Make Reading Fun with Jessica Cluess

Reading should never be a drag. However, author Jessica Cluess explained it’s more challenging than ever to keep kids interested in this entertaining and crucial skill.

“Reading is essential to the social and educational development of children,” Cluess said. “It’s critical that parents, teachers, and caregivers work to keep kids interested.”

Cluess, a Random House-published author, recently offered several ways to keep kids and young adults interested in reading.

The No. 1 way to keep a kid interested in something is to make it fun. Fortunately, numerous children’s authors specialize in creating interactive and funny books. Rhyming books are ideal for young kids, while fantasy novels and choose-your-path story books are fun for older ones.

Be a Reading Role Model

Kids pay attention to what their parents are doing and often want to try. A parent can’t tell a child to read if they don’t do it themselves. Parents can be better examples for their children by putting down their phones and incorporating reading into their daily routines.

Keep Up With Books They Love

Jessica Cluess explained keeping a kid interested in reading means providing the content they enjoy. Parents can stock up on their child’s favorite topics and authors at the bookstore, so something interesting is always available at home. These titles may also be available digitally or through easy online ordering systems like Amazon.

Celebrate Reading Wins

Children and young adults tend to be more interested in activities in which they excel. Teachers and parents can help encourage kids to read through positively reinforcing their excellent work. It’s essential that parents provide support for good reading habits but do not punish kids for a lack of interest. Positive reinforcement is far more successful than negativity, which a child may continue to associate with reading for life.

Start a Series

Getting a kid hooked on reading means choosing the right books. Many times, that means letting them get recommendations from friends or others at school. Kids often remain interested in series, because they can follow along with the storyline and characters through multiple books. This is an excellent option for parents, as the kids stay intrigued, and parents can easily access the books or borrow them from other parents.

Author Jessica Cluess

Cluess is an esteemed author of young adult fantasy books. She is a graduate of Northwestern University, and her work was published by Random House Children’s. Her first book, A Shadow Bright and Burning, received a starred review in Publishers Weekly magazine.

Cluess writes fantasy books that engage young adults and encourage a lifelong interest in reading and writing.