Back to School: Small reading habits that make a big difference

With the new school year comes a fresh start – new teachers, new routines and plenty to remember. As children make the transition back to school after the summer holidays, it's also a great time to make reading part of your family's routine again.

The good news is, it doesn't have to take long. Just 10–15 minutes of reading together each day can help children build reading confidence while making reading a fun part of everyday life. Whether it's sharing a story before bed, reading together after school or squeezing in a few pages while dinner's cooking, those little moments soon add up.

Support reading confidence with books they'll enjoy

Giving children the freedom to choose what they read is one of the best ways to nurture a love of reading. Whether they're drawn to adventure stories, fascinating facts or favourite characters, finding books that capture their imagination helps make reading something they genuinely enjoy.

For generations, Key Words with Peter and Jane has helped children learn to read through the adventures of Peter, Jane and their family. Using a tried-and-tested method, the series introduces the  300 most frequently used words in the English language in a carefully structured way. The series gives children the chance to revisit familiar characters they can get to know from book to book – making each new story feel reassuringly familiar.

The much-loved Ladybird series, Read it Yourself, offers hundreds of carefully levelled books for every stage of a child's reading journey. With everything from classic fairy tales and fascinating non-fiction to favourite characters like Peppa Pig and Peter Rabbit, it's easy for children to find books that match their interests – making it simple for families to follow their child's curiosity while supporting their reading development.

Five simple reading habits to try this term

A few simple habits can help keep reading enjoyable throughout the school year:

Snuggle up with a story for 10–15 minutes each day at bedtime. Reading together at bedtime isn’t only a great way spend quality time together, but it is an excellent way to make sure you encourage reading as a habit at home.
Follow their interests – let them choose books they're excited to read. The best way to get your child reading, is to let them pick a book they want to read!
Get chatting – ask about their favourite character or what they enjoyed most.
Celebrate every success, big or small. Have you finally finished reading your first chapter book together? Did your little one read a particularly challenging word? Celebrate that!
Keep reading fun! Try reading with different voices together, or acting the actions out from the book.

The start of a new school year brings lots of opportunities to learn, grow and discover new things. By making time to read together and giving your child the freedom to choose books they'll enjoy, you're helping them grow into confident readers while making reading a positive part of your family's routine.