How to get your partner more involved in reading to your kids

Last updated February 23, 2026

If you’ve found this post, you are probably someone who wants books and stories to be central to your children’s life. You know this starts with your family, but you might be feeling like your spouse or partner seems less invested that you are in making reading with the kids a priority. How do you get your partner on board with shared reading as a family?

Keep reading for five practical ways to get your partner more involved in reading to your children and help make shared reading a fun, natural part of your family routine.

1. Be curious about your partner’s relationship with reading

Before you make any big moves, try to understand how your partner feels about reading. What was reading like for them when they were a child? Did their parents read to them? Do they have positive or negative associations with reading as a child? Were there any books they loved as a kid? What books, movies, podcasts, or other entertainment do they most enjoy now? Keep your curiosity low pressure. You don’t need to interview your partner or answer a checklist of questions. Your goal here is to understand your partner better and meet them where they’re at.

It would also be helpful to understand what’s stopping them now from reading more with the kids. Are they exhausted at the end of the day? Do they think children’s books are boring? Do they feel awkward reading aloud or unsure about how to interact with their kid through stories?

Curiosity without judgment will help you understand what might be holding your partner back from reading more with kids and give you some helpful insight on how to approach the issue with an open mind and empathy.

2. Invite your partner into your reading world

Now it’s your turn for reflection. What do you love about reading with your kids? What do you find challenging about it? Why is it important to you that both you and your partner are involved in family reading time?

Reflect on what you really want or need from your partner. Think about starting with a low-pressure ask, and keep the focus on connection rather than obligation. For example,

“Hey, there’s a storytime for kids happening at the bookstore this weekend. Would you be interested in going together and grabbing a coffee after?”
“Is there any chance you could take over reading with the kids on Sunday nights before bed? The kids would love some snuggle time with you!”
“I saw this children’s book about mountain sports at the library and thought of you. Do you want to sit with us tonight and read it together?”

3. Choose children’s books that also connect with your partner’s interests

If you’re the person in your family who usually buys or borrows books, be sure to include a few that will connect with your partner’s interests. Whether they’re interested in sports, fashion, history, art, or something else, there’s a book for almost anyone. If you’re not sure where to start, ask your local children’s librarian for suggestions.

Encourage your partner to choose a few books, as well. If they are involved, they may be more likely to pick up the book at home and read it with your kid.

If you are someone like me who is passionate about children’s books and has strong opinions about what makes a book “good,” you may have to let go of control here. I won’t lie— it’s hard to accept our limited budget going to books that I personally don’t love. I’ve learned to reserve my judgement, because what really matters are the moments of connection my husband and children share as they read books together. And if my husband is excited about a book, you bet my children will feel that positive energy from him and feel more excited, too!

4. Give your partner positive feedback

Let’s assume your partner has had some reservations about reading aloud with the kids, and they finally make the leap and start doing it. That’s great! Things are headed in a good direction. You’ve noticed a positive response from your kids to having another person they love take the time to sit down and read with them, and you’re hoping that your partner sticks with it.

Be sure to give your partner some positive feedback. It could be as simple as telling them, “It was so sweet hearing you laugh together,” or when talking about books with your kid saying, “Mommy’s so good at voices, isn’t she?” You don’t need to go over the top, follow a script, or invent praise. If you think something positive, just share it out loud.

5. Build new reading habits and routines together

You might have been leading the charge before to make reading an everyday part of your family’s life, but now you’re in this together! Think about what new habits, routines and traditions your family might enjoy making space for together.

You could:

Set up a predictable routine for bedtime stories (i.e., Dad reads books on weeknights and Mom on weekends, parents alternate nights, or whatever works for your family)
Visit a library all together once every month
Choose one day every week to read books together at bedtime
Start a family book club once a month where you read a book together and talk about the book as you eat a special breakfast
Become regulars at a local storytime
For older kids, choose a chapter book or novel to read aloud together once every week (or as often as you can!)

Over time, these habits and traditions become part of your family culture, one in which both you and your partner feel a shared sense of pride, excitement, and investment.