Does your child resist reading—or claim it’s just plain boring? You’re not alone. Many kids see books as “work” instead of play—but the magic of storytelling isn’t lost… it just needs a little boost!
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shares creative, low-prep ways to transform storytime from “ugh” to “yay!” Learn how silly voices, props, cozy spaces, and playful reading strategies can make books feel like a game instead of a chore—no acting skills (or glitter crafts) required!
What You’ll Learn:
✔ Why some kids disengage from reading—and how to change that
✔ Simple ways to make reading fun with no-pressure activities
✔ How to bring stories to life using character voices, props, and acting
✔ Tips for creating creative reading spaces kids want to be in
✔ The real goal: helping kids experience stories, not just read words
⏳ Key Episode Highlights:
[00:00:50] Why some kids resist reading—and what helps
[00:02:32] Playful reading = better focus and comprehension
[00:03:39] Using silly voices to make characters come alive
[00:04:19] Props and sound effects to boost immersion
[00:04:58] Acting out scenes makes books feel like play
[00:06:29] Flashlight stories, changing up location and theme, and adventure setups
[00:08:19] When playful reading helps reignite interest
[00:09:06] Interactive books to try + reading from new perspectives
[00:12:23] Sneak peek of next week’s episode
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/06/26/make-reading-fun-for-kids/
📺 Prefer to Watch? YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/LqOpeG74iCk
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Grab your Reading Bucket List Bundle with 164 creative reading ideas!
📥 Get it here → https://bit.ly/RBLBundle
🎧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:
Follow on Instagram
Follow the Facebook Page
Join the Engaging Reluctant Readers Tribe (Facebook Group)
Follow on Pinterest
Subscribe to the Engaging Reluctant Readers YouTube Channel
✨Grab your Reading Bucket List Bundle today!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.