How to keep children entertained and reading over the half term

School holidays are a great opportunity for children to relax and unwind after the school term, but they can also present a challenge for parents trying to keep them engaged – especially when it comes to reading.

Half-term is the perfect time to nurture a love of reading in children. We spoke with a reading volunteer, Ben, about his insights and practical tips to help keep your children entertained and excited about books over the break.

Why reading matters (even over the half term)

Schools do a fantastic job of encouraging children to read. Ben said: ​“my daughter loves to tell me not just what books she’s been reading from the library but everything her friends read too”. But if children aren’t used to reading at home, the holidays can present a multitude of other, more tempting activity options. 

The challenge is to help these children to see books as something that can be enjoyed every day rather than just an activity isolated to school time. 

Ben suggests that ​“reading is like exercise – it becomes more fun and satisfying the more you do it, but if you stop for a while it gets harder to get back in the swing”. 

Challenges faced by parents and carers

School holidays can present a massive challenge for parents. Working parents must find alternate childcare arrangements like relatives or holiday clubs, or they might have to juggle working from home with entertaining the children. 

Either way, you may not get as much contact time with your child as you might like, and you’re probably exhausted! TVs and tablets often make easy substitutes, but books are also a great way for children to fill some of that free time.

Creative ways to encourage reading at home

The key to make reading part of your daily routine, no matter how busy things get. You don’t need long, dedicated sessions. Even 10 – 15 minutes of reading in the morning or before bedtime can create a lasting habit. 

Here are some creative ways to make reading engaging:

• Family Reading Club – set aside 30 minutes where everyone grabs a book and reads together quietly. Children love the idea of doing ​“grown-up” activities with their parents.
• Puzzle books – for example, the Where’s Wally series, which are a great way to encourage imagination and storytelling and derive great pleasure from books
• Follow their interests – is your child obsessed with dinosaurs, space or sports? Find books on these topics to get them hooked.

Book recommendations

Finding the right book is key to being entertained and staying engaged. Ben has given us his tried and tested recommendations for different age groups, which can also be found on our One-to-one Reading Programme: 

• For younger children: picture books like A Boy Called Book by Vincent Ralph and The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage, are a brilliant blend of charming tales and illustrations.
• For older children: for those who enjoy A Diary of a Wimpy Kid, try: A Robot Squashed My Teacher by Pooja Puri, Stink by Jenny McLachlan, Cookie (and the Most Annoying Boy in the World) by Konnie Huq and Pablo and Splash by Sheena Dempsey, are great combinations of pictures and text, helping children build confidence in their reading skills.

Half term is a great opportunity to build reading habits and make reading a part of daily life. Whether it’s a family reading session, a trip to the library or just a quick bedtime story, every little bit count.