Before you jump into the blog, I wanted to highlight some key statistics that drive home just how important the beginning of literacy is, and why I create sustainable, manageable early literacy resources for parents. According to a study by The Literacy Trust, only 34.6% of children aged 8 to 18 in the UK reported enjoying reading in their free time in 2024 - the lowest rate since 2005! Even more concerning, just 20.5% reported reading daily.

For mums already battling daily chaos, overstimulation, and carrying the mental load of motherhood, helping their child build strong literacy habits can feel overwhelming.

This, paired with the rapid decline of young adults' mental health, proves that building a love of reading in those early years of childhood is more crucial than ever. What a pressure to put on parents, eh? I don't believe that constantly telling mums, 'You need to read every day with your child.’ 'You need to practise phonics at home' will change anything. As a mum, you already know you need to do that.

What needs to start happening is meeting mums where they are - in the thick of motherhood, where regular overstimulation is a contributing factor, and equipping them with sustainable, manageable tools to support their child effectively without it impacting their mental load.

This post is for you - the busy, loving parent who dreams of sharing simple, connected learning moments with your child without adding pressure or perfectionism. 

In this blog post, you'll find how a calm, consistent reading routine can transform your child's relationship with books - and how it can fit beautifully into your real, crazy, wonderful life.

By the end, you'll have an actionable 'reading lesson plan', examples of no-prep reading activities, and simple reading instructions you can start using with your child today.

Why a Calm Daily Reading Routine Matters

Trying to cram elaborate literacy activities into an already full day isn't sustainable, no matter what you see online. Children (and adults!) thrive on predictability and simplicity. A calm daily reading routine isn't about doing more - it's about doing what's right for you AND your child, doing it well and consistently.

Consistent reading builds vocabulary, strengthens emotional bonds, and lays the foundation for later academic success. Even just 10 minutes a day can make a real difference. (There are 5 different types of reading you can do at home with your child! I explain each type in my FREE guide: The Little Reading Reset. It's coming soon, so sign up to the waitlist here so you don't miss out!)

The benefits of consistent reading go beyond just academic growth.
Supporting reading at home in a calm, connected way can be a huge support for you, too.
Amid the relentless mental load of motherhood, taking time for my reading routine with your child offers a pause - a quiet, nurturing space where connection matters more than outcomes.
These simple shared moments help ease the feeling of always carrying the mental load, reminding you that real learning and emotional security often happen in the smallest, calmest pockets of time in the day.

By weaving a calm, enjoyable daily reading routine into your family rhythm, you're not only fostering your child's love of books - you’re also building emotional resilience, reducing your stress, and strengthening the bond that carries you both through the busy, messy days.

The Mental Load of Supporting Reading at Home

Carrying the mental load of motherhood often includes the invisible tasks of planning, organising, and managing your child's learning. This can make supporting reading at home feel like just another item on an endless to-do list. Now add in wild younger siblings, a reluctant reader, and the general chaos of family life - and you've hit the trifecta!

Sharing a 'calm five minutes' can feel impossible some days - and that’s ok. Not every day is going to look the same. Some days are 'small moment' days. That doesn't make you a bad mum; it makes you human.

Instead of adding more pressure, weaving my daily reading routine into your day can ease the mental load you're already carrying.
It creates a natural pause - a quiet moment where connection, cuddles, and calmness take centre stage, away from the usual noise and busyness. Even a few minutes spent reading together can shift the energy of the day.

Research consistently shows that strong emotional bonds between parent and child are protective for both children's and parents' mental health. A simple, calm reading routine becomes an anchor point in your day, offering predictability, joy, and a gentle reminder that you are already doing enough.

Rather than seeing supporting reading at home as another task to tick off, think of it as a gift for your child, but also for yourself. Creating just 10 minutes of connection through reading can be a powerful act of self-care, as well as a beautiful step toward nurturing a lifelong love of literacy.

Want even more support with fitting early literacy into your real, busy life?
I’ll be diving deeper into how to weave reading, writing, and phonics into your daily routines in my FREE guide: The Little Reading Reset.
It’s coming soon! Click here to sign up for the waitlist so you don't miss out.

Ok, here is what you've been waiting for...

How to Build Your Daily Reading Routine

1.Choose a Consistent(ish) Time

Think about natural 'anchor points' in your day: after breakfast, before dinner, after bath, and also consider the part of the day where you know you get overstimulated with the chaos (for me, it's witching hour before bedtime - two-year-olds are no joke!). Choose one and stick to it as much as you can. Consistency reduces resistance and builds a habit. But remember, you don't have to be perfect! If you miss a day, just begin again tomorrow.

