When I taught elementary school, I loved helping kids find that book that sparked their interest. And the best time of day was after-recess read-aloud when sweaty kids, sprawled out across the classroom, would collectively lose themselves in a story. As a parent of two elementary-aged children, I find that same thrill in helping my kids build a positive relationship with books. 

Raising readers requires regular tending — and sometimes a few creative hacks. If you are struggling to get your kids off screens and into books this summer, here are 10 ideas to nudge them toward the pleasures of reading.

1. Family Read Aloud: Bedtime read aloud is a sacrosanct ritual. Even if evening tempers have been hot, we can end the day connected. Jim Trelease, the author of the Read Aloud Handbook, says that when parents read to their kids, it helps children associate reading with pleasure: “We read aloud to children for the same reasons we talk with them: to reassure, entertain, bond, inform, arouse curiosity, and inspire.”