Why Is Reading for Pleasure Important?

Reading for pleasure plays a vital role in your child’s development, both academically and emotionally.

• Builds empathy Reading helps children understand different perspectives, thoughts, and feelings, allowing them to “step into someone else’s shoes.”

• Supports wellbeing Regular readers often experience lower stress levels, better sleep, and higher self-esteem.

• Improves relationships Stories help children navigate complex social situations, building understanding and confidence in friendships.

• Develops vocabulary and learning A rich vocabulary supports access to the curriculum and helps children achieve better in school.

• Expands life experiences Through books, children can explore new places, cultures, and ideas—almost as if they are living them themselves.

• Boosts happiness Research shows that children (and adults) who read regularly tend to feel happier overall.

Why Reading at Home Makes a Difference

Your involvement in your child’s reading is incredibly important.

• Parental support in literacy has a greater impact on a child’s progress than factors such as social background or family circumstances.
• Talking to your child about what they are reading strengthens understanding and enjoyment.
• Having books, magazines, or stories at home supports learning—even if you feel less confident with reading yourself.
• Studies show that children who read to their parents make significant progress, even if the parent does not read in English (or at all).

Every Time You Read Together, You’re Helping Your Child Succeed

Before Reading – Activate Prior Knowledge

Before your child begins reading, help them think about what they already know. You could ask:

• What happened last time we were reading this?
• What do you know about this topic?
• What happened in the last chapter?
• What have you learned about this at school?
• Do you remember when we watched or learned about something similar?

These questions help children make connections and prepare them for understanding the text.

During Reading – Build Fluency and Understanding

While your child is reading, encourage them to read with confidence and expression:

• Read with expression
  Encourage your child to “say it like they mean it.” For example, try reading the sentence “I never said she walked home” with emphasis on different words to change the meaning.
• Use punctuation
  Help your child notice punctuation. Pauses at commas and full stops make reading clearer and more meaningful.
  For example: “I looked, I turned, and I ran.”
• Re-read when needed
  If your child struggles or stumbles, encourage them to go back and read the sentence again to improve accuracy and understanding.
• Work out unfamiliar words
  Teach your child to use clues from the rest of the sentence to figure out the meaning of new words.

After Reading – Summarise and Predict

After reading, help your child reflect on and understand what they have read by asking questions such as:

• What is the main thing that happened or changed?
• What do you want or expect to happen next?
• Is there anything we are still waiting to find out?
• Was there anything that surprised or interested you?

These questions support comprehension, encourage deeper thinking, and help children engage more fully with the text.