Fun Reading Challenges for Kids to Try This Month
Turn reading into a playful, rewarding challenge with monthly bingo cards, scavenger hunts, and family book-club ideas.
Reading can slip to the bottom of the schedule once school projects, sports practice, and screens compete for attention. A simple way to bring books back to center stage is to turn them into a challenge—one that feels playful, achievable, and rewarding for the whole family. Below you'll find everything you need to launch your own challenge, from idea starters to printable trackers and gentle encouragement when enthusiasm wobbles.
Fun Reading Challenges for Kids to Try This Month
Why Monthly Challenges Work
A month is long enough to form a habit yet short enough for kids to see the finish line. Research shows that when children set specific, time-boxed goals—and can measure their progress—motivation rises and reading minutes climb. (readingrockets.org)
Core Challenge Ideas
- Build-Your-Own Bingo Card: Draw a five-by-five grid and fill each square with a fun prompt: a book set in space, a title with alliteration, a poem collection, a graphic novel, a nonfiction animal tale. Every time your child completes a square, they color it in. Five across earns a small prize; a blackout earns bragging rights and maybe a bookstore visit.
- 30-Day Genre Adventure: Split the month into four themed weeks—mystery, fantasy, biography, and poetry—and let kids pick one short book or chapter per day within each genre. Variety keeps boredom away and shows readers the literary buffet waiting for them.
Seasonal & Monthly Themes
- Summer Reading Sprint: Pair popsicles with page counts. Create an outdoor reading nook with beach towels and invite friends over for a sunny "read-in." Public libraries often hand out badges you can weave into your own tracker.
- Cozy Winter Readathon: When daylight fades early, declare "Blanket Book Hour." Hot cocoa, fairy lights, and a stack of wintry tales make the couch irresistible.
Game-Based Challenges
- Reading Scavenger Hunt: Hide clues around the house—each one is a short excerpt or riddle leading to the next location and a book surprise. Completing the hunt unlocks a new bedtime story.
Printable Tools & Trackers
Downloadable sticker charts and reading logs turn invisible effort into visible momentum. Posting the chart on the fridge invites siblings and visiting grandparents to cheer progress.
Family & School Spin-Offs
- Classroom Reading Race: Teachers can adapt the bingo board to the curriculum and let tables work as teams. A shared goal builds camaraderie and keeps peers accountable.
- Family Book-Club Night: Choose a picture book or early reader everyone can finish in one sitting. Afterward, discuss favorite characters while sharing popcorn. Younger siblings absorb the routine even before they can decode words.
FAQs
How many books should my child read?
Aim for consistency over quantity. Ten minutes a day across a month equals an entire novel's worth of text.
What if my child resists?
Offer choice. Let them swap any prompt they dislike. According to Reading Rockets, autonomy is a key lever in sustaining reading motivation. (readingrockets.org)
Challenges succeed when fun outweighs pressure. Celebrate effort, not speed. Slip picture books into picnic baskets, pair audiobooks with LEGO builds, and congratulate every small milestone. Over time you'll see confidence bloom—and a bookshelf that empties faster than you can restock it.
Ready to start? Sign up for early access to our app, pick tonight's first prompt, and watch pages turn into proud smiles.