Engaging Reluctant Readers
Tired of the nightly reading battles? Struggling to get your child to open a book because they refuse to read at all costs? Maybe they can read but just don’t want to, or perhaps they struggle with the basics, making reading feel frustrating and exhausting. Or maybe books just can’t compete with screens, sports, or other distractions. No matter the reason, you’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not failing as a parent.
Welcome to Engaging Reluctant Readers—the podcast for book-loving moms raising reluctant readers. Hosted by Ellen Westbrook, a Literacy Coach (and recovering reluctant reader herself!), this show is here to help you transform your child’s reading journey from dread to must-be read and rediscover family reading fun along the way.
As a mom of two high-energy boys with a degree in Elementary Education, Ellen gets it—the frustration, the worry, and the endless search for ways to make books click for your child. She’s here to bridge the gap between your love of reading and your kiddo’s resistance, helping you understand why they struggle and, more importantly, what actually works.
You won’t find complicated reading strategies or one-size-fits-all advice here. Instead, Ellen shares real-life strategies that fit into your busy days and make reading feel fun instead of forced. From creative ways to build stamina, confidence, and reading skills to strategies that make books more engaging and spark a genuine love of reading, every episode is designed to help you make real progress—without the fights, tears, or frustration.
Each episode is under 30 minutes, packed with actionable tips, and released every Thursday—so you can get quick wins without adding more to your already-full plate.
Because reading should feel fun, not like a chore—and every step forward, no matter how small, is worth celebrating.
Hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode, and let’s rediscover family reading fun—together!
Engaging Reluctant Readers
What to Do When Your Child Refuses to Read Aloud
You hand your child a book expecting a cozy read-aloud moment… and instead, you get crossed arms, shut-down eyes, or a flat-out “Nope.” Sound familiar? You're not alone—and you're not doing anything wrong.
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook walks you through what’s really going on when your child refuses to read aloud—and how to respond with calm, connection, and confidence. From silly strategies to safe spaces, you’ll leave with tools that actually help (no battles required).
What You’ll Learn:
- Why reading aloud can feel so vulnerable for reluctant readers
- How to reframe home reading so it doesn’t feel like school
- Simple strategies to make reading aloud more approachable
- How to rebuild confidence through fun, familiarity, and safety
⏳ Key Episode Highlights:
[00:01:00] What’s really behind “Nope, I’m not reading that”
[00:01:14] Why reading aloud often triggers fear—not defiance
[00:02:12] How to reframe reading aloud at home
[00:02:53] Fun ways to take the pressure off reading aloud
[00:04:04] Why stamina-building matters—and how to track it
[00:04:32] Reading aloud isn’t just about practice—it’s about connection
[00:05:01] Workshop coming soon to help you with back-to-school reading rhythms
[00:05:32] Sneak peek at next week's episode
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/08/15/when-your-child-refuses-to-read-aloud/
📺 Prefer to Watch? YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/BKxFU2fDDIg
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Grab your Reading Stamina Tracker Kit—a simple, confidence-boosting tool to help your child see their growth, one minute at a time.
📥 Get it here → bit.ly/RSTrackerKit
😍 Looking for more strategies?
Download the Motivating Reluctant Readers Guide for even more practical, proven ways to make reading feel easier—and more enjoyable—for both you and your child.
📥 Get it here → https://bit.ly/MRR_GUIDE
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It helps get this podcast out in front of more moms that need to hear it, so we can help more reluctant readers learn to love books and put an end to the nightly battles around reading!
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[00:00:00] Ellen: Welcome to the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast. I'm Ellen Westbrook, your host, and Recovering Reluctant Reader. Together, we'll tackle reading roadblocks with personalized strategies and out of the box ideas. All while rediscovering the joy of family reading fun. Ready to transform your child's view of reading from Dread to Must Be Read?
[00:00:18] Let's dive into today's episode. You sit down, ready to read a short chapter before bed. You hand your child the book expecting a cozy moment, and they freeze. Or worse, they cross their arms and say, "Nope, I'm not reading that." And suddenly this little reading window you carved out turns into a full on standoff.
[00:00:39] So what do you do when your child flat out refuses to read aloud?
[00:00:42] That's exactly what we're talking about today. We're gonna look at what's really going on when kids push back, why reading out loud can feel so intense, for some, and what you can do to ease that resistance without turning it into a battle. And I promise, by the end, you're gonna feel way more grounded, a little more equipped, and a whole lot less alone.
[00:01:00] So let's start with the why.
[00:01:01] Because here's the thing, when kids push back on reading aloud, it's almost never because they're lazy or trying to give you a hard time, even though, trust me, it feels that way in the moment. I get it.
[00:01:11] But most of the time, reading out loud just feels really vulnerable. They might be scared of messing up or worried that you're gonna correct them, or it might remind them of school and not in a warm and fuzzy way.
[00:01:21] Sometimes they've had a tough experience already. Maybe they've stumbled in front of their class or felt compared to a sibling who reads more fluently, and that stuff really sticks. Even kids who are skilled readers can carry that fear of messing up.
[00:01:33] That was definitely the case for Hunter The start of kindergarten was tough before we figured out he had ADHD and got him the support he needed. School was a daily uphill climb. He was getting tons of redirection. His handwriting wasn't legible and all of that constant correction, it just wore him out. It really chipped away at his confidence.
