How to build a reading habit in kids who "don't like to read"

How can I get my child to enjoy reading? In most cases, the problem isn't that the child "doesn't like reading" — it's that they haven't yet found the right story, at the right moment, presented the right way.

Why "mandatory" reading tends to fail

When reading is framed as a task ("you have to read for 20 minutes before bed"), the brain treats it like work. When it's framed as discovery or reward, the brain treats it like pleasure. The difference almost always comes down to how the moment is introduced, not the content of the book.

6 techniques to make reading something kids want to do

1. 1Let the child choose — even if the choice seems "too simple" to you, autonomy boosts interest.
2. 2Read aloud with voices and pauses — the rhythm of the reading matters as much as the story itself.
3. 3Create a fixed "ritual" (the same couch, the same light, the same time) — the brain links the environment to the enjoyment, not just the book.
4. 4Start with short stories — the success of finishing a book builds the desire to start the next one.
5. 5Talk about the story afterward — simple questions ("what would you have done?") extend the interest.
6. 6Make the child part of the story — literally. This is where personalization comes in.

The role personalization plays here

When the child is the protagonist, the motivation to reach the last page stops being "finish the book" and becomes "find out how my adventure ends." It's one of the most direct ways to turn reading from an obligation into excitement — without having to force anything.

"A 30-second preview being real is wild. We were completely won over."

— João C.