So your kid doesn’t do their independent reading, and you want that to change. When it comes to motivation for change, kids are no different than adults. People change naturally—on their own—when they see a better opportunity. So what you can to do is this: frame the task of reading as a way to help them get better at something they love. 

Your kids may resist the activity of reading, and they probably balk at the idea of spending their time sitting down with a book. But what if you don’t call it reading, and instead call it something they like to do… such as:

Photo by USAG-Humphreys

• getting better at basketball or soccer

• exploring dinosaurs

• looking at princess gowns

• checking out sports cars

• comparing superheroes

• discovering dance moves

Simply put, don’t call it reading time! Call it whatever your kids loves doing. Of course, you have to prepare for this by going out and stocking your home with books on the subject your child loves. The libraries are all open and free: and there are a ton of wonderful easy-to-read books full of pictures about every hobby, from sports to arts to history to technology and gadgets. 

If you give your kids the opportunity to do something they like to do, and you happen to have a few books on that topic handy, then they may naturally take up reading. 

When your child sees reading as the opportunity to do more of what they love to do, then they’re more likely to read. Sure, reading is an activity unto itself when a child is actively learning the skills and techniques of reading. But reading is also, always a means to an end. When a child understand that, they will resist reading less, and use it more, to do what they already love to do.