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The importance of reading together for little readers goes beyond books. It builds confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning. Here's how it works

Reading together isn’t just about a shared activity to strengthen the bond between parent and child, or a box-checking exercise to ensure our little ones develop in all the key areas that reading helps them in…

(Although it is pretty cool to do something with them, and the added bonus of reading helps with a bunch of other important milestones…)

Reading together also helps build their confidence, their independence, and a lifelong love of learning and reading. 

So when children feel supported and encouraged in their reading, they develop the self-esteem to explore stories on their own, take risks with new words, and believe in their ability to learn even when reading feels tricky).

Did you know that shared reading builds confidence in little readers? Well, here’s how:

Encouragement Creates Confidence

When a child feels safe to make mistakes, it pushes the boundaries of exploration. This is the very foundation for a (*cue current buzzword) growth mindset. So when we praise their efforts, not just the result, we encourage them to take a chance, give it their best, and roll with whatever the outcome is. 

Let Them Take the Lead 

Even before they’re able to read, kids love being active participants. Think back to a time when your toddler was learning to take their first steps, and couldn't even string sentences together, but you were able to hand them a toy and ask them to take it somewhere, which they happily obliged.

So replicate that with your little reader and ask them to “read” by describing pictures, predicting what happens next, or retelling a story in their own words. This builds independence and helps them trust their instincts.

Celebrate Every Step 

Confidence grows when children see their progress. Whether they’re pointing out favourite characters, turning pages on their own, or reading their first full sentence, every milestone matters.

So celebrate every step in their reading journey. This helps to reinforce their reading progress and encourages them to just keep on going.

Model a Love for Reading 

You’ve heard that kids are like sponges, right? Well, kids also mimic what they see. So if they see that you’re enjoying reading, chances are pretty good that they’ll feel more excited and empowered to read. Show your enthusiasm, use expressive voices, and make reading a special, shared experience.

By making reading together a positive and encouraging experience, you’re not just helping your child learn to read, you’re also raising a confident, curious, and capable reader for life.

Here’s to more time spent reading together, and more confident little readers.

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