You sit at the table with you child getting ready to read then all of the sudden the questions start-
How long am I supposed to read?
Is it a big book?
Can we read another day? I wanna go play with my toys!
And now you sitting there thinking to yourself-
How did we get to a point where my child hates reading?
Reading is supposed to be a good thing.
But why does it feel like a chore to my child?
If this is you, you’re not alone—and more importantly, this can be fixed.
First, Let’s Get This One Thing Straight…
Your child does not hate reading.
They hate how it makes them feel.
Frustrated.
Confused.
Behind.
And to be honest, most kids don’t know how to say that… so it comes out as:
“I hate reading.”
Why Kids Start to Hate Reading
Once you understand this part, everything shifts.
1. They Believe It’s Too Hard
If your child is missing key phonics skills, reading feels like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces.
They aren’t tryna be lazy- They are just stuck.
2. It’s Not Fun Anymore
When reading starts to feel more like a job than a fun hobby…
they will grow up avoiding it at all costs.
That will definitely be terrible in the long run .
3. They’ve Lost Confidence
If they’ve struggled more than a few times without guidance, they start believing:
“I’m just not good at this.”
And once that belief sets in?
It will be harder to convince them in the long run
What Not To Do (Even Though It’s Tempting)
Let’s be real for a second—most of us have tried at least one of these:
- Forcing them to read longer to “catch up”
- Picking books with challenging words thinking it’ll help them improve
- Comparing them to siblings or classmates
- Making reading a punishment
None of these actually fix the problem.
They usually make kids shut down even more.
What Actually Works (And Feels Way Better)
Here’s what starts to turn things around:
1. Make It Feel Like Play
Reading doesn’t have to be serious all the time.
Use silly voices.
Act out the story.
Turn it into a game.
When kids have fun, they won’t resist.
2. Go Back to Basics (Yes, Really)
If reading feels hard, it usually means there’s a gap in phonics.
Focus on sounds first.
Break words down.
Keep it simple.
Confidence grows when things start to “click.”
3. Keep It Short and Sweet
You don’t need an hour.
5–10 minutes of positive, stress-free reading
is way more powerful than long, frustrating sessions.
4. Celebrate the Small Wins
This part matters more than you think.
Got one sound right? Celebrate it.
Read one word correctly? That’s a win.
Small confidence boosts lead to big progress.
A Quick Story You Might Relate To
When it was time to read sometimes, my son would literally hide from me.
Not kidding—hide.
So instead of forcing it, I switched things up.
Shorter sessions. Sounding out words. Using silly voices.
Within a couple of weeks…
he wasn’t hiding anymore.
And a little later?
He started reminding me it was reading time.
Here’s the Truth Most People Won’t Tell You
Kids don’t need more pressure to read.
They need the right approach.
Something that helps them:
- Understand phonics
- Build confidence
- Actually enjoy the process
That’s exactly why I created Bloomzi—to make reading feel simple, fun, and doable again for both you and your child.
You’re Not Behind—You’re Just Getting Started the Right Way
If your child hates reading right now, it doesn’t mean they always will.
It just means something isn’t clicking yet.
And once it does?
Everything changes for the better.
Just be patient and stay consistent.
Ready to Make Reading Easier (and Way Less Stressful)?
Start small.
Keep it fun.
And focus on progress—not perfection.
If you want a simple way to get started, check out the Bloomzi reading activities designed to turn struggling readers into confident ones—without the daily battles.