The start of the school year is like pressing a giant reset button. New teachers. New supplies. New routines. For many kids—especially those five and up—it’s also when they begin to grasp cause-and-effect. They start to understand that morning routines lead to smoother days and that some things just go better when they’re consistent.
That’s why this time of year matters so much for building a reading habit. And why we’re helping families jumpstart their routines with 25% off a full year of Epic. Because let’s be real: building a reading habit is easiest when books are always within reach!
Why Consistency Is Key
Reading isn’t about cramming in hours of reading all at once. It’s about 20 minutes a day, anchored to something familiar. Snack time? Read a story. Just came home from school? Pick a book that matches their day—maybe something from our Back to School Collection, which features books about first-day jitters but also a handful of our most popular series. Here’s a sample of what’s in that collection:
As your child moves through their day, they know that a precise moment comes before reading—and when reading happens every day at that same time, the habit takes hold.
It’s those repeatable moments, stacked on top of existing habits, that turn reading into something automatic. Teachers understand the importance of this type of consistency, which is why they insist on 20 minutes of daily reading (otherwise known as the Daily 20).
“But My Child Resists Reading…”
Got a reluctant reader? That’s totally normal! Kids are wired for immediate rewards, and reading often feels like a slow burn by comparison.
The goal isn’t forcing it—it’s helping them discover something that hooks them. Maybe it’s a comic with a hilarious twist ending. Maybe it’s an audiobook with a narrator who brings the story to life with a memorable voice. These aren’t shortcuts. They’re on-ramps.
In fact, audio-supported reading and graphic novels are powerful tools for developing literacy. When stories are told in different ways—through words, pictures, and sound—it helps kids understand big ideas and learn new vocabulary, especially as they’re still becoming confident readers. The more kids connect emotionally to a story, the more they’ll want to stick with it.
Making It Fun and Rewarding
The first month of Back to School might mean the return of homework and routines, but there are simple things you can do to make reading feel less like part of the daily grind. You can incentivise them with little rewards, like stickers, treats, or even a point-based system.
Make the reward feel like part of the process. For example, invite them to tell you more about the story they read over ice cream. Or let them stay up an extra 20 minutes past bedtime to continue reading.
Epic also has incentives built right into the app. The more they read, the more badges and Reading Buddies they can collect, and the more fun their Epic experience becomes.
Let Them See You Reading
Here’s something powerful: Kids who see their parents reading are more likely to become regular readers themselves. Not because it’s “modeled behavior” (though it is), but because it makes reading feel normal. Expected. Valued.
Try it: After dinner, grab a book. Let your child see you getting pulled into a story. Talk about it. Say, “This book is wild, I didn’t expect that ending.” That’s how sharing becomes part of the routine, too.
It works especially well in households with siblings. When kids talk to each other about their books—even just to say “you should read this next”—they’re learning how to express and interpret stories. That’s huge for comprehension and empathy.
Celebrate Progress—Not Perfection
You might miss a day, or three. That’s fine! The best routines are the ones you can return to even after an unexpected hiccup. In fact, kids who see their parents handle a “missed day” with grace learn something even more important than grit: they learn how to bounce back and keep going.
So yes, celebrate the streaks. But also normalize the re-start. Because the goal isn’t a perfect chart. It’s a lifelong relationship with reading.
Lock in a Year of Reading
We want to help your family make reading part of the rhythm of everyday life. That’s what Epic is for: not just access to 40,000+ books, but the ability to build routines that work for your home, your schedule, your kids. As a reminder, you can now save 25% on a full year of Epic—just a little over $5/month.
Sign up now and see what’s possible this school year and beyond!