[00:01:48] Even after things started getting better and we saw how much he was growing as a reader. He still didn't wanna read out loud, not even to us. And not because we were correcting him, we just wanted to hear him. His confidence had taken a hit and it took time, and several of the strategies I'm gonna share with you today to get it back.
[00:02:05] So yeah, when kids push back on reading aloud, it's usually not about defiance, it's about fear, and that's a whole different thing to respond to.
[00:02:12] Okay, so how do you respond?
[00:02:14] First, we've gotta reframe what reading aloud even is at home. This isn't school, you're not the teacher here, you're the safe space. Reading aloud at home isn't a performance, it's not about fluency or checking boxes, it's about connection. It's about sitting side-by-side, sharing a moment, even if that's for just a few pages.
[00:02:31] So instead of, "Okay, your turn read to me." Try something, like, "Wanna read this one together?" Or "I'll read the first page and you can jump in when you're ready." You can take turns reading pages or try echo reading where they repeat after you. Or you can switch things up, you read and they jump in with sound effects.
[00:02:47] All of that still counts.
[00:02:49] Reading aloud at home doesn't have to sound perfect, it just needs to feel safe.
[00:02:53] Now let's talk about the strategies that you can use to ease resistance and make reading aloud feel less like a chore and more like fun.
[00:03:00] One of my favorite tips. Start with the silly stuff. I'm talking about joke books, comics, anything that makes them laugh.
[00:03:06] When JD started showing some resistance to reading aloud, joke books were our first line of defense. He loved sharing jokes with Grandpa, who is by the way, the king of puns. JD would flip through those books for ages hunting for one that would actually make us all laugh out loud. And even when the jokes went a little over his head or they didn't quite land, he didn't care. He was reading out loud with confidence.
[00:03:26] You can also try using familiar books that they've read a dozen times. That familiarity takes off a lot of the pressure and gives them a huge confidence boost.
[00:03:33] If that's still not enough, let them follow along with an audiobook or model reading aloud yourself while they're doing something low key, like building with Legos or coloring.
[00:03:40] It gives them a better idea of how reading aloud is supposed to sound. So when they give it a go, they have a jumping off point. You're not asking anything of them right away. You're letting them switch into the reading role when they're ready.
[00:03:50] Sometimes the change of scenery can go a long way too. For example, reading with a flashlight under a blanket can be a total win. Reading outside, hey, that's something new and different. Make it fun. Let it feel like an adventure, not something you're asking of them.
[00:04:04] And if your child gets winded or overwhelmed easily, don't forget that building stamina is part of the process. The Reading Stamina Tracker Kit can give you and your child the opportunity to see those small wins really add up.
[00:04:15] If they can read for two minutes today, that's a win and you can build from there. You can grab the free Reading Stamina Tracker Kit at the link in the description.
[00:04:22] Now, I know reading aloud can totally feel like a fight sometimes, but I also know it's worth sticking with, because it gives you a glimpse into what's really going on, what's clicking, what's still a little tricky.
[00:04:32] But even more than that, it's a way to connect. If it's just a silly joke, a single page, or reading to a sibling, and I know that may hurt that it's not you, but hey, it's a start. But if your child isn't ready to read out loud yet, that's okay too. It doesn't mean that something's wrong. It just means that they need a little more time, a little more safety and a whole lot of connection. You're not failing them. You're doing the work. You're showing up. You're creating that safe space and that, that matters more than anything else, even if it doesn't always feel like it.
[00:05:01] Hey, before we wrap up, if you're heading into the school year, hoping this will be the year that reading finally feels easier, but at the same time, you're secretly bracing for things to get a little chaotic, you're not alone. Those first few weeks back can be a whirlwind and even the best intentions around reading often get lost in the shuffle.
[00:05:16] That's why I've got something coming up that might help a short, low pressure workshop that's all about helping you reset your rhythm and reconnect with your reader before the struggles become a daily battle. I'll share more details over the coming weeks, but just know for now if those early weeks feel harder than expected.
[00:05:30] I've got your back and support is on the way
[00:05:32] Next week. We're talking about a few common mistakes parents make around reading, myself included, that can accidentally make things feel harder than they need to.
[00:05:41] I'll walk you through what to look out for, some simple shifts to try, and how to make reading time feel a little easier for both you and your child. You don't need to overhaul everything. Just noticing what's not working is a great first step, be sure to follow so you don't miss it.
[00:05:55] Thanks so much for tuning in into today's episode. If you're lovingly engaging Reluctant Readers podcast, I'd be so grateful if you'd take a second to leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more families find their way to feel good reading wins and real world strategies that work. And if today's episode resonated with you, especially around building your child's stamina and confidence, you'll definitely wanna check out the Reading Stamina Tracker Kit.
[00:06:16] It's totally free and gives you a simple way to track small, meaningful progress with your child over time. You can grab it now at bit.ly/RSTrackerKit and for even more support and practical strategies, check out the Motivating Reluctant Readers guide.
[00:06:29] You'll find the link for both in the description.
[00:06:31] Until next time, this is Ellen Westbrook cheering you on through every small step, every silly read aloud and every bedtime book battle that you're gently turning into a win.