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 child who doesn’t read freely and often will fall behind in more than school. Reading isn’t just another academic skill—it’s a fundamental habit that shapes how a person thinks, learns, and imagines. We treat physical nourishment as essential, yet when it comes to mental nourishment, we act as if reading is optional. It’s not. Without a steady habit of reading, the mind weakens: vocabulary shrinks, attention frays, ideas dull. If we want our children to grow into articulate, curious, thoughtful people, we must treat reading as a daily discipline—one as natural and necessary as brushing teeth or going outside to play.

This doesn’t mean forcing classics or assigning chapters like chores. It means helping children find books that actually interest them and giving them real time to explore. One parent I know noticed her son devouring mythology books but groaning at his school readers. So they struck a deal: fifteen minutes a night of anything he chose, no pressure. Within weeks, he was blowing through Norse epics and graphic novels. Reading took root because it became a source of pleasure, not pain. But that habit needs protection. If every free moment is filled by screens or noise, reading never gets the space it needs to become second nature.

Make time for reading every day. For younger kids, that might mean setting aside a quiet hour with picture books or chapter stories. For older ones, build routines where books feel like a part of life, not an afterthought. You can ask them what they’ve read that day, or keep a simple family reading log. Try “reading sprints”—ten silent minutes where everyone grabs a book. The key is consistency. Like exercise, reading becomes effortless only once it becomes habitual. Start now, and keep going, until the habit grows strong enough to feed their mind for life.

TIPS

• Treat reading like brushing teeth: daily, expected, and non-negotiable
• Don’t wait for school to assign books—follow your child’s interests
• Protect quiet time: make sure reading doesn’t compete with screens

ACTIVITIES

• Ten-Minute Sprint: Set a timer and have everyone in the family read silently together
• What Are You Reading?: Ask this daily—during dinner, in the car, before bed
• Track the Habit: Create a simple calendar or jar to mark daily reading moments