How to Make Reading with Your Child Fun (Again)

We probably don’t need another reminder that reading to our kids is important. Teachers say it. Pediatricians say it. And at Ranger Rick, we’ve seen it firsthand.

Here’s the part that’s hard to admit (even for us): Sometimes, reading with kids just isn’t fun.

From the wiggles and distractions to the sheer exhaustion of busy life, carving out time for reading together can occasionally feel more like a duty than a delight.

If you’re feeling this way, you are definitely not alone!

A recent study showed that parents are losing their love of reading aloud to kids as compared to a decade ago.

That’s where we come in. At Ranger Rick, we’ve spent over 50 years figuring out what keeps children (and grownups!) turning the page.

So how can you bring more joy into reading together? Here are five tried-and-true approaches that can help.

Lower the Bar (On Purpose)

Forget the picture-perfect image of 20 serene minutes in a rocking chair. Reading doesn’t have to be long, quiet, or flawless. A silly poem at breakfast, a comic strip in the car, or a few pages before lights-out all count.

Think of it like exercise: Small bursts matter. Consistency, not perfection, is what sticks. Over time, your endurance helps make it easier.

📚 💡 Bonus Tip: Keep a kids’ magazine handy, on the nightstand, in the car, or anywhere you might need a quick, fun reading moment.

Ranger Rick, for example, includes short animal facts and wildlife adventure comics that are perfect for those two-minute reading breaks when there’s no time (or energy) for a full book. Our magazine editors have actually found that reading about animals is a terrific way to ease kids into learning mode without the fuss and frustration.

Follow Their Lead

You don’t have to be the curator of every book choice. Let your child pick, even if it means dinosaurs for the 12th day in a row or a story you think is too goofy.

When kids feel ownership, and can dive deeper into an area of interest, they are more likely to stay engaged.

And when they “read” back to you by retelling the story in their own words or making up new ones, celebrate it. That’s literacy in action.

📚 💡 Bonus Tip: Keep a rotating mix of reading materials your child can explore – picture books, graphic novels, kid-friendly magazines, even field guides.

Thrift stores, yard sales, and library swaps are goldmines for affordable finds. Little libraries are a good place to return outgrown books. When their options feel fresh and surprising, they’re more likely to reach for something on their own.

Also, try to make it a habit to discuss what they are reading at school or what they would like to read more of. It’s a wonderful way to get ideas of what they might naturally gravitate toward.

Make It a Whole-Body Experience

Reading doesn’t have to mean sitting still. Invite your child to act out the story with stuffed animals, stomp like the characters, or shout the sound effects while you narrate. At Ranger Rick, we know kids learn through play, and story time can be playtime too.

📚 💡 Bonus Tip: If you’re flipping through a wildlife magazine like Ranger Rick and land on a striking animal photo, don’t just read… play!

Pause and invite your child to copy the creature’s movement or sound. Waddle like the penguin, hoot like the owl, or stretch tall like the giraffe. Those playful detours turn reading into an experience and help the story stick long after you’ve closed the page.

Cozy Up Reading Time

Sometimes the fun isn’t in the words at all – it’s in the setting. A blanket fort, a flashlight, a mug of cocoa, or even reading outside under a tree can turn an ordinary book into an adventure.

The “specialness” of the ritual is what kids remember, not whether you nailed the wolf voice on page six (but please don’t stop trying!).

Remember What It’s Really About

Here’s the secret: Reading aloud isn’t primarily about finishing a chapter. It’s about connection.

Shared giggles over a silly rhyme at breakfast. A knowing look exchanged during story time at the library. Quiet comfort before sleep. A chance to slow down in a day that’s otherwise all go-go-go.

The research backs this up. Kids who are read to regularly show stronger language skills and improved mental health outcomes.

But long after those benefits are measured in studies, what sticks is the memory of feeling safe and close, with a grownup who made time just for them.

If reading feels like a chore right now, you don’t need a new curriculum or expensive books. You just need permission to loosen up. Keep it short. Let your kid pick. Skip a night if you’re too tired. Laugh when the characters sound ridiculous.

In other words: don’t aim for storybook perfection. When you are enjoying it, your kids will too.

👉 Want simple, joyful activities you can pair with reading time? Check out Ranger Rick’s printable crafts and kid-friendly magazines, perfect for building curiosity without the pressure.