Strong reading skills are one of the best gifts you can give a child. But in Indian homes, where English or even Hindi may not be the first language, children often struggle to build a habit of reading beyond schoolbooks. With screens competing for attention and pressure from exams, reading for joy is slowly disappearing.
The good news? It’s absolutely possible to build strong reading habits without forcing or bribing. You just need the right approach, examples that fit Indian routines, and a little patience.
Here are 11 practical ways to improve reading skills in children, with real Indian context and examples for how to implement them.
1. Start with Picture Books in Regional Languages or Bilingual Format
Children grasp better when the visuals are engaging and the words feel familiar. Bilingual books (like Hindi-English or Tamil-English) make reading less intimidating.
Example:
Use Tulika Books or Pratham Storyweaver to read a story in English and Hindi together at bedtime. Ask your child to point at familiar words like “ghar” or “tree” to connect both languages.
2. Use Read-Aloud Sessions as a Daily Ritual
Even older kids enjoy being read to. It helps with vocabulary, pronunciation, and understanding sentence flow.
How to do it at home:
Choose a short story or poem (like Akbar-Birbal, Tenali Rama, or Karadi Tales) and read aloud every evening. Take turns reading sentences or dialogue to keep them involved.
3. Label Household Items to Build Sight Vocabulary
Children learn better when reading connects to daily life.
How to implement:
Label things like “फ्रिज / Fridge,” “पुस्तक / Book,” “दरवाज़ा / Door” using stickers. Ask your child to read the labels aloud during daily activities.
Over time, this builds word recognition without memorization.
4. Turn Subtitles On During Cartoons and Movies
Watching something with English (or Hindi) subtitles helps children connect spoken and written language effortlessly.
Indian-friendly content:
Use subtitles while watching Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu, Peppa Pig, or Doraemon in English.
Encourage them to read simple words like “Let’s go!” or “Run fast!” as they watch.
5. Create a Reading Corner with Indian Books They Can Touch and Own
Ownership motivates children. A small reading space can turn reading into a fun, daily activity not a task.
How to set up:
Use an old dabbawala crate, stool, or cardboard box. Fill it with age-appropriate Indian comics like Champak, Tinkle, Amar Chitra Katha, or Panchatantra.
Rotate books monthly and let them choose which ones to keep in their “reading crate.”
6. Use Comics and Illustrated Magazines as a Gateway to Longer Reading
Children who hate “long books” often enjoy graphic novels and comics first.
Example:
If your child is 7-10 years old and reluctant to read, start with Tinkle Digest or Suppandi stories. Once they get hooked on characters, you can shift to longer illustrated books like Sudha Murty’s short stories or The Puffin Mahabharata.
7. Play Word Games in English and Your Mother Tongue
Games make reading joyful and competitive in a healthy way.
Ideas:
- Antakshari using only book titles or character names
- Word Bingo using words from their school chapter
- Scrabble or Ludo Word Game (use Hindi or English tiles)
Example:
During train travel, play “I spy with my little eye something that starts with T…” (Tree, Train, Ticket) helps observation and vocabulary!
8. Create Mini Reading Challenges With Simple Rewards
Children love a sense of progress.
How to do it:
Create a chart: “Read 10 stories this month = choose your Sunday dinner” or “Read for 15 minutes daily = 1 weekend movie.”
You’re not bribing you’re linking a habit with a sense of celebration.
9. Encourage Them to Narrate What They Read in Their Own Words
This builds comprehension, memory, and speaking skills together.
How to implement:
After reading a short story, ask:
“What happened in the end?”
“Which part was funny?”
“Can you tell Dadi this story tonight?”
Even a simple narration like “Then the fox ran away!” shows they understood and retained the message.
10. Use Audio Stories to Build Rhythm and Curiosity
Listening is part of literacy. Story podcasts and audio tales train kids in sentence structure and expression.
Where to find them:
- Storyweaver audio stories
- Spotify’s “Chimes Radio – Kids Hindi Kahaniyan”
- Google Podcasts (search “Panchtantra audio for kids”)
Let them listen while colouring, eating, or during car rides.
11. Be a Reader in Front of Them – Even If It’s the Newspaper
Children copy what they see. If reading never happens in the home, it’s hard to expect them to develop a habit.
Simple tip:
Read a comic, news headline, magazine, or even WhatsApp article aloud and say, “This was so funny!” or “I didn’t know this!” Let them feel the joy of learning from reading.
Gentle Reading Development Ideas That Work
In India, where education is often about marks and exams, reading can feel like a burden. But when introduced with emotion, connection, and local relevance, it becomes a powerful tool to build imagination, knowledge, empathy and joy.
