How to Build Your Child's Reading Stamina (Without the Battles!)

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://bit.ly/RSTrackerKit

Grab your Reading Bucket List Bundle with 164 creative reading ideas!
📥 Get it here → https://bit.ly/RBLBundle

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