Why Kids Don’t Love Reading Anymore—And How to Fix It

The Alarming Truth About Literacy Today

Let’s be honest: kids aren’t reading like they used to. National literacy rates have slipped for years, and classrooms that once buzzed with storytime and discussion now hum with test prep and progress monitoring.

But here’s the thing—it’s not the teachers’ fault. Most teachers want to fill their rooms with novels, imagination, and meaningful conversation. They know what gets kids excited about reading. They just can’t always do it.

How We Got Here

Many schools have been swallowed up by prepackaged literacy programs—expensive, one-size-fits-all curriculums that promise data and deliver uniformity. Teachers spend more time collecting reading scores and documenting growth than actually teaching reading.

Instead of reading aloud, discussing characters, or writing about ideas, students are breaking words into parts, filling out “evidence charts,” and checking boxes. In theory, it’s structure. In practice, it’s a slow death for curiosity.

The heartbreak? Teachers know it. Parents sense it. Kids feel it. But the system keeps grinding on.

What’s Really Going Wrong

Somewhere along the way, reading became a task instead of an experience.

• Comprehension turned into compliance.
  Students answer literal questions instead of asking their own.

• Joy got replaced with judgment.
  “Reading levels” define a child before the story even begins.

• Stories lost their soul.
  Short passages and worksheets took the place of whole books and wonder.

We’re teaching kids how to read, but not why.

What Parents Can Do—Starting Now

Here’s the good news: parents can make a massive difference, no matter what’s happening in the classroom. You don’t need a degree in education—you just need a plan and a little intention.

1. Make reading part of your family culture.
   Keep books in sight and within reach. Talk about stories at the dinner table. Let your child see you reading something real.

2. Choose stories that challenge and connect.
   Read books that make kids feel—not just ones at their “level.” Wonder, empathy, and laughter count more than lexile points.

3. Ask questions that matter.
   Skip the “what happened?” and go for “why do you think she did that?” or “what would you have done?” That’s where real thinking blooms.

4. Bring creativity back in.
   Let kids draw, act out, or build something inspired by a story. When reading becomes active, it becomes meaningful.

The Fix Starts at Home—and We’re Here to Help

At GetReadyEd, we’re not blaming teachers. We’re working to fill the gap they can’t, given today’s constraints. Through our books, workshops, consulting, and resources, we give parents the tools to do what the system won’t: spark curiosity, creativity, and true comprehension.

Our resources don’t just teach kids to read—they help them think about what they read, connect it to life, and love it again.

Call to Action

If you’re ready to bring joy and confidence back into reading time, download my free 5 Reading Habits guide in the Shop at GetReadyEd.com. Strong reading habits create strong thinkers—and strong thinkers thrive everywhere.