Books build brains, spark giggles, and turn everyday kids into dinosaur experts, space explorers, and snack-sized detectives. You don't need complicated rules or tricky tests to build awesome reading habits, just a little time, a comfy spot, and a few strategies that turn learning into fun.
Kids grow reading muscles like they learn to ride a bike or tie their shoes—through practice, patience, and peer encouragement. Whether your reader loves animal facts, silly rhymes, spooky mysteries, or graphic novels, building strong habits will help their reading skills grow.
Ready to turn your reader’s daily routine into a launchpad for learning? Let’s explore six easy, feel-good habits that help kids fall in love with reading—and keep turning those pages with pride.
1. Read Daily—Even in Small Doses
A great way to supercharge summer reading is to make it a routine. Building regular reading habits helps create a lifelong love of books.
Is your reader struggling or reluctant to pick up a book for a long reading session? Don’t worry! Consistent reading matters more than long reading sessions, making this a great strategy for kids who may not love reading just yet. Start by encouraging just 10-15 minutes of reading a day. Consistency adds up fast, and it won’t be long before they follow their reading routine independently.
Getting kids used to a routine helps establish structure and independence. Fit reading in whenever it works for them—after lunch, before bed, during quiet time, etc. Beanstack makes it fun to track reading streaks and celebrate progress together. Encourage other parents and caregivers to join you in using Beanstack and build community support in your efforts to build strong reading habits. Staying connected and having each other to lean on is key, especially during summer!
Pro tip: Model daily reading at home. Reading routines are valuable at any age, and kids notice when adults make time for books!
2. Let Kids Choose Their Books
Self-selection is a powerful tool in building kid-friendly habits and reading skills. Kids are constantly told what to do, where they're going, what to eat, how to spend their time, etc. Allowing them to pick what they want to read is a little victory for them. Children who read what they love are more likely to keep reading.
Beanstack reinforces the idea that reading counts in all forms. Pressuring kids to read books outside their interests or reading level will have the opposite effect, so encourage them to read what they like. It all counts for graphic novels, comic books, nonfiction, picture books, and audiobooks!
Support children in choosing reading materials that reflect who they are and what they care about. Expose them to new worlds and stories by expanding your collection with inclusive stories and authors. Browse your local school or public library's book lists curated by educators and librarians for all ages and reading levels.
Reminder: Choice builds confidence and ownership—two key ingredients for strong readers.
3. Make Reading Social
You can take your summer reading efforts further by turning them into social occasions. Talking about books helps build comprehension and connection. Kids will look forward to getting together with their friends outside of school, and you’ll foster a reading community.
Lead group discussion with open-ended questions like “What surprised you?” or “Would you want to visit this place?” Allow kids to let their imaginations run wild and imagine alternative endings or create their versions of stories. Model reading as a social activity and encourage book chats between peers, siblings, or caregivers.
Using Beanstack to build a strong reading culture has been shown to boost engagement and encourage participation. Participate in Beanstack’s reading challenges and let the social features spark conversation around shared books, making reading a community experience.
At school or home: Create a “Reading Spotlight” to highlight student favorites and staff picks.
4. Celebrate Progress Loudly and Proudly
Setting unrealistic goals or stressing about reading levels can quickly burn kids out. Keep focusing on time spent reading rather than levels or quizzes, and remember to celebrate progress. Small wins fuel big motivation!
Make reading fun for kids of all ages and abilities. Praise effort, not just outcomes—like finishing a tough book or trying a new genre. Create an inclusive reading culture in your community where readers of all levels can participate and work together.
Track milestones in Beanstack, where kids can earn digital badges for their reading. Encourage kids to set goals and even pick out prizes to work towards. Display student or family reading streaks with charts, shoutouts, or classroom celebrations.
Reframe success: Every page read is a step forward, and every reader deserves to feel proud.
5. Embrace All Kinds of Reading
Reading comes in many forms—and all of them matter. Just as it’s important to let kids self-select their books, encourage them to pick the form of reading that works for them.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to comprehension strategies. Readers come in all levels and abilities, so it’s key that their specific needs are met. This might look like a classroom of kids of varying levels, each with a reading format that helps them learn most effectively. Blended learning incorporates different instructional strategies for effective learning.
Explore all the different reading formats that work best for readers. Listen to audiobooks during commutes, screen-free time, or rest periods. Use digital and print formats side-by-side for bilingual readers or those with learning differences. Read aloud together—yes, even with older kids!
Use Beanstack to track reading in any format, ensuring every effort counts toward a goal.
6. Join or Create Reading Challenges
Kids look forward to having fun in the summer, so turn reading into an exciting activity with a little friendly competition! Summer reading challenges add excitement, structure, and a sense of community. Kids will help keep each other accountable as they work towards a common goal and enhance literacy skills.
Kickstart summer reading initiatives in your community by starting a reading challenge. Reach out to the local school district, libraries, and parents to boost engagement and generate excitement. Collaborate with school or library reading programs using Beanstack to organize and run a summer reading challenge.
Build family reading goals or classroom reading quests with friendly competition. Recognize participation and engagement, not just total pages or minutes. Bridge creativity and motivation by incorporating student-led initiatives like a student-design challenge to let kids take ownership of their reading journey.
Bonus: Beanstack challenges often come with real prizes—and always with a big sense of accomplishment.
Let Beanstack Kickstart a Love of Reading
With just a few small habits and the support of caring adults, kids can grow into readers who feel confident, capable, and joyful when they open a book. Tools like Beanstack make tracking progress, celebrating wins, and connecting with a larger community of readers easier.
Reach out and request a quote or schedule a demo to see Beanstack in action and kickstart summer reading initiatives in your community. Whether you’re a teacher reading with your class or a parent cheering from the couch, you’re helping shape a lifelong reader, one story at a time.