National Adult Literacy Database

Reading is the most important skill children must master if they are to succeed in school and later in life. The YMCA has developed this booklet to help parents raise children who enjoy reading. The information in this booklet reinforces the vital parent or adult-child relationship, and supports children’s ability to read for fun and to become lifelong learners.

This booklet offers ways to encourage children to read by exploring the following eight developmental needs through the lens of children’s stories: support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. Following a brief description of each need, the question "How can I raise a reader?" is discussed and a set of books is suggested for reading.