2.Set Up a Calm Environment

You don't need a fancy 'book nook' (even though I'd give my right arm for one of those!).

Grab a blanket and some cushions and make a 'little reading nest' on the sofa, bed, or floor.

Limit distractions - turn off the TV, the Tonie box, and Alexa (you know all three of those were going at the same time).

Turn down the lights! Fun fact - low lighting reduces sensory input, activating your parasympathetic system, which essentially means it calms down your brain. 

Doing all of these can signal it's 'reading time' for your child.

3. Use a Simple Reading Lesson Plan

This sounds scarier than what it is! In no way do I expect you to be 'teacher-like', or for this reading time with your child to be heavily structured. But I've found it helps to follow a similar guideline each time. A simple reading lesson plan might look like this:

• T - Curl up together.
• G - Use a gentle reading pace.
• P - Discuss the pictures.
• Q - Ask your child questions about the story.

P & Q - Do these casually as you are reading and briefly afterwards. It's in those small conversations that children learn the most! When thinking about questions to ask your child, stick to the basics - who, what, when, where, why, and how?

Some examples could be:

• Who is the main character in the story?
• What do you think will happen next?
• Where is the story taking place?
• When did this event happen?
• How do you know this character is feeling sad?

These kinds of questions encourage comprehension, keep the conversation light and natural, and don't feel like a 'test' for your child - the aim is to be calm and relaxed, not for it to feel like school. But it's in these micro-moments that your child is learning so much!

4. Try Fun, Stress-Free Reading Activities - No prep!

If reading the book word for word just isn't in your child's plan that day, that's ok! Not every day will look the same. Instead, look through the pictures in the book together, and play a quick 5-minute activity such as:

• Acting out parts of the story
• Drawing a favourite character
• Making up a new ending together
• Make sound effects for the story using parts of your body
• Change your voice for different characters
• Describe the pictures together

And possibly the most important one - relate something in the story to your child's own experiences. For example, if you are reading The Gruffalo, you could talk about the time you went for a walk in the woods - Did you see The Gruffalo? Did the woods have a stream, lake, nuts on the ground, etc? You get the idea. This will help your reading time be immersive. This is where a love of reading grows!

These playful touches deepen comprehension and create happy associations with reading.

5. Use Calm Reading Instructions

What you say here is obviously dependent on the age and ability of your child. But it's about fitting in micro moments of learning, so the whole thing doesn't feel so overwhelming, or school-like.

A calm 'reading instruction' could sound like:

• "We've finished this page, let's turn over. Can you do it?"
• "It's ok if you aren't sure what that word says, let's look at the sounds together..."
• "Amazing! You found the tricky word 'the'/the pig in the picture/the /d/ sound! Can you find...?"
• "Can you find the character who is feeling anxious/excited/nervous?"

When Life Gets Chaotic (Because It Will!)

Some days, your reading routine will look different. That's okay! Reading a recipe together, spotting the sounds in road signs, or cuddling up with an audiobook count towards developing early literacy.

The goal is connection, not perfection. I bet you are already doing some of those things!

Conclusion

You don't need to overhaul your life or create elaborate Pinterest-worthy activities to support your child's literacy. A calm, simple daily reading routine woven into your existing rhythm is powerful - and achievable.

Start today: pick a time, choose a favourite book, and spend 10 peaceful minutes reading together. One small step at a time, you're building a lifelong love of reading.

PS.

Are we connected on Instagram? If not, I'm so glad you found me and The Little Reading Nest through the powers of the internet! Come and join the growing community of mums in a place where mum guilt is not allowed.

Want even more support? Don't forget to sign up to the waitlist for my upcoming freebie - The Little Reading Reset. 

You’re not looking for more to do - you need something that feels doable.

Let learning feel like a moment of calm, not another task on your to do list. Inside The Little Reading Reset and discover simple, no-pressure ways to fit reading, writing, and phonics into your routine. On days when you’re reaching your limit, you can only do what you can - that doesn’t make you a bad mum, it makes you human.

The number one contributing factor to whether a child thrives is the mental health of their mother - and this free guide helps you find small, manageable moments to support your child without adding more stress.

Ready to make phonics an enjoyable, stress-free part of daily life? Discover the full Phonics at Home Curriculum and take the guesswork out of supporting your child at home.