Struggling to pull your child away from screens and into books? You’re not alone. With video games, YouTube, and digital distractions everywhere, reading can feel like a losing battle. But good news—you don’t have to choose between screens and stories.
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shares how to balance screen time with reading using simple strategies that actually work. You’ll learn how to set boundaries, use tech to support literacy (not fight it), and turn everyday screen time into opportunities for reading growth.
What You’ll Learn:
☑️ Why movies aren’t “cheating”—and how they can jumpstart reading interest
☑️ How visualization gaps make reading harder for some kids (and how to help)
☑️ The pros and cons of watching the movie before reading the book
☑️ How to use book-to-movie pairings to build confidence, curiosity, and connection
⏳ Key Episode Highlights:
[00:01:02] Why movies feel easier—and how they help some kids visualize stories
[00:01:39] How visualization struggles affected Ellen’s son’s reading habits
[00:03:20] Watch first or read first? When each approach makes sense
[00:04:33] Questions to ask after watching and reading to spark discussion
[00:05:11] Book-to-movie picks for Kindergarten–1st Grade
[00:05:49] Picks for 2nd–3rd Grade
[00:06:08] Picks for 4th–6th Grade
[00:07:27] Why using movies isn’t “cheating”—it’s strategic and supportive
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/07/24/book-to-movie-magic/
📺 Prefer to Watch? YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/w--by2WkSWg
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Grab your From Page to Popcorn guide for book-to-movie picks every age will love.
📥 Get it here → https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/pagetopopcorn
🎧Love the podcast? Hit the 5⭐to leave a rating & review!
It helps get this podcast out in front of more moms that need to hear it, so we can help more reluctant readers learn to love books and put an end to the nightly battles around reading!
Resources:
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