Do Kids Still Read? (And Why It Still Matters More Than Ever)

Let’s be real!

Between tablets, YouTube, video games, and endless scrolling…Do kids even read anymore?

Short answer: yes — but not always in the way we remember. And no — it’s not because kids are lazy or parents aren’t trying hard enough.

It’s because the world is louder now.

At Read to You 365, we see it every day: kids who want to read… but need stories that feel like them.

Why Reading Still Matters (Especially for Our Kids)

Reading isn’t just about words on a page.

For children — especially children of the African diaspora — reading helps them:

• 💛 See themselves reflected in a beautiful way

• 🧠 Build confidence, empathy, and emotional awareness

• 🗣 Strengthen language, focus, and self-expression

• ✨ Believe their stories matter

When a child sees a character who looks like them, talks like them, feels like them — something clicks.

That’s not just literacy. That’s identity.

“My Kid Doesn’t Like Reading” (Let’s Reframe That)

Most kids don’t hate reading. They hate:

• Being forced to read books they can’t relate to

• Feeling behind or “not good at it”

• Reading without joy, movement, or connection

So instead of asking “Why won’t my child read? ” Try asking:

👉 “Have they met the right book yet?”

3 Simple Ways to Support Reading (Without Pressure)

1. Read With Them — Not At Them

Read aloud. Take turns. Use voices. Laugh. Reading together builds safety and connection.

2. Let Stories Be Short

Every book doesn’t need to be a chapter book. Short stories, poems, affirmations, and visuals count.

3. Make Reading Feel Like Play

Dance breaks. Drawing scenes. Acting out characters. Reading doesn’t have to be still to be powerful.

(This is literally why we built Read to You 365 the way we did.)

Where Read to You 365 Comes In

On Read to You 365, we:

• Read stories by and about the African diaspora

• Use affirmations, music, and movement

• Help kids love who they are while learning to read

• Meet kids exactly where they are

No pressure. No shame. Just joy, representation, and growth 🌱

🎥 Watch our latest read-alouds and affirmations here: 👉 Read to You 365 on YouTube

A Message for Parents & Caregivers

You’re not failing. Your child isn’t behind. Reading doesn’t have to look perfect.

If your child is listening… imagining… asking questions…they’re learning.

And if you need support, stories, or tools that reflect your child with love — we’re here.

🌟 Want to Go Deeper?

• Explore our printable coloring & affirmation pages

• Meet our Young Scholars characters

• Read more blogs made for real families

👉 Visit us at www.readtoyou365.com

Because every child deserves to see themselves in the story. Every story deserves to be told 💛