If you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “Just one more page and then you can…”—you’re not alone. When reading turns into a negotiation, rewards can feel like the only way forward. But what if motivation could grow naturally—without stickers, snacks, or standoffs?
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook opens up about why bribes and reward systems so often backfire when it comes to reading—and what to do instead. Through honest stories from her own family, she shares a simple framework that helps kids rediscover joy, confidence, and true motivation to read. This is a guilt-free, grace-filled conversation for every parent who’s tired of the bedtime reading battles and ready for something that lasts.
What You’ll Learn:
☑️ Why quick fixes (like bribes) stop working over time
☑️ The mindset shift that changes everything about reading motivation
☑️ A simple, three-part approach that builds motivation from the inside out
☑️ How to make reading time feel fun, peaceful, and productive again
☑️ The surprising ways small moments create big reading wins
Key Episode Highlights:
[00:01:13] Why quick fixes and rewards often backfire
[00:03:17] Ellen’s lightbulb moment: realizing the “reward” was creating more work
[00:05:25] When reading became lonely for JD—and the connection that brought him back
[00:06:33] A simple mindset shift that changed everything about motivation
[00:07:04] How connection and presence can reignite a love of reading
[00:10:07] Ways to use rewards that support motivation instead of replacing it
[00:14:20] The power of unexpected encouragement and praise
[00:17:17] Sneak peek for next week’s episode
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/10/17/motivate-kids-to-read-without-bribes/
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Feeling stuck in the “nothing’s working” phase?
Download 5 Motivation Traps to Avoid—your quick, practical guide to spotting the common pitfalls that derail reading motivation and what to do instead.
👉 Grab it here: https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/traps
🎟️Motivating Reluctant Readers Guide
Want to understand what truly sparks your child’s interest in reading?
The Motivating Reluctant Readers Guide helps you uncover your child’s unique motivators and gives you confidence-boosting strategies that actually work.
No pressure, no perfection—just joyful, lasting progress.
👉 Learn more her
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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