Motivating children to read English books with fun activities

Nicola Schofield
A child sat on a bed reading a book

Why is reading important?Ìý

Apart from being aÌýgreat hobbyÌýand funÌýactivity, it can help children improve in many areas of their lives through developingÌýkey transferrable skills. Reading in their native language and English can bring a whole range of benefits. To engage everyone, they mustÌýunderstand the benefits themselves.Ìý Ìý

Ask your students why it's important and create a mind map of ideas. You may alsoÌýwish to use some of the points below to start the conversation. Having a common idea that everyone agrees on can help build motivation and engagement in the classroom.Ìý

ImprovesÌýlanguage skillsÌý

Regular reading develops children’s linguistic skills – it helps them learn goodÌýsentence structure, grammar, vocabulary andÌýimprovesÌýspelling in their own language and in the English language too. Reading aloudÌýalso strengthensÌýknowledge of phonics and improvesÌýpronunciationÌýand articulation.ÌýÌý

Improves memoryÌý

It can help to develop knowledge of phonics and vocabularyÌýrecall and improve focus and concentrationÌý– all necessary skills when learning a language.Ìý

Cultivates curiosityÌý

Books help kids’ imaginations to growÌýandÌýencourage them to beÌýmore open-minded. TheyÌýhelp us to learn about other cultures and encourage us to think more creatively. Through subtle messages,ÌýreadingÌýbuildsÌýanÌýawareness of the world in which we live andÌýenablesÌýchildren to formÌýtheir ownÌýopinionsÌýand ask questions.Ìý

Creates empathyÌý

Stories help to develop children’s emotional intelligenceÌýandÌýempathy towardsÌýothers. ExploringÌýtopics and characters allows them to learn aboutÌýreal-world situationsÌýand think about how they would feelÌýinÌýsomebody else’s shoes. It encouragesÌýrespect for others’ feelingsÌýas well asÌýotherÌýcultures.ÌýÌý

Reduces stressÌý

It is a great way toÌýcalm the mind and help us relax and destress. Children can learn to use it as a helpful tool in their day-to-day lives.ÌýÌýÌý

Develops key life skillsÌý

Children develop their confidence, communication, resilience, patience, social skills and connectÌýwith the wider world, cultureÌýand communities.Ìý

So how do we motivate our young learnersÌý(even our most reluctant readers)Ìýto develop a passion for reading?Ìý

ItÌýmustÌýbe fun,Ìýpurposeful and relevantÌý

Well-known adaptationsÌýcan remove barriers, support and encourage students’ imagination,ÌýandÌýsparkÌýa genuine interest. TheyÌýgive purpose and relevance to the students as most students have watched a movieÌýat some point in their lives and most students have aÌýfavorite movieÌýor character.ÌýÌý

Let your young learners chooseÌý

There are plenty of English Readers to choose fromÌý– if the students can choose their own readers, they will likely be more motivated and focused. Choice gives the students power and makes it more relevant to them. Ask your students to choose theirÌýfavorite movieÌýandÌýhave a vote as a class. Get to know your students, find out what interests them, and base yourÌýbook choice around this.Ìý

RewardsÌýÌý

To motivate students, theyÌýmust know that they areÌýmaking progress. Reward students for their achievements – for example,ÌýcreateÌýa vocabulary wall orÌýa class book chart and give rewardsÌýlikeÌýaÌýstickerÌýorÌýa postcardÌýto takeÌýhome.Ìý

Ìý

Here are five practical, fun ideas on how to further motivate your learners and engage them in reading both in and outside the classroom.

1. Make a bookmarkÌý

Making aÌýbookmarkÌýis a fun way to get children into the habit of reading more regularly. If they have their own bookmark, then they are more likelyÌýto want to pick up a book and read it. In the activity, the children can make their ownÌýbookmarkÌýbased on theirÌýfavoriteÌýbook as well asÌýdraw a picture of theirÌýfavoriteÌýscene.

There’s space for them to write about theirÌýfavoriteÌýcharacter and any new words they have learned. TheÌýbookmarkÌýthen becomes not only a way toÌýfind your page butÌýitÌýcanÌýalsoÌýhelp kids engage in English conversations about the stories and make them feel like they are making progress.

2. Create a mind mapÌý

A mindÌýmap is an activity that helps children to understand andÌýanalyzeÌýwhat is happening in the book they have just read. ItÌýis a great way to show their understanding of the story clearly. It could also be usedÌýfor doingÌýa short presentation on the book orÌýfor helping toÌýwrite a short paragraph about it.ÌýÌý

3. Write your own short storyÌý

This activity is creative and asks the children to choose theirÌýfavoriteÌýreader. They then use their imagination to write a short story about what happens next. They can place charactersÌýin a completely different story of their ownÌýand send them off on a new, exciting adventureÌýor decide what happens next in the original story.

Writing stories like this helps young people to explore their ideas, express their creativity and reinforceÌýsentence structure, vocabulary and grammar at the same time.

4. Create a reading passportÌý

Motivate childrenÌýby giving them clear and achievable goals. Asking them to fill in a passport as they read a new book is a fun way to encourage them.

Each book allows each child to enter a different world andÌýonce they have visited each place, they complete a new page in the passport and receive a stamp.ÌýYou could even make this a class competition to see who can fill in the passport pages the quickest.

5. Create a character profile

Ask the children to choose theirÌýfavoriteÌýcharacter and produce aÌýmovieÌýposterÌýon that person. Ask the students to draw a picture andÌýwriteÌýkey details about the character, such as name, age, physical appearance and interests. This activity motivates the students as seeing theirÌýfavoriteÌýcharacter in a different context can be entertaining and engaging.

