Reading With Your Child: Building Confidence Through Stories

The evidence is clear: children who read regularly at home perform better academically and develop stronger emotional resilience.

What the data says/Key facts about children's reading in the UK:

• Children who read daily are three times more likely to have high wellbeing than children who rarely read, according to the National Literacy Trust's 2024 research

• Only 34% of children aged 8-18 read daily in their free time, the lowest level since 2005

• The average child who reads for pleasure performs better in reading tests by the equivalent of 8 months of schooling, according to the Education Endowment Foundation

• 82% of disadvantaged children don't own a book of their own

Reading together helps children develop vocabulary, concentration, empathy, and imagination. It also creates a safe space for conversations about feelings, experiences, and the world around them.

Why Reading Together Transforms Lives

Reading with your child goes far beyond recognizing words on a page. It builds vocabulary, concentration, empathy, and imagination. It creates a safe space for conversations about feelings, experiences, and making sense of the world.

Children who read regularly develop stronger communication skills, helping them form friendships and express their needs clearly. They perform better across all school subjects—not just English—because reading comprehension underpins learning in mathematics, science, and everything else. They develop critical thinking, questioning what they read and forming their own opinions.

Perhaps most importantly, reading together strengthens your relationship with your child. Those cozy moments with a picture book or the shared excitement of discovering what happens next create memories and connections that last far beyond childhood.

The Early Years Foundation Stage framework, which guides early education in England, emphasizes that developing a love of books before formal schooling predicts later reading success more reliably than almost any other factor. According to research compiled by the Education Endowment Foundation, language-rich environments in early years have lasting impacts throughout a child's education.

While there's no single "right" amount, research suggests consistency matters more than duration.

The Department for Education found that children who engage with reading activities at home several times per week show significantly better outcomes than those who don't.

You don't need expensive books or perfect conditions. What matters is consistency, enthusiasm, and following your child's interests. Here's how to make reading part of everyday life at different ages and stages.

Babies and Toddlers (0-3 years): Building Foundations

From birth to around three years old, reading is about building familiarity with books, sounds, and rhythms. Your baby doesn't understand the story yet, but they're absorbing the patterns of language and learning that books bring comfort and connection.

Try these activities:

• Board book exploration: Let them touch, hold, and even chew books—it's all part of learning

• Rhyme and repetition: Choose books with predictable phrases they can anticipate and join in with

• Point and name: Talk about pictures, naming objects and colors to build vocabulary

• Follow their lead: If they want the same book repeatedly, that's excellent for learning

Research from the Education Endowment Foundation shows that language-rich environments in early years have lasting impacts on literacy development.

Preschool Children (3-5 years): Developing Understanding

Between three and five years old, children start really understanding stories and developing awareness of sounds and letters. This is when reading together gets especially interactive and fun.

Try these activities:

• Talk about the story: Ask "What do you think will happen next?" or "How do you think they're feeling?"

• Sound games: Play with rhyming words, initial sounds, and syllables in everyday moments

• Act it out: Use toys or dress-up to retell favorite stories

• Visit the library: Make choosing books an exciting regular outing

• Let them "read" to you: Encourage them to tell the story from the pictures

The key is your enthusiasm. Your excitement about books is contagious. Even if you're tired and reading the same story for the hundredth time, your engagement teaches them that reading matters and brings joy.

The Early Years Foundation Stage framework emphasizes that developing a love of books before formal schooling predicts later reading success.

Early Readers (5-7 years): Building Confidence

Between five and seven years old, children are learning to decode words and building reading stamina. This stage can feel frustrating for them as they realize reading takes effort, so your support and encouragement matter enormously.

Try these activities:

• Take turns reading: Share pages or sentences, reducing pressure while keeping engagement high

• Don't correct every mistake: Focus on meaning first—if it doesn't change the story, let minor errors go

• Re-read favorites: Fluency comes from practice with familiar texts

• Talk about phonics naturally: "Oh, that's a tricky word—shall we sound it out together?"

• Celebrate progress: Notice when they read something independently they couldn't before

The Department for Education's guidance on systematic synthetic phonics shows that consistent support at this age, both at school and home, helps most children become confident readers by age seven.

