The #1 Tip for Building Confident Readers (That Most Parents Overlook)
- Kathryn Carter
- Jul 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 28
As parents and educators, we all want the same thing: for our children to become strong, confident readers. We picture them curled up with a good book, smiling, flipping pages with ease, and most importantly, loving it.
But here’s a truth that might surprise you:
The #1 way to build a confident reader is to let them read what they love.
Yes, it’s really that simple.
Before phonics drills… before timed reading passages… before comprehension quizzes…what truly lights the spark in a reader is joy.
Why Choice Matters in Building Confident Readers
When kids are allowed to choose what they read, they begin to see reading as something they get to do instead of something they have to do. That shift from obligation to ownership is where confidence begins.
So if your child loves:
Comic books and graphic novels? Let them read them.
Biographies of athletes? Go for it.
Magazines, recipes, instructions for building LEGO sets? Absolutely.
Reading is more than chapter books and school assigned texts. It’s about engagement, connection, and curiosity. Confidence blooms when children experience success and joy with the books they want to read.
Reading Confidence is a Journey, Not a Race
Building a confident reader isn’t about rushing to finish chapter books or reading three grade levels above their age. It’s about helping your child believe:
I can read.
Reading is fun.
Reading helps me learn about the world and about myself.
That’s the heartbeat of Rockstar Reader University®, where we teach kids to read boldly, bravely, and joyfully.
Watch the #1 Tip for Raising Confident Readers!
Want to know the secret to helping your child fall in love with reading? Check out the top strategy in this quick, must-watch video.
Click here to watch now and learn how giving kids choice can change everything.
Then, try the YES Shelf Strategy at home and watch their confidence grow!
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