The Importance of Daily Reading

Reading with your child every day has a huge impact on their learning, vocabulary, imagination, and confidence. Even just 10–20 minutes of focused reading helps children develop comprehension skills, improves their attention span, and fosters a love of stories and information. Daily reading also gives you the chance to talk about ideas, ask questions, and encourage your child to think critically about what they read. Making reading a regular part of your day creates a positive habit that benefits children both academically and personally.

Colour Key

• 🟢 KS1 (Ages 5–7) – Simple, conversational questions

• 🔵 KS2 (Ages 7–11) – More reflective, challenging questions

1. Choosing a Book

🟢 KS1

• Why did you choose this book?

• Did the cover picture make you want to read it?

• Have you read any other books by this author?

• Did you pick it because it’s about something you like, like animals or trains?

• What do you think this story might be about?

🔵 KS2

• Why did you choose this book?

• What did you think of the cover? Did it make you curious?

• Have you read other books by this author? What did you think of them?

• Did you choose this book because it’s about a topic you like, such as sports, mystery, or history?

• Based on the title and cover, what do you think the story or book will be about?

2. Before Reading

🟢 KS1

• Can you show me the title?

• What do you think might happen in the story?

• Do you know what the writing on the back of the book is called? What does it tell us?

• Can you show me the front cover, back cover, author, illustrator, and blurb?

• If it’s an information book, where would you look to find information about something specific?

🔵 KS2

• What do you think might happen in this story?

• Can you describe the different parts of the book: front cover, back cover, blurb, illustrator, publisher, ISBN?

• If it’s an information book, where would you look to find out about a particular topic?

3. During Reading

🟢 KS1

• What is happening in this picture?

• Can you tell me what has happened so far? Did it happen like you thought it would?

• What might happen next? How do you think the story will end?

• What kind of character is this—nice, mean, or funny?

• How would you feel if you were that character? Has anything like that ever happened to you?

🔵 KS2

• Can you summarise what has happened so far? Was it what you expected?

• What might happen next? How do you think the story could end?

• How would you describe this character—friendly, clever, tricky?

• How would you feel if you were in this character’s situation?

• If it’s a non-fiction book, what new facts have you learned? Which parts did you find interesting?

4. After Reading

🟢 KS1

• What was your favourite part of the book? Why?

• What part was the most exciting or interesting? Can you show it?

• What kind of character was…?

• Why did that character do that?

• Can you tell me what happened in the story?

• Did the pictures help you understand the story better?

• Would you still enjoy this book if it didn’t have pictures? Why?

• Did you notice any repeated parts? Why do you think the author did that?

• Who were the main characters? Which one would you like to be?

• Did you enjoy the book? Why?

🔵 KS2

• What was your favourite part of the book? Why?

• What was the most exciting, surprising, or interesting part?

• How would you describe the characters? Why did they act that way?

• Can you summarise the story in your own words?

• Were there any words, phrases, or sentences that you liked or found interesting?

• Why do you think some words are written in capitals, bold, italics, or different colours?

• Did this book help you understand something better or think about something differently?

• Would you like to read more books by this author or illustrator?

• How does this book compare to other books you’ve read? Was it happy, sad, scary, or exciting? Why?

• Does this story remind you of other stories, films, or real-life events?

• Would you recommend this book to someone else? Why?

Tip for Parents: You don’t need to ask every question. Pick 1–2 from each section that feel natural. Encourage your child to explain their answers—this builds comprehension and critical thinking.