Reading is often thought of as an activity that you do by yourself. However, it can also be an experience that you share together as a family.  

Going on literary adventures as a family has lasting benefits for readers of all ages. 

If you aren’t fully convinced that reading is a great group activity, read below to understand the benefits of reading together as a family.

Reading together helps you build bonds 

Reading is a wonderful way to spend time together. Even as adults, many of us look back fondly on our parents or caregivers reading us a bedtime story. So, get out your books and put your screens down (unless it’s an eBook, of course)! 

When we read about characters in a story, they can help us learn more about ourselves and the people around us.  

For example, if a character in a story just won a trophy and feels pride, you can ask a young reader, “When was the last time you felt proud of yourself?” Conversations like this come up naturally when you’re reading together and help you connect and understand each other a bit better. 

Listening to stories improves reading comprehension skills 

You’re never too old to be read to. Studies show children over the age of eight wish their parents read to them more often. Listening comprehension and reading comprehension are skills that go together — like peanut butter and jelly, Frog and Toad, or even Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. 

Listening to books being read aloud exposes listeners to language, vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar — all useful elements in listening comprehension that can lead to strong reading comprehension skills (The Read-Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease, 2013). Improving reading comprehension improves skills in other subjects such as math and science. 

In fact, kids ages six – 11 who actively participate in read-aloud time by asking questions, taking turns reading, or making sound effects are more likely than other children to be frequent readers (Kids and Family Reading Report – Scholastic, 2017). 

Reading together encourages a love of reading 

Parents and caregivers often wonder how they can help children build healthy reading habits. The simple answer is... it’s a habit that’s best to build together. 

A primary caregiver’s reading skill is considered the greatest factor in determining a child's future academic success, exceeding the influence of family income or neighbourhood. (The intergenerational impact of mothers and fathers on children's word reading development. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, July 2025) 

Children who frequently see their parents reading are significantly more likely to become frequent readers themselves. Research shows that 57% of kids who are frequent readers have parents who read five to seven days a week, highlighting a direct correlation between parental modeling and child reading habits. (Kids and Family Reading Report  – Scholastic, 2017). 

Reading together for pleasure as a family can be a lot of fun and is a great way to make memories and bond. It will be an activity that your kids look forward to and want to do with you. 

Family Reading Pick 

If you are looking for your next book to read together as a family, we suggest our 2026 Family Reading Pick — A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Using discussion questions in the activity booklet, families can have conversations about themes of good versus evil, love, courage, family, and friendship. Copies are available at all Library locations, excluding Rocky Ridge and Prototype: Skyview.

Visit our website to learn more about Family Reading Pick. 

Need some tips to get you started reading together? Read through our 10 Tips for Reading With Your Family.