloud to them. Reading aloud helps to not only grow your little one's vocabulary but assists them in the understanding of the world around them.  Research published in the Developmental Psychology and Child Development journal states that children who experience frequent read-alouds will enter school with a stronger vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic skills.  These skills will guide children to develop an eagerness to engage and learn. Additionally, a 2019 Ohio State University study found a 5-year-old child who is read to daily would be exposed to nearly 300,000 more words than one who isn’t read to regularly.

       However, there was a remarkably compelling study conducted by HarperCollins UK in April of 2025 with a goal to gain a further understanding of children's increasing disengagement with reading. The impact of this study has been eye-opening for both parents, caregivers and early childhood experts/educators. One of the most startling findings of this study that I discovered was that, despite reading aloud to be a proven way to boost enjoyment of reading, the number of parents/caregivers reading aloud to their little ones is at a significant decline. About half (41%) of children between the ages of 0 to 4 years-old are read aloud, a sharp downturn from 64% back in 2012.  Most telling for me as a boy mom is the differences in the ways boys are treated from girls.  Only 29% of 0–2-year-old boys were read to every day/nearly every day, compared to 44% of girls in the same age group.    

     This dislike of reading aloud can possibly be traced back to parents' experiences in their own childhood, where reading may have been emphasized more as a skill for testing rather than one for something done for enjoyment.  These low percentages can also stem also from a growing dependence on online programs that have very limited benefits for learning. A National Institutes of Health study conducted in 2019 that surveyed U.S. parents of nearly 4,000 children, found that 12-month-old children averaged 53 minutes of screen time daily; by the age of three, that daily amount jumped to a whopping 150 minutes per day.

     How can we, as parents, caregivers, educators and society as a whole, attempt to try to fix this before a generation of children lose out from these proven benefits?   I set out to gather some insightful tips from parents as well as from elementary educators that can help you to make read aloud time engaging and fun for your little ones and for you!

• Setting Aside Time in a Busy Schedule- Making the effort to set aside time, however small, in your daily routine will go a long way in building your little one's sense of confidence. Additionally, over the course of time, it will strengthen their reading stamina. Reading should never be considered as a chore, and it doesn't have to happen all at once.  A few pages here.  A short chapter there.  These early inroads that you are making together will help your children stay on the road of being a life-long reader.  "I read to all my kids every night.  They got to the point that they would beg for it," explains Michelle Visco, a mom of four. "If I was sick and wasn't in the mood, it still happened.  As they got older, it became finding a book on a topic that they had interest in.  I would read a chapter, and they would read a chapter.  They still, to this day, talk about our reading time together."   
• Building a Home and Mobile Library- When my son was little, we would always make it a habit to pick a few books from his bookcase to take along with him when we went out. And when he grew older, whether it was during a car ride to school or to soccer practice or any other trip, he always had a book with him. Making sure to keep a wide variety of books readily available whether you're on the go or relaxing at home isn't difficult to do. There are plenty of places and resources available in your community where you can find inexpensive books- garage sales, thrift shops and don't forget your local library (many of which often hold book sales) or your neighborhood Little Free Library.  Tina, a mother of two and a third-grade elementary school educator, makes sure that access is key for both her own children and her students.  "I have lots of books available for them.  When I purchase new books for my classroom library, I'll ask them for names of books that they like.  Seeing their excitement and enthusiasm when I bring in new books is worth every penny that I spend on the books."  When books are nearby and readily available in the home and classroom setting, reading becomes an easy choice.  

• Make Story-Time Fun & Interactive- Act out scenes while you're reading your tales aloud together, complete with facial expressions; using common household items as props, and funny voices for the characters can go a long way in making read aloud a shared time filled with imagination and laughs. "I used to read to my son with a British accent.  He loved it," says DonnaJoy Regolino, a mom of two and founder/creator of Holistic Prairie Mama.

• Strengthen The Family Bonds- Kimberly Dolan McCormick, a mom and elementary school educator, remembers that besides reading to her daughter until she turned 12, "she also saw me read every evening and weekends and attended book clubs.  I also talked to her about the novels they were reading at school, so I guess you could say conversations about books was always encouraged in our home."  This is a time when you can put aside the hecticness of the day, relax together and share in a tale.  Ask questions about the photos or illustrations in your tale, while at the same time, you can encourage your little one to describe their feelings about the characters and the storyline.