Confident Readers (7-11 years): Nurturing Independence

From around seven to 11 years old, children develop clear preferences, tackle longer books, and increasingly read to learn rather than just for enjoyment. Your role shifts from teaching decoding to fostering their love of reading and helping them think critically about what they read.

Try these activities:

• Discuss themes and characters: Move beyond "did you like it?" to deeper conversations

• Connect books to their interests: Sports fan? Find biographies of athletes. Loves animals? Try animal adventure stories

• Mix formats: Graphic novels, non-fiction, poetry, and magazines all count as reading

• Model reading: Let them see you reading for pleasure

• Book swaps: Arrange exchanges with friends or through school

Accept that reading takes many forms. Graphic novels, non-fiction, poetry, magazines, and even high-quality websites all count as reading. The National Literacy Trust's research demonstrates that children who have choice over what they read are significantly more likely to read regularly and develop into lifelong readers.

Teenagers (11+): Maintaining Momentum

From 11 onwards, maintaining reading habits becomes harder as homework, social lives, and screens compete for attention. But reading still offers enormous benefits for emotional development, exam success, and future opportunities.

Try these activities:

• Stay curious about their reading: Ask open questions without interrogating

• Recommend age-appropriate books: Share books you loved or new releases that match their interests

• Accept diverse formats: Audiobooks, fanfiction, and online articles all develop literacy

• Discuss books, films, or TV adaptations: Connect reading to other media they enjoy

• Respect their independence: They might not want to read with you anymore, but your encouragement still matters

If your child resists reading, you're not alone. Here's how to rebuild their confidence and interest:

Find the right material: Sometimes children resist because books are too hard, too easy, or don't match their interests. Try different genres, formats, and difficulty levels.

Remove pressure: Make reading time cozy and enjoyable, not a test. No quizzing after every page.

Try audiobooks while following along: This reduces decoding pressure while building comprehension skills.

Read aloud to them, whatever their age: Research shows that hearing sophisticated texts read aloud supports reading development even for older children.

You don't need a perfect reading nook or expensive books. Here's what actually helps:

Make books visible and accessible: Keep books where children can reach them, not just on high shelves.

Reduce distractions during reading time: Turn off screens (including yours) to signal this is special time together.

Build routines: Bedtime stories, weekend library visits, or reading while you cook dinner—whatever works for your family.

Talk about books casually: "That reminds me of what happened in your book" or "shall we find a book about that?"

Show your own reading: Children copy what they see. Let them catch you reading for pleasure.

Whether you're focusing on your own child or want to help all children access quality literacy support, there are meaningful actions you can take today.

• For your own children, make reading part of your daily routine, even if it's just 10 minutes before bed. Visit the library regularly and let your child choose their own books—ownership of the choice matters. Talk about stories throughout the day, asking questions that encourage thinking and imagination. Model reading yourself so your child sees it as valuable. Celebrate effort and progress, not perfection.

• Be patient with reluctant readers or those who struggle. Every child develops at their own pace, and pressure often backfires. Connect with their teacher if you have concerns, and access the free resources available through libraries and literacy organizations like BookTrust.

Reading with your child isn't ultimately about literacy scores, though those benefits are real and significant. It's about opening worlds, sparking imagination, strengthening your bond, and giving them tools for understanding themselves and others.

In challenging times—whether navigating pandemic recovery, economic pressures, or other difficulties—reading together offers stability, comfort, and hope. The conversations that happen around books, the quiet closeness of story time, and the confidence that comes from mastering new skills all contribute to your child's resilience and wellbeing in ways that extend far beyond reading itself.

At Save the Children, we've seen firsthand how literacy support transforms lives. A child who struggles with reading in Year 2 but receives consistent support often catches up completely and thrives. A teenager who rediscovers reading through the right book recommendation develops confidence that extends far beyond English lessons. A family that accesses library resources and community support finds connection and opportunity they might otherwise have missed.

This is achievable for every child—not because it's easy or happens automatically, but because when families, communities, and organizations like Save the Children work together, we create the conditions for children to flourish.

Want to help more children access literacy support? Support Save the Children in giving every child the chance to learn or explore our other resources for families.