If getting your child to sit down with a book feels like pulling teeth, take a deep breath. You are not alone.

In a world competing for their attention with flashy video games, fast-paced cartoons, and endless scrolling, a static page of text can sometimes feel a little, well, quiet to a highly stimulated kid. The transition from being read to, to reading independently, can also be intimidating.

But here is the good news: there is no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are only kids who haven't found the right book yet.If you're dealing with a reluctant reader who prefers screens over stories, here are a few expert-backed strategies to help them discover the magic of a good book.

1. Redefine What "Reading" Looks Like

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is insisting that reading only counts if it's a traditional chapter book. If your goal is to build literacy and a love for stories, you have to broaden the definition.Graphic Novels and Comics: These are incredible tools. The visual cues help kids decipher complex vocabulary, and the fast pacing keeps them turning the page. (Yes, Dog Man absolutely counts as reading!)Audiobooks: Listening to a story builds vocabulary, comprehension, and attention span. Pop an audiobook on in the car or while they're building Legos.Non-Fiction and Trivia: Some kids just don't care about dragons and wizards. They want to know how a car engine works, or what the most dangerous animal on earth is. Lean into their hyper-fixations!

2. The Power of "Strewing"

"Strewing" is an unschooling concept that works brilliantly for reluctant readers. Instead of handing them a book and saying, "Read this," you simply leave interesting books in their natural habitat.Leave a book about Minecraft on the coffee table. Put a joke book in the bathroom. Toss a visually stunning encyclopedia on their bed. The key is to take away the pressure. Let them discover it on their own terms. When reading isn't an assigned chore, curiosity often takes over.

3. Implement the "Read to Screen" Ratio

Instead of fighting the screen time, use it as a tool. Establish a rule that screen time must be unlocked with reading time. A common ratio is 1-to-1 (e.g., 20 minutes of reading equals 20 minutes of iPad time).To make this work without it feeling like a punishment, let them choose exactly what they read during those 20 minutes. Eventually, you’ll find that the 20 minutes are up, but they want to finish the chapter anyway.

4. The Magic of the Mailbox: Turn Books into an Event

When a book is assigned by a teacher, it’s homework. When a parent hands a kid a book, it’s a chore. But when a package arrives in the mail with their name on it? That is an event.This is exactly why we created our monthly children's book subscription box.We've found that the unboxing experience completely short-circuits a child's natural resistance to reading. By turning a book into a surprise gift, it shifts their mindset from obligation to excitement.

Here is why a subscription box works for reluctant readers:

• The Element of Surprise: Kids are naturally curious. Tearing open a box to see what’s inside is universally fun.

• Expert Curation: You don't have to spend hours guessing what they might like at the library. We curate highly-engaging, age-appropriate books that are specifically chosen to hook kids' attention from page one.

• It Feels Like a Treat: When a book comes packaged beautifully, perhaps with a fun bookmark or a related activity, it elevates the experience. It tells the child, "This is something special."

The Bottom Line

Transforming a reluctant reader doesn't happen overnight. It takes patience, a willingness to drop your own expectations of what reading should look like, and a little bit of novelty.Keep exploring, keep strewing, and let them take the lead. You might just be surprised by how quickly they get hooked.