Children pay attention to and model what they see in their homes. When a parent cuddles up with a book for pleasure, or when Dad reads before bed every night, it sends a powerful message.

Researcher Sandra Cubillos (2023) found that when parents genuinely enjoy reading for themselves, whether that means curling up with a novel, flipping through a magazine, or keeping a stack of books by the bed, their kids are more likely to read for fun too. It makes sense. When children see reading as something their parents actually want to do, not something they “should” do, it begins to look like a source of enjoyment rather than a chore. That habit has a way of spreading. The reason our kids want screens so badly is that they see us with them.

Other researchers, such as Eliane Segers and colleagues (van Bergen, 2017), describe this as the “home literacy environment.” This does not only mean parents reading to children, but also the way books, conversations, and attitudes toward reading show up in daily life. A home where books are visible and valued, where someone talks with excitement about a story they are reading, or where there is a trip to the library on the weekend, sends the message that reading matters here.

Family literacy programs around the world build on this idea. When parents are encouraged to read more for their own pleasure, or simply share their reading habits openly, children show stronger results in school. Parents also feel more connected to the learning process.

If you’re thinking, “I don’t actually love to read, but I want better for my children.”

I am you. I was a very reluctant reader. Because of my passive and obedient nature in the early years, I was passed along through school functionally illiterate until junior high.

While I became a strong reader over time, I was not naturally drawn to books until my adult years. As far as I was concerned, I had too much to read for classes in college, and so my love for reading really didn’t fully blossom until after I was married and my oldest child was born. For so many reasons I wanted to be like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. In fact, so much so that my oldest is named Isabelle and we call her Belle. I wanted her to grow up loving books, so I made sure she had more books than toys or clothes. Even as a toddler I took her (and then her two brothers after her) to the library at least once per week and bookstores on special occasions. My motivation was driven purely because I wanted my children to be strong readers and not suffer from the embarrassment I had, not because I had a love for reading.

Reading their children’s books to them day after day, year after year, was like a hard reset in my brain. I read nursery rhymes, fairy tales, silly Sandra Boynton books, Dr. Seuss, old-fashioned books like Winnie-the-Pooh and Tales of Peter Rabbit, and chapter books like, The Magic Treehouse and it was like a second chance for my inner child. As they grew up in books, I got the chance to relive what my early illiteracy had prevented. This exposure sparked something inside of me that grew into my adult love for reading and my passion for reading to children.

My husband has always been an avid reader and reads at least two books a week, so I also had him modeling for me the consistent daily habit of reading as an adult.

On a whim at a bookstore, I discovered historical fiction, which has become my favorite genre. I also discovered that I love character-driven stories rather than plot-driven stories. 

It doesn’t matter if you don’t currently enjoy reading. It’s okay to fake it till you make it for the benefit of your kids. It’s okay if you DNF (do not finish) some books as you explore what you like and don’t like. 

Think of what types of shows you like to watch. Mysteries, crime dramas, historical dramas, comedies? Then ask yourself, what genre of books does that align with?

 Maybe you love being scared and are looking for a page-turning paranormal thriller.

 Or you love the charm of a small-town cozy murder mystery.

 Maybe you need to get away from all things reality and need a high fantasy story.

For the sake of your children, even if you just pick up a book for 10 minutes a day and stare blankly at the pages to model for them, that is a good enough start. It's ok if you read slow, don't understand some words, or don't like the genre. Be patient with yourself. Be willing to try and read anything for a few minutes at bedtime instead of doomscrolling, and just see if you fall asleep easier (maybe not if you’re reading Stephen King) or start to look forward to this little micro habit. Your kids will notice.

Here is a fairly comprehensive list of the main adult genres. (Full disclosure: Chat Gpt helped me with this list descriptions)

Don’t know where to start? Just plug the category into the Amazon search bar and look at the top 50 in that category, or look for it in the library if purchasing feels risky and expensive. You can typically get a free trial for a few months on Kindle Unlimited, and you don’t need a Kindle to use it. You just the use the app on any device. You can also use Libby with your local library card, which will allow you to read on e-readers for free.

Major Adult Fiction Genres

• Literary Fiction – Character-driven, theme-rich, often award-winning and focused on style as much as story.
• Historical Fiction – Stories set in the past with attention to period details.
• Christian Fiction— Stories set in the past or in modern times featuring Christian values and themes.
• Science Fiction (Sci-Fi) – Futuristic, technological, or speculative settings and ideas.
• Fantasy – Magical or supernatural worlds; includes epic fantasy, urban fantasy, and myth-inspired tales.
• Fantasy elements like magic systems, mythical creatures, epic world-building, or quests.

            With Romance arcs that are central to the story (often with tropes like enemies-to-lovers,               forbidden love, or fated mates).

• Mystery – Plots centered on solving a crime or puzzle, often with a detective or amateur sleuth.
• Cozy Mystery – Lighthearted whodunits set in small communities, featuring amateur sleuths and minimal graphic content.
• Thriller / Suspense – Fast-paced, high-stakes narratives with danger, conspiracies, or espionage.
• Horror – Intended to scare, unsettle, or explore the darker sides of human nature.
• Adventure – Action-oriented stories with journeys, exploration, and survival themes.
• Contemporary Fiction – Modern-day settings and relatable themes, often about relationships, identity, or society.
• Satire / Humor – Fiction that critiques or entertains through wit, irony, or comedy.
• Magical Realism – Real-world settings with subtle, unexplained magical elements woven in.

Major Adult Nonfiction Genres

• Biography / Autobiography / Memoir – True life stories of individuals.
• History – Explorations of past events, eras, or themes.
• Self-Help / Personal Development – Guidance on improvement, motivation, or growth.
• Health & Wellness – Nutrition, fitness, psychology, and lifestyle topics.
• Business & Economics – Management, leadership, finance, entrepreneurship.
• Politics & Current Affairs – Analyses of governments, policies, and global issues.
• Science & Technology – Popular science, discoveries, and technology trends.
• Philosophy & Religion – Spiritual, ethical, or worldview-centered works.
• Travel & Adventure – Personal journeys, exploration, or cultural travel writing.
• True Crime – Factual accounts of crimes, investigations, and criminal psychology.
• Essays & Criticism – Collections of reflective, cultural, or literary essays.
• Cooking & Food Writing – Cookbooks, culinary memoirs, and food culture.
• Art & Photography – Visual-heavy works focused on creativity and aesthetics.

References

Cubillos, M. (2023). A chip off the old block: Do reading-motivated parents raise reading-motivated children? Reading Research Quarterly, 58 (4), 668–684. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.504

van Bergen, E., Van Zuijen, T. L., Bishop, D., & de Jong, P. F. (2017). Why are home literacy environment and children’s reading skills associated? What parental skills reveal. Reading Research Quarterly, 52 (2), 147–160. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.160