Creating a strong reading habit doesn’t need to be overwhelming, in fact, with the right structure, children can make a noticeable shift in just two weeks. Whether your child is preparing for entrance exams, building vocabulary, or simply learning to enjoy books, a consistent reading routine is one of the most powerful academic habits they can develop.
Here’s a simple, motivating 14-day plan designed to ease children into daily reading, help reluctant readers engage, and grow vocabulary in a natural, lasting way.
14-Day Reading Bingo: A Fun, Low-Pressure Challenge
Gamifying reading instantly boosts motivation, especially for children who find reading a chore. A 14-day reading bingo encourages small, achievable wins every day.
Ideas for the bingo squares:
- Read for 10 minutes snuggled under a blanket
- Read a page out loud to a grown-up
- Find five new words and use them in sentences
- Read something that isn’t a book (recipe, menu, sign, cereal box)
- Read in a funny voice
- Read a chapter from a familiar author
- Choose a book from the school library
- Read outside or in a new cosy spot
- Finish a poem
- Swap books with a sibling or friend
A full line equals a small reward. Think choosing a dessert, staying up 10 minutes later, or getting to pick the next family film.
Tips for Reluctant Readers
Some children warm up to reading instantly. Others need a bit more persuasion. Here are strategies Hyde tutors use to support hesitant readers:
1. Keep the sessions short
Start with 8–10 minutes. Success in small bursts builds confidence.
2. Let them choose
Graphic novels, magazines, joke books – it all counts. The goal is momentum, not perfection.
3. Pair reading with routine
Link reading to something that already happens every day, such as after breakfast or before bed.
4. Audiobooks are your ally
Listening while reading along helps with comprehension, fluency and vocabulary.
5. Celebrate curiosity
If they ask questions, pause discussions or want to talk about the pictures – that’s reading engagement.
Age-Group Book Recommendations from Hyde Tutors
Our tutors have curated go-to favourites that consistently inspire and stretch young readers.
Ages 5–7
- Rabbit & Bear (Gough & Field)
- Claude series (Alex T. Smith)
- The Magic Faraway Tree (Enid Blyton)
- Isadora Moon series (Harriet Muncaster)
Ages 7–9
- The Boy Who Grew Dragons (Andy Shepherd)
- Planet Omar (Zanib Mian)
- The Worst Witch (Jill Murphy)
- The Nothing to See Here Hotel (Steven Butler)
Ages 9–11
- Wolf Brother (Michelle Paver)
- A Kind of Spark (Elle McNicoll)
- The Girl Who Stole an Elephant (Nizrana Farook)
- The Explorer (Katherine Rundell)
Ages 11–13
- Wonder (R. J. Palacio)
- When Life Gives You Mangoes (Kereen Getten)
- The Lie Tree (Frances Hardinge)
- The Graveyard Book (Neil Gaiman)
Ages 13–16
- The Outsiders (S. E. Hinton)
- Noughts & Crosses (Malorie Blackman)
- The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)