logo
menu

Home » Blog » Reading at Home Tips » Top 5 Ways to Get Your Kids Excited to Read


Top 5 Ways to Get Your Kids Excited to Read

“But reading is boring!”

If your kiddos have ever uttered those words, you’ve been in the same place most parents have.  The battle may seem endless at times, seeming like there’s no way to motivate good reading habits outside of school. 

But, perhaps it’s simply time to restrategize! 

Here are a few tips to get your kids motivated for free reading time at home:

#1 – Selection Is Key!

 Let them choose!  Many school libraries lack the space to include scads of appealing titles. And class-required reading lists often limit student interests. Students often don’t think outside the book box, but there are tons of ways they can read, especially when all of the choices are within a single platform like LightSail.

 Show your child the following reading options to broaden their scope and excite their minds:

#2 – Beyond Words

Free reading doesn’t always have to be flipping pages.  Let them experience different forms of media in our 21st-century world to expand their literary repertoire:  

#3 – Incentivize Reading

Who doesn’t like to get a little extra something for achieving a goal, or work a little bit harder to enjoy a reward?  Even the most sluggish of readers can be motivated by adding value and incentive for reaching success. Set goals and milestones, adding rewards based on your circumstances.  As their motivation level increases, so can the goals and milestones.   Here are a few examples:

#3 – Involve the Whole Family

There’s no substitute for family involvement in a child’s learning process.  Many parents may feel like they have to take a step back from this process as their young adults enter middle and high school. But it’s never too late to engage with your child, especially over a good book!  It may create some common conversational ground even when the drama tween sets in.  

#4 – Join a Book Club

Sometimes we just want to talk about what we’re reading! Learning what their peers think of a book can be a motivating factor in a child’s enjoyment and comprehension. And sometimes they’re eager to discuss books with dear old mom and dad or another family member.  

All of these strategies can easily be implemented with LightSail. This unique online platform is designed to engage young readers with high-interest content and a fantastic selection of classic and modern media.  Your kids will find literacy games, interactive tools to keep them motivated, and a thousand of books, audiobooks, and multimedia resources ready to travel and grow with your student. 

You’ll also find:

LightSail’s partnership with Lerner Publishing and World Book Digital Encyclopedia make this a one-stop source for creating lifelong readers from the comfort of home. Want a sneak peak of more LightSail features? Check out a few more reading resources your kids will love.

sign up for homeschool literacy program

Posted on 10.Oct.21 in Reading at Home Tips

Money back

Our 90 day money back guarantee

30 Minutes a Day + 5 Days a Week + 3 Months = GUARANTEE your child’s independent reading level will improve.*

We're here to help!

Find answers to frequently asked questions or contact us for more support.

You can email us at

How do I know what books are right for my child?

LightSail takes the guesswork out of choosing books for your child by tailoring each child’s library to their precise reading level.

By honing in on a child’s precise Lexile reading score, LightSail can match them with books that are at that “just-right” level to promote optimal reading progress.

And because LightSail contains such a wide-ranging array of content, there is always a vast selection of books for any topic or interest.

What ages/grades is LightSail for?

LightSail’s Premium and Standard subscriptions are designed for children in grades 3 through 12 (ages 8-18).

We also have a World Book Kids subscription for grades 1 through 2 (ages 5-7) and a World Book Early Learners subscription for PreK through K (ages 2-5).

Is LightSail different from an Amazon Kindle or other e-readers?

Unlike static e-readers, LightSail doesn’t just offer children books.

Every book and article in LightSail contains 6 layers of added features that let your child experience books.

By adapting to a child’s precise reading ability, offering them content that is at that “just-right” reading level to promote literacy growth, and providing a fully customizable, rewarding reading experience, LightSail unlocks the magic of reading in ways no physical book or static e-reader can.

What types of parental control do I have over my child’s activity and content?

In short, complete control.

LightSail contains an entire suite of parental control features that govern every aspect of the platform from video viewing, to chats, to what content can be seen and accessed.

Additionally, LightSail’s revolutionary ChildSafe Content Controls lets parents screen and block content according to dozens of nuanced subcategories based on maturity factors, family values, and religious topics.

How can I make reading fun for my child?

LightSail incorporates gamification features into every aspect of the platform, especially reading!

By integrating badges, goals and milestones, social sharing options, motivational messages, and the ability for parents to add customizable gift rewards, LightSail incentivizes reading, writing, and learning just like kids’ favorite games.

Contact us