The holiday season is here, bringing cozy sweaters, mountains of cookies, and the annual struggle of convincing your child to put down the tablet and pick up a book. If you have a reluctant reader at home, you already know that getting them to read voluntarily is about as easy as convincing a toddler that pants are necessary. But don’t worry—I’ve got a few clever tricks to make reading feel less like homework and more like holiday fun.
1. Make Books the Forbidden Fruit
Kids love anything they think they’re not supposed to have. So why not try a little reverse psychology?
“Oh no, you can’t read that book! It’s way too special for you. I was saving it for a super serious reader.”
Suddenly, that book is the most interesting thing in the house. Bonus points if you pretend to hide it somewhere obvious.
2. Let Santa (or Another Holiday Mascot) Take the Blame
If your kid refuses to read, tell them Santa-or whichever holiday character they adore-is watching.
“Oh, you don’t want to read? No problem. I’ll just let Santa know. He’s keeping track of which kids are expanding their vocabulary and which ones are… well… getting socks.”
You’d be surprised how fast they’ll grab a book. A little holiday-themed guilt trip never hurt anyone.
3. Bribe Them Like a True Holiday Elf
I know, I know. “We shouldn’t bribe our children.” But let’s be real: if adults get rewarded with wine and chocolate for surviving the holidays, kids deserve something for flipping a few pages.
Try a Book-for-Treat Exchange:
- Read a page? Get a marshmallow.
- Finish a chapter? Here’s some hot cocoa.
- Finish a whole book? Fine, you can have extra sprinkles on your gingerbread house. But just this once.
4. Use Holiday-Themed Reading Worksheets
I know what you’re thinking. “Worksheets? During holiday break? Are you trying to start a rebellion in my house?” But hear me out. The trick is to make them so festive that kids don’t even realize they’re learning.
Picture this:
- “Help Santa solve the word search so he can find his way back to the North Pole!”
- “Fill in the missing letters to complete Frosty’s magic spell!”
- “Color and read: Rudolph needs you to finish the story before his nose goes dark!”
It’s not schoolwork-it’s a mission. One that only your child can complete. They’ll be so busy saving Christmas through reading, they won’t even notice they’re sharpening their skills. There are plenty of easy to use and free websites with holiday themed reading passages and questions.
5. Go Full Hallmark Movie: Read Together
If holiday movies have taught us anything, it’s that sitting by the fireplace with a good book is a quintessential holiday activity. So grab a blanket, light a candle (or just turn on a fake fireplace video), and read together.
Let them pick the book, even if it’s about farting reindeer. Do the voices. Get dramatic. Make it fun. Before you know it, reading will feel less like a chore and more like a special holiday tradition.
The holiday season is the perfect time to sneak in some reading without making it feel like homework. Whether it’s through sneaky psychology, bribery, festive worksheets, or a good old-fashioned holiday cuddle session, there’s a way to get every kid excited about books.
And if all else fails? Audiobooks totally count.
Now go forth and spread the literary cheer! And maybe hide a few extra marshmallows for yourself-you’ve earned them.
Would you like some printable holiday-themed reading worksheets to get started? Let me know, and I’ll whip up some merry magic for your little reluctant reader!
