Practical Tips for Helping Resistant Readers Love Books Again
I still remember the frustration of trying to force reading as part of our homeschool routine. It felt like every suggestion I made whether it be, “Let’s read for 20 minutes,” “Pick a book,” “Just finish the chapter” was met with groans, eye rolls, or flat-out refusals.
I was stuck in the mindset that my kids needed to read more, and I had to have some sort of accountability to show that they were actually doing it. I would give them ways to write down the books they read, schedule time to read, and push them to meet a certain book goal.
Eventually, I realized something important, reading was starting to feel like a chore for all of us. And that’s not the kind of homeschool, or relationship with reading, that I wanted. Especially since I grew up loving books and wanted that for my kids.
So we made a big change. We let go of the pressure and dropped the checklists.
I started focusing on bringing joy to reading and modeling that joy.
In this post, I’m sharing what helped our family turn things around as well as some practical tips (and a free printable) to help you do the same.
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Understanding the Resistance
If your child resists reading, there’s still hope. Your kids aren’t lazy and they aren’t doomed to hate reading forever.
Kids might push back on reading for all kinds of reasons. Maybe they’re overwhelmed by decoding words, they haven’t connected with a story yet, or the sensory demands of sitting still and focusing are just too much for their body at that moment.
If you’re following a curriculum or assigning specific books for reading, that may be adding to the pressure. Some kids don’t like the books we try to choose for them. Others are simply not ready in the way we expect them to be.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
What I’ve learned through this process is that most kids don’t hate reading—they just haven’t found their way into it yet.
The goal isn’t to raise kids who can plow through a reading log. The goal is to raise kids who love stories and pick up books for the joy of picking up books. Kids who get excited to hear what happens next and feel curious, not pressured.
What Changed Everything for Us
Everything shifted the day I let go of the reading log and stopped telling my kids to read. Seriously.
We stopped measuring reading in minutes or pages. Instead, we started looking for moments where stories naturally fit into our day. Bedtime read-alouds. Audiobooks in the car. Lazy afternoons with graphic novels sprawled across the couch.
We opened up the definition of reading to include all kinds of formats: joke books, recipe books, comic books, and. If it held their attention and sparked joy, it counted.
Most importantly, we started following their interests instead of my agenda. Interest-led learning didn’t just work for science or history—it transformed our reading life, too.
I let go of Charlotte Mason’s definition of “twaddle,” and allowed my kids to find joy in reading without the pressure or control.
7 Practical Tips for Making Reading Enjoyable
Here are the simple, real-life strategies that helped us rediscover the joy of reading without having to force it:
1. Let Them Choose
Choice changes everything. Let your kids pick books they want to read—even if it’s a Minecraft guide or a comic about farting dogs. Libraries, used bookstores, and thrift stores are gold mines for discovering what your kids enjoy reading. Reading is reading, even if it isn’t what you would choose for them.
2. Create a Cozy Reading Atmosphere
Make reading feel like a treat, not a task. Build a pillow fort, light a candle, make some tea, or read under a blanket with a flashlight. A cozy thing we still do occasionally and at one point did weekly is poetry tea time. I thought my mainstream kids would find poetry tea time to be “lame,” but it was one of their favorite things to do!
3. Use Audiobooks and Podcasts
Audiobooks are magical. They remove the stress of decoding and let kids fall in love with stories. They also take the pressure off of you to read-aloud constantly. Our Yoto Player is one of our most beloved household items.
Podcasts can have the same effect. We don’t drive anywhere without a good podcast on. There are SO many options. Think science shows, history podcasts, fairy tales, or mysteries.
Here are some great podcast recommendations to get you started. Greeking Out and Who, When, Wow are two of our favorites!
4. Model Reading Joyfully
Let your kids see you reading. Even if you haven’t picked up a book in years, try to find a book (or anything) that sparks your interest. It could be a novel, magazine, or cookbook.
Read it aloud and share it with them. Model your enthusiasm. Simple comments like, “This book is SO good…” go a long way.
5. Ditch the Reading Logs (or Make Them Fun)
Reading logs can kill the vibe fast. My kids hated having to write down every book they read (and so did the students I taught.) Eventually they were reading so much that it seemed frivolous to make them stop and write them all down.
You could try using a visual tracker instead—like my free printable Reading Adventure Tracker you can find here in my store. This can add to the excitement without the added pressure of writing.
Use stickers, stamps, or colors to keep it light and low-pressure.
6. Connect Books to Interests
Got a kiddo obsessed with dinosaurs? One who can’t get enough animals? A budding inventor? Find books that match those passions. You’d be surprised what’s out there—from graphic novels about space to picture books on sea creatures.
I have one daughter who is obsessed with engineering and we have probably gone through every STEM-related book in the library.
Then there was the slime phase where both girls wanted to make slime constantly. Well, guess what? There are books for that, too!
7. Make Reading Social
Read aloud as a family. Have a book picnic. Let your child read to a pet or stuffed animal. Sometimes the act of reading together (not alone) makes all the difference.
A group of friends actually started a book club this year where they read the same book and meet monthly to talk about it. And if you’re struggling to find a group locally for this, there are tons of book club options on Outschool.
How to Keep It Relaxed and Sustainable
Here’s the truth: you don’t need to read a certain number of books per year to meet some invisible quota or try to keep up with the school system (remember, you’re not in that school system for a reason.)
Take the pressure off and remember those days when your child was a newborn. When those sleepless nights felt like they would never end.
Homeschooling is just like that. You put in the effort and know that if you’re patient, everything will turn out okay and the hard seasons won’t last forever.
Let the pace be slow if it needs to be. One book read with joy is more powerful than ten read with resistance.
Celebrate the small wins like finishing a chapter, discovering a new book that you all love, laughing at a silly story. A love for reading is a lifelong relationship.
The moment reading becomes part of your life, not just your lesson plan, is the moment you and children’s relationship with the power of stories completely shifts.
Final Thoughts
If reading has become a battle in your home, just know that it doesn’t have to be like this forever. You’re not failing. You’re just ready for a new approach.
Stop counting books, comparing to public school (a lot of them aren’t reading whole books anyway,) and let go of the pressure. Try following their interests and find joy in reading for all of you.
Because when reading feels relaxed, it becomes something your kids will return to again and again not because they have to, but because they want to.
If you’re looking for more ways to ease away from fighting with your kids to complete their bookwork and find more joy in your homeschool, check out this blog post all about interest-led learning or this e-book on interest-led learning for an even deeper dive.
Download the free Reading Adventure Tracker below, and if you’re ready for more support, keep an eye out for the Gentle Reading Toolkit.
BONUS:
Here are some of our favorite books that have inspired reading to grow in our house:
The Pet Rescue Adventures Books
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Freebie: “Reading Adventure Tracker” + Digital Toolkit Sneak Peek
To help you ditch the traditional reading log (without feeling like you’re “slacking”), I created a free printable Reading Adventure Tracker—a low-pressure, visually fun way to celebrate reading in all its forms.
And coming soon: The Gentle Reading Toolkit
A digital mini-bundle for relaxed homeschoolers, including:
- A 30-Day Lazy Reader Challenge
- Kid-friendly audiobook + podcast guide
- Cozy book nook setup ideas
- Themed booklists based on interests
- Printable “Book Passport” + reading coupons
It’s everything I wish I had when reading felt hard. Stay tuned!