Children who read regularly build a stronger vocabulary, better concentration and more confidence in every subject, not only in language classes. The good news is that a reading habit does not need hours of time. It needs a little time, every day, and a home where books feel welcome.
Start small and keep it daily
Ten to fifteen minutes a day works better than one long session at the weekend. Pick a fixed moment that already exists in your routine, such as after dinner or just before bed, so reading becomes as natural as brushing teeth.
Let your child choose
Children read more when they read what interests them. Stories, comics, animal facts, cricket, space: every page counts. Keep a few books within easy reach at home and let your child pick one.
Read together, not just alongside
- Take turns: you read one page, your child reads the next.
- Ask open questions: “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why did the character do that?”
- Talk about new words: guess the meaning from the picture or the sentence before looking it up.
Use the schoolbook too
School textbooks are reading material as well. Ask your child to read a short part of today’s lesson aloud and explain it in their own words. If your child uses VEDV books, scan the QR code in the book to open the lesson video together, then read the chapter again. Seeing and hearing the lesson helps the words on the page make sense. See our guide to accessing digital books.
Be a reading role model
Children copy what they see. When they see you reading a newspaper, a novel or even a recipe, they learn that reading is something grown-ups enjoy too.
Celebrate progress, not perfection
Keep a simple chart of books finished, or let your child put a sticker on the calendar every day they read. Praise effort (“You read for fifteen minutes today!”) rather than speed or mistakes.
Quick checklist for parents
- A fixed daily reading time of 10 to 15 minutes
- Books your child chooses, kept within reach
- Reading together and talking about the story
- Small celebrations for steady progress
Small, steady steps build lifelong readers. Start tonight with just one book.