Does your child fidget, rush through books, or lose focus after just a few pages? You're not alone—and no, your child isn’t lazy or “bad at reading.” The real challenge may be reading stamina—and the good news? It’s a skill they can build!
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shares practical, low-pressure strategies to help kids stay engaged with books longer—without battles, bribes, or burnout. From choosing the right books to using tools like tag-team reading and timed sprints, you’ll discover how to make reading feel doable and even fun again.
What You’ll Learn:
☑️️ What reading stamina is—and why it matters for lifelong learning
☑️️ How to spot signs your child is struggling to stay focused
☑️️ Simple strategies like tag-team reading and sprints to boost endurance
☑️️ Why the right book (hello, cliffhangers!) makes a big difference
☑️️ How to use e-books, audiobooks, and apps like Epic! to support stamina
⏳ Key Episode Highlights:
[00:01:16] What reading stamina is—and how it grows like a muscle
[00:02:10] Why stamina is essential for school and life
[00:02:58] Red flags your child might need more stamina support
[00:04:09] Tag-team reading to share the load
[00:05:01] Reading sprints to boost focus over time
[00:06:25] Why book choice matters (even if it’s Dog Man—again)
[00:07:15] Short chapters and cliffhangers = stamina superstars
[00:08:11] When to push, and when to pause
[00:08:49] Tech tools that support reading without pressure
[00:13:24] Celebrate effort, not just page count
[00:14:30] Shared reading, sibling influence, and modeling
[00:16:32] Sneak peek: Making reading feel like play (coming next episode)
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/06/23/reading-stamina-strategies/
📺 Prefer to Watch? YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/rtUV59YurJ4
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Grab your Reading Stamina Tracker Kit—three fun, printable tools to help your child build reading endurance without the battles.
👉 Get it here → https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/reading-stamina-tracker-kit
Grab your Reading Bucket List Bundle with 164 creative reading ideas!
📥 Get it here → https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/bucketlistbundle
Grab your Motivating Reluctant Readers Guide today --> https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/mrrguide
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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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