Bored Of Reading To Your Kids?

Tired of yawning your way through another kid’s book at bedtime? Turns out you’re not alone, according to a recent survey by HarperCollins UK. The number of Gen Z parents reading stories to their children is at an all-time low, as more than half say they don’t find the fun in reading aloud, compared to Millennial and Gen X parents.

Whether it’s because they grew up with technology themselves, they’re stressed from juggling work and family, or simply trying to make it through the Witching Hour without a tantrum, Gen Z parents are losing the love of reading to their young children. Admittedly, it can be a challenge to find the pleasure in cracking open Goodnight Moon for the zillionth time, or to get through a book without being constantly interrupted. You know reading with your kids is beneficial, but how can you make it less of a chore?

We asked five experts what advice they’d give Gen Z parents to spark a love of reading books: two of Toronto’s most-loved storytellers, a TikTok library influencer, a children’s author and the head of a literary festival.

Fay and Fluffy

Fay & Fluffy’s Storytime has spread joy and promoted literacy and inclusion through storytelling since 2016. JP (Fay) + Kaleb (Fluffy) are both drag performers and experienced child educators. 

“Many of us carry baggage from past experiences—whether school made reading feel like a chore or we never had adults who modelled the joy of it”, Fay explains. “But if you want your kids to love reading, the best thing you can do is explore it with fresh eyes. Visit a library or bookstore and grab anything that sparks your interest, whether you’re flipping through a magazine, listening to an audiobook, or acting out a silly picture book together.”

“Time spent sitting and reading books can be so special, no matter what age,” says Fluffy. “I remember one parent saying they don't read to their baby because there was no point. I kindly told them about the joy of sitting together sharing stories, how it benefits language development, develops a love of reading, and teaches them new vocabulary.”

“You don't have to be a performer covered in glitter to keep your kids entertained for story time,” adds Fluffy. “If your baby would rather chew on the book, that’s okay. If your kid wants to read the same book over and over (and over and over), find others by the same author or on the same topic to change things up.”

“Storytime doesn’t only have to be for bedtime,” she adds. “If you have active kiddos, read to them at snack time. Or why not bring their stuffies to the living room and give yourself an audience?”

“Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie series and Pigeon series are perfect for parents looking to share laughter with their kids,” says Fay. “These books are packed with humour and playful storytelling, encouraging silly read-aloud moments that children adore.”

“Reading isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. Start small, follow their lead, and remember: every page you share—or voice you silly-up—helps build a new story around what reading can be,” adds Fay.

Heather Grace aka The Contoured Librarian

Heather Grace is an accidental TikTok library influencer by night, and a school librarian in Texas by day. 

“Read-alouds give children so much more than just stories. They create a shared experience that helps kids feel connected to the person reading and to the characters on the page.

It also gives kids a chance to slow down, use their imagination, and escape into new worlds for a while. Reading aloud is one of the most powerful ways we help kids fall in love with stories.

Life can be fast and loud and hard to handle, and reading can sometimes feel like one more thing that we have to do. Start small, like having books in an accessible location for your kids and picking them up to flip through for two minutes or turning on an audiobook in the car.

Try picking a book that has a movie. Read the book first, then watch the movie and have themed snacks while you talk about things that may be different.

For reading together at home, try the Novel Effect app. It adds sound effects to books as you read them and makes things really magical, or read together and challenge your kid to make the sound effects they believe belong!

When kids see reading as a fun way to unwind versus a chore, they start to realize the connections that can be made and slowly fall in love. Three of my favourite picture books that are also well-loved by my students are The Candy Dish by Kobi Yamada, Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and I Want My Hat Back by John Klassen.

You don’t need a perfect routine. You just need to show up, even for five minutes, and share a story. Read in funny voices. Let your kid interrupt. Let them pick the same book for the hundredth time. These little moments build connection, language, and memory. Reading aloud isn’t about performance. It’s about presence. And your presence is more powerful than anything.”

Adrienne Kress

Adrienne Kress is an actor and author who has published 17 children’s and young adult novels. Her first children’s graphic novel, Ghost Circus, comes out this summer. 

“As a reluctant reader myself, it took a lot of time for me to figure out that I liked reading. Had my parents not read to me, I might have thought books were just not for me at all. But they read everything to me—from The Lord of the Rings to Judy Blume. And I loved it!

I think most parents are familiar with how important it is to read to kids. They’re also inundated with advice on what they ought to be doing and can feel drained with so many expectations.

As an actor, I’d say think about sharing stories less as “reading” and more as “make-believe” or “acting.” Really lean into the fun of it all, doing funny voices. getting into the dialogue, and acting out dramatic parts. It’s the “you” factor that’s the most important part. No one is watching, and this isn’t being recorded for social media.

I recommend books that will also entertain parents. A.A. Milne is just a wonderful author to read out loud and Winnie The Pooh is an institution. A few other such examples are titles by Jon Klassen or by Nadia Hohn. The “I’m Bored” series by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi.

I’d love it if parents could see reading to their kids as the best time of the day, instead of a “have to.” No screens, no rushing around to get things done. Kids don’t need it to be perfect, they just want to spend time with you.”

Leslie Hurtig

Leslie Hurtig is the Artistic Director of the Vancouver Writers Fest, a literary arts organization that connects adults and kids to exceptional books, ideas and dialogue. She’s also a parent to three boys.

“One of my favourite experiences is watching young children interact with stories and storytellers on our stages. The act of engaging kids in immersive language, imagination, and writing is a gift that will stay with them for a long time.

When young children are invited to listen to an author read to them or answer their questions, they’re often inspired to then create their own stories and books. Reading aloud to kids sparks imagination as well as conversation.

Start with visiting a library or bookstore that has a lively kids’ section. Together, ask the librarian or bookseller to recommend some books to you and your child. Most libraries and bookstores offer story times that combine read-aloud storytelling with music, crafts or even puppetry.

If your community has a literary festival, find out which kids’ authors are attending, and read some of their stories together before having an outing to meet the author in person. Kids love to meet an author whose books they’ve gotten to know ahead of time. It’s like meeting a star!

One of my best memories from my kids’ early years was visiting the library to stock up on audiobooks for our summer vacation. We’d bring a stack of audiobooks to listen to during long car rides, or when we were relaxing in the shade after a long morning in the sun.

There are a lot of truly entertaining kids' books out there. If you can get into the habit of browsing with your child at the library or bookstore, you will find books to delight both of you. Find books that make you giggle, or help you remember what it was like to be a child again.”