By Richa Sharma
I began reading to my children when they were just 6-8 months old. Most people around me thought it was meaningless—“They’re too young,” they’d say. But I saw every story, rhyme, and image as a seed. Slowly, reading became part of our daily rhythm: picture books at bath time, lullabies before bed. As they grew, our nightly routine evolved from listening, to reading aloud together, to quiet independent reading. We played little games like completing a full book series, finishing a level of early readers, or reading five bedtime stories in a week. These small DIY reading challenges didn’t just make reading fun—they built a lifelong habit.
Vega Schools are built on the belief that learning starts early, and reading is no exception. Research shows that children who are not exposed to books early on often struggle with reading and writing in later grades. A longitudinal study by the National Early Literacy Panel found that children who develop strong literacy skills before age five are significantly more successful in school later. Conversely, those who begin reading late often fall behind—not just in language, but in overall academic performance. Vega Schools recognize that investing in early literacy is essential to ensuring students thrive across all subjects.
This is why DIY reading challenges to encourage kids to read more are such a valuable tool. At Vega Schools, we use them in age-appropriate, playful ways to promote choice, exploration, and independent thinking. The goal is not to “test” reading, but to celebrate it.
Parents can bring these challenges into their homes too. Here are some easy ideas:
- Genre Bingo: Read books from five different genres in a month.
- Book Tower: Stack the books you read—can you build it taller than your water bottle?
- Character Hunt: Read stories with animal, fantasy, or historical characters.
- One Author Challenge: Explore three books by the same author.
- Reading Relay: Take turns reading with a sibling or parent.
- Reading Streak: Read 20 minutes a day for 7 or 14 days in a row.
These kinds of DIY reading challenges not only improve reading fluency but also boost comprehension, vocabulary, and confidence. They allow kids to feel successful, motivated, and in charge of their own learning journey.
In conclusion, DIY reading challenges make reading fun, are goal-driven, and personal—transforming reluctant readers into enthusiastic ones. And it all begins with a story, a little time, and a lot of encouragement. So whether you are a parent, teacher, or caregiver, you play a powerful role in shaping a child’s reading journey. Start small. Choose one challenge. Make it a game. Make it joyful. The earlier we begin, the further our children will go.
Let’s raise readers—one challenge, one book, one magical moment at a time.
Vega Schools offers holistic education to children in Delhi NCR and is rated among the top Schools in Gurgaon. Its modern infrastructure, facilities, and experienced teachers are a big asset to the learning & development of students, be it for Nursery, Primary or Senior children making Vega Schools the best schools in Gurgaon. For information about admission please visit the Vega Schools campuses in Sector 48 and Sector 76 Gurugram.