With these simple activities, you can make reading a more enjoyable experience, as well as helping with learning English for kids and developing their overall reading skills.ÌýÌý

Learn about our readers for young learners

More blogs from ÃÛÌÒapp

  • Children sat at desks in a classroom with their hands all raised smiling

    Back to school: Inclusive strategies to welcome and support students from day one

    By
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    As the new school year begins, teachers have an opportunity to set the tone for inclusion, belonging and respect. With the right strategies and activities, you can ensure every student feels seen, heard and valued from the very first day. Embracing diversity isn’t just morally essential: it’s a proven pathway to deeper learning, greater engagement and a more equitable society (Gay, 2018).

    Research consistently shows that inclusive classrooms foster higher academic achievement, improved social skills and increased self-esteem for all students (Banks, 2015). When students feel safe and respected, they are more likely to take risks, collaborate and reach their full potential.

  • A group of university students sat on the stone steps of a university campus

    From experience to innovation: How PTE Academic helped shape ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test

    By
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    When we launched the ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test, it’s true - we were not starting from scratch. We were building on years of experience, research, and innovation from PTE Academic, our globally recognised, high-stakes English test trusted by thousands of institutions.

    ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test may be new, but it is backed by everything we have learned from delivering millions of secure, accurate, and trusted assessments around the world.

    A legacy of trustÌý

    PTE Academic has been setting the standard for English language testing since 2009. It is known for its AI-powered scoring, robust security, and global recognition. Over the years, we have refined every part of the testing journey, from how we assess speaking and writing, to how we protect against fraud and ensure fairness.

    That legacy gave us a strong foundation to build something new. With ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test, we took the best of what we know and reimagined it for a different kind of test taker, one who needs speed, flexibility, and simplicity, without compromising on quality.

    What we carried forward

    ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test uses the same AI scoring technology that powers PTE Academic, trained on over 147,000 responses and verified by human experts. 

    This ensures that every score is consistent, fair, and accurate, no matter where or when the test is taken. We also brought our deep understanding of test security into the design of ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test. From dual-camera proctoring to biometric voice verification, every layer of the test is built to protect integrity and build trust. 

    And just like PTE Academic, ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test is aligned to the Global Scale of English and mapped to CEFR levels, so institutions can set score requirements with confidence. 

    Designed for a new generation of learners

    While PTE Academic is ideal for students applying globally, ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test is purpose-built for learners with their sights set on the United States. It is still faster, fairer and simple, all at a great price, without losing the rigour that institutions expect.

    Students can take the test from home, receive results in minutes, and get certified scores within 48 hours. That kind of accessibility is a game-changer, especially for students in remote regions.

    Why this matters for institutions

    By accepting ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test, institutions are not just offering another test option. They are offering a test backed by years of proven success. They are giving students a faster, more flexible way to apply, while maintaining the standards that support academic success.

    And for institutions already familiar with PTE Academic, ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test is a natural extension, one that complements your admissions toolkit and helps you reach more students, more easily.

    Experience you can trust

    At ÃÛÌÒapp, we believe that innovation should be grounded in experience. That is why ÃÛÌÒapp English Express Test is not just a new test. It is the next step in our mission to make English testing more accessible, more secure, and more student-friendly.

    Because when we combine what we have learned with what students need today, we create something truly powerful.Ìý

  • A girl sat at a laptop with headphones on in a library

    5 myths about online language learning

    By
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Technology has radically changed the way people are able to access information and learn. As a result, there are a great number of tools to facilitate online language learning – an area that’s been the subject of many myths. Here we highlight (and debunk) some of the bigger ones…

    Myth #1: You will learn more quickly

    Although online learning tools are designed to provide ways to teach and support the learner, they won’t provide you with a shortcut to proficiency or bypass any of the key stages of learning.ÌýAlthough you may well be absorbing lots of vocabulary and grammar rules while studying in isolation, this isn’t a replacement for an environment in which you can immerse yourself in the language with English speakers. Such settings help you improve your speaking and listening skills and increase precision, because the key is to find opportunities to practise both – widening your use of the language rather than simply building up your knowledge of it.

    Myth #2: It replaces learning in the classroom

    With big data and AI increasingly providing a more accurate idea of their level, as well as a quantifiable idea of how much they need to learn to advance to the next level of proficiency, classroom learning is vital for supplementing classroom learning. And with the Global Scale of English providing an accurate measurement of progress, students can personalise their learning and decide how they’re going to divide their time between classroom learning and private study.

    Myth #3: It can’t be incorporated into classroom learning

    There are a huge number of ways that students and teachers can use the Internet in the classroom. Meanwhile, ÃÛÌÒapp’s online courses and apps have a positive, measurable impact on your learning outcomes.

    Myth #4:ÌýYou can't learn in the workplace

    Online language learning is ideally suited to the workplace and we must create the need to use the language and opportunities to practise it. A job offers one of the most effective learning environments: where communication is key and you’re frequently exposed to specialized vocabulary. Online language learning tools can flexibly support your busy schedule.

    Myth #5: Online language learning is impersonal and isolating

    A common misconception is that online language learning is a solitary journey, lacking the personal connection and support found in traditional classrooms. In reality, today’s digital platforms are designed to foster community and real interaction. With features like live virtual classrooms, discussion forums and instant feedback, learners can connect with peers and educators around the world, building skills together.