How to Keep Children Reading Over the holidays

The Easter holidays arrive in a flurry of chocolate eggs, lighter evenings and that familiar question: what are we going to do today?

Children are ready for a break. Teachers are ready for a break. And while it’s lovely to have more time together, the days can still stretch out, especially when the plans run out or the weather doesn’t quite play along.

Somewhere in the back of many parents’ minds is a quiet worry: will all that lovely reading momentum slip away over the holidays?

The good news is that it doesn’t have to. Easter can be the perfect time to lean into stories. Without the rush of school, reading can feel calmer, cosier and much more enjoyable.

It doesn’t need to feel like homework. In fact, the more relaxed it is, the more likely children are to pick up a book for themselves.

Here are some gentle, realistic ways to keep reading going over the Easter break.

1. Let Them Choose (Even If It’s Not What You’d Pick)

Choice is everything.

Half term is the perfect time to hand over control. If your child wants to read football annuals, joke books, comics, fact books about sharks, or the same series again (even if it's Rainbow Magic!), that’s fine.

You could let them browse our list of books our young readers have loved most including the most popular book series for children or the Best Children's Books of 2025 or check out our list of the Unmissable Children's Books Coming in 2026. Sometimes simply scrolling through options can spark curiosity.

If they have a particular passion, lean into it. Football fans might enjoy exploring football-themed books for children, while comedy lovers can dive into series like Lottie Brooks and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. When children choose their own reading material, they are far more invested. Motivation grows from ownership, not obligation.

Teachers often say the same: a book a child chooses themselves is far more powerful than one that’s assigned.

2. Remember That All Reading Counts

We sometimes forget how broad “reading” really is.

It might look like:

• A graphic novel devoured in one sitting - see Dog Man and Bunny vs Monkey books

• An audiobook listened to on a car journey

• A magazine read on the sofa

• A recipe followed in the kitchen

• Subtitles on a favourite programme (or even Youtube)

It all builds vocabulary, comprehension and confidence.

If your child has had a long term at school, half term can be about protecting their relationship with reading rather than pushing it.

3. Short Reads Are Powerful

Half term can feel busy. Days fill up quickly. Long novels may feel daunting.

That’s where shorter books shine.

Early chapter books, illustrated novels, poetry collections and short story anthologies are brilliant during holidays because they offer a sense of achievement and momentum. Barrington Stoke also have many shorter books aimed at older books, see series like The Griffin Gate by Vashti Hardy which is aimed at readers 9+ with a reading age of 8 or Echostar by Melinda Salisbury which is suitable for readers 11+ with a reading age of 8.

Finishing a book gives children a confidence boost that often leads straight into the next one.

If a child feels stuck halfway through a long book, half term might even be a good moment to pause it and try something else. There’s no rule that says every book must be finished.

4. FIND BOOKS LIKE THE ONES THEY ALREADY LOVE

If you’re met with “there’s nothing to read”, it often really means: I don’t know what to choose next.

Check out our lists for 

• Books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• Books like Dog Man

• Books like Lottie Brooks

• Before like Alex Rider

• Books like Harry Potter

• Books like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder

It removes the pressure of choosing something completely new. Children stay in a genre or tone they already trust, but discover fresh characters and stories.

Momentum builds when reading feels familiar but exciting.

5. Read Together (Even With Older Children)

We often stop reading aloud once children can read independently. But being read to is still powerful — even for confident readers.

Half term is a lovely opportunity to:

• Start a new series together - have you read Warrior Cats by Erin Hunter or the Wings of Fire books by Tui T. Sutherland?

• Share a funny book and laugh out loud - have you read the Looshkin books by Jamie Smart?

• Get lost in a fantasy - have you read the Skandar books by AF Steadman?

• Dip into a mystery and try to solve it - have you read the Murder Most Unladylike Books by Robin Stevens?

• Explore a non-fiction book about a shared interest

Reading together removes pressure. It turns books back into something social and enjoyable.

Teachers often notice that children who are read to regularly tend to develop stronger vocabulary and more enthusiasm for stories. But just as importantly, it builds connection.

6. Use Peer Recommendations

Children are often far more persuaded by other children than by adults.

One simple way to spark interest is to show them reviews written by children their age. Seeing another child say, “I couldn’t put this down,” can be surprisingly motivating. You can see our most popular books of all time over on our website.

It makes reading feel like a shared community rather than a solitary task.

You could even encourage your child to write a short review of a book they’ve enjoyed over half term. Reflecting on what they liked (or didn’t!) deepens understanding and confidence.

7. Keep the Tone Light

Perhaps the most important point of all: half term is not the time for pressure.

If a child resists reading for a few days, that’s okay. A short break won’t undo months of progress. What matters far more is that reading remains associated with pleasure rather than conflict.

If tensions rise, step back. Switch format. Try humour. Try a different genre. Or simply pause and return to it later.

Protecting a child’s long-term love of books is far more important than ticking off minutes.