The Many Benefits of Reading for Pleasure

Few things mark the joys of summer like the beach read, temporarily setting aside the required reading from school or work and picking up a book for the pure pleasure of reading.

For readers of all ages, there are many benefits to reading for fun, according to Tisha Hayes, professor and director of McGuffey Reading Services at the UVA School of Education and Human Development. 

“Reading books for pleasure is how children’s literacy journeys begin, and hopefully it remains a part of all our reading practices,” Hayes said. “Taking a break from required reading to pick up something for pleasure benefits our reading skill, creates important connections with family and friends, and exposes us to people and places well beyond our lived experience.”

Building Connections

Reading aloud to little ones is critically important when it comes to establishing a foundation for literacy. It is also an effective way to build connections.

“Reading aloud with young children is an important way to teach them how to navigate books and expose them to language play, like rhyming,” Hayes said. “It can also help children build their general background knowledge of the world. Reading aloud to older kids can help them explore their curiosities that often extend beyond their current reading abilities.”

Connecting over books can happen formally, through book clubs or local library clubs or more informally by talking with friends or family about a book you both have read. Road tripping this summer with family or friends? Audiobooks provide another way to connect over a book. They can be an especially great engagement tool for kids. 

“Families can listen together, pausing the book on occasion and asking reflection questions like, what do you think will happen next? Or why do you think that character made that choice?” Hayes suggests. 

You can also connect over different books. Friends and families can talk about the books they’re reading individually and share their favorite parts.

“Asking kids about the story they are reading is a simple entry point into a conversation about books,” Hayes said. “Invite them to read a favorite part aloud so you can enjoy it together.”

Time in the Text

Summer pleasure reading can be an effective tool to help maintain or even build reading stamina, what Hayes calls spending “time in text.”

“If I want to run a marathon, I'm going to be running regularly to build up my stamina,” Hayes said. “And if I take a few of weeks off from my running, then I have to back up and start rebuilding my stamina. It's the same thing with reading.”

With a break from school, summer is a great time for kids to focus on reading what they are most interested in—and that includes the format of the book. For example, graphic novels are often a kid favorite and, according to Hayes, are a great option if they keep kids reading. 

Reading through a series can also be a helpful tool to keep kids reading. It can be an easier lift to go from one book to another.

“With a series, kids have already gotten to know the characters and the setting,” Hayes said. “It’s comfortable to them and can make for a quick start of the next book.”

If you don’t know where to start, there are kid-focused resources out there with curated sets of books based on topics and areas of interests. Some of Hayes’ recommendations include the following:

• Visit the local library
• Subscription book clubs options: Literati or Jambo Books
• Sites that offer suggestions: Bookelicious, Diverse Books, American Library Association
• Online libraries: Epic!, Skybrary
• Social media: Follow your favorite author

Hayes warns, however, to not be too strict when it comes to how much reading time is required.

“My tip is to make sure there is reading practice without turning it into a chore,” she said. “It helps to think about how much time is spent reading over the course of a week instead of measuring each day. Get creative sometimes. Build a fort to read inside on a rainy day. Or enjoy an outside picnic for reading on a sunny afternoon.”

Reading for Fun

Diving into a great book is hopefully something every reader can enjoy. 

“Sometimes, reading is about fun; other times it’s about digging into our wonderings.” Hayes said. “Either way, the hope is that it brings us joy.” 

Whether it is the quintessential beach read or a new release non-fiction, stories help spur readers’ intellectual curiosity.