In the rush of everyday life, reading can quietly slip down the family priority list. Between work deadlines, school runs, clubs, screens, and the general chaos of modern living, it’s easy for books to feel like a luxury rather than a habit. Yet one of the most powerful ways to encourage children to read isn’t through nagging or reward charts - it’s through modelling. When children see the adults around them making time to read, they absorb the message that reading matters.
Modelling reading doesn’t mean spending hours curled up with a novel every evening (although that’s brilliant if you can manage it). It’s about visibility and consistency. Reading a few pages while dinner is in the oven, keeping a book by your bed, or talking casually about something you’ve read that day all count. These small, realistic moments show children that reading fits into a busy life - it isn’t something reserved for holidays or schoolwork.
This is where initiatives like the Reading Agency’s Quick Reads scheme really shine. Designed specifically for adults who may feel they don’t have the time, confidence, or habit of reading, Quick Reads are short, engaging books written by well-known authors. They’re accessible, satisfying, and crucially, manageable. You can dip in and out without feeling overwhelmed, which makes them ideal for parents juggling a hundred competing demands.
The scheme has received high-profile support from rapper Stormzy, whose involvement sends a powerful message to families. Seeing a figure like Stormzy publicly champion reading helps challenge the idea that reading is 'just for nerds' or that books are 'not for people like me'. For children, especially those who may not naturally see themselves as readers, this representation matters. When parents pick up a Quick Read and talk about enjoying it, they’re not just modelling reading- they’re modelling that reading is for everyone.
In busy households, perfection isn’t the goal. You don’t need a silent house or an hour of free time. You just need to let your children see that reading has a place in real life, alongside work, chores, and tired evenings. By choosing realistic reading options like Quick Reads and embracing imperfect but visible reading habits, you’re planting a powerful seed. Over time, that seed grows into a culture of reading—one where books belong naturally in your family’s everyday story.