How can I get my child reading instead of always on a screen?

The most reliable way to get a child reading more is to make it easy, short and their choice: a few minutes a day, books (or comics, or audiobooks) about things they already love, and a few screen-free times in the day when a book is the obvious thing to reach for. Great Ormond Street Hospital’s guide says even 10 to 15 minutes a day is enough to spark a child’s enjoyment of stories (GOSH).

If your child currently prefers a tablet to a book, that’s very normal, and it doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. Screens are designed to be easy to pick up. The aim isn’t to win a battle against them, just to make reading feel like a treat rather than a chore.

Why it can feel like an uphill climb

You’re not imagining it. A Children’s Books Ireland survey found that 24% of teenagers aged 13 to 18, and 19% of boys across all ages, weren’t reading for pleasure, and that the average child owned 20 books, down from 30 in 2023 (Arts in Education, on the Children’s Books Ireland report).

The same survey found that 21% of parents said the most important thing when choosing a book was that “it will teach them something” (Arts in Education). That’s a lovely instinct, but for reading for fun, the experts below all point the other way: let them pick what excites them.

Let them choose (yes, comics count)

Every source we checked agrees that what a child reads matters far less than whether they enjoy it.

• Comics and magazines are real reading. GOSH says that if your child only reads comics or magazines, that’s fine for now, and you can gently widen their range later without pushing (GOSH). nidirect’s tips include fiction, non-fiction, comics, magazines, poetry and even recipes (nidirect).
• Graphic novels and manga are popular and, as Common Sense Media puts it, “they’re not baby stuff!” They can win over reluctant readers (Common Sense Media).
• Follow what they already love. A TV show with a book spin-off, a game they’re obsessed with, a hobby like football or rock collecting. Common Sense Media also suggests not judging their picks (unless they’re truly inappropriate) and letting them stick with one topic or series for a while (Common Sense Media).

This is where screen-loving kids can have an advantage. If your child loves Minecraft, Pokémon or a particular YouTuber, there’s very likely a book, annual or guide about it, and that’s a perfectly good place to start.

Make it short, cosy and regular

Little and often beats long and dutiful.

1. Pick a regular time. Bedtime is a popular one for quiet shared reading (GOSH). nidirect also suggests a family reading time when everyone reads, either the same book or their own (nidirect).
2. Read aloud, even to older children. nidirect suggests reading to your child every day and using different voices for the characters (nidirect). Common Sense Media says reading aloud still helps after children can read on their own (Common Sense Media).
3. Make a cosy spot. Sit close, put your own phone away, and let younger children hold the book and turn the pages (nidirect).
4. Talk about it, don’t test them. Chat about the cover, what surprised you, or how a story made you feel (nidirect).
5. Keep it fun. nidirect’s last tip is the most important: how you read matters less than both of you enjoying it (nidirect).

Give books a fair chance against the screen

You don’t need to ban screens to make room for reading. A few small changes to the house help:

• Create screen-free times and places where devices aren’t welcome but books are (Common Sense Media). The car, the kitchen table or the last half hour before bed all work well.
• Leave books lying around in several rooms (GOSH). Common Sense Media notes that children who grow up with lots of books around tend to read more (Common Sense Media).
• Let them see you read. Children are more likely to read if they see you doing it, for fun rather than as a chore (GOSH). A paperback on the sofa counts for more than reading the news on your phone, because they can’t tell what you’re doing on a screen.

If ending screen time itself is the sticking point, our guide on getting your child off a screen without a meltdown can help.

Ideas for tweens and teens

Older children often need a different hook. Common Sense Media suggests (Common Sense Media):

• Books with films or series coming out: read it before or after, then compare.
• Non-fiction on something they care about, such as climate change or true crime, including adult books.
• Novels in verse and poetry, which are quicker to read thanks to all the white space.
• Audiobooks on the way to school or on long drives.
• Letting them choose in a bookshop, for example with a gift card, so browsing is part of the fun.

The free option most families can use: the library

In Ireland, joining the library is free for everyone, and there are no fines for returning things late. Members can borrow books, magazines and more, plus eBooks and audiobooks through the BorrowBox app, at no cost (LocalGov.ie). That makes it easy to let a child try lots of books without worrying about wasted money, and the children’s librarian is a great person to ask for suggestions (GOSH).

October is also the month of the Children’s Book Festival, when libraries such as dlr Libraries put on family events to celebrate books and reading (dlr), so it’s a good time to check what’s on at your local branch.

What to do next

1. Join the library together this week if you haven’t already, and let your child choose three things to borrow, with no rules on what they are. Download BorrowBox on a family device for audiobooks in the car.
2. Pick one 10 to 15 minute reading slot a day, such as bedtime, and protect it. Read aloud to them, or sit and read your own book beside them.
3. Find one book linked to a screen favourite, whether that’s a game, a show or a YouTuber they love.
4. Leave a small basket of books or comics where screens usually live, like beside the sofa or in the car.
5. Ask your local library what’s on for families this month and next.