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Reading Challenges for Kids: Types & Tips for Using at Home

Don’t mistake reading challenges — they aren’t about making reading difficult. In fact, they are the opposite! Reading challenges for kids are all about making the reading fun and even more motivated to think and reflect on literary pieces. In this article, I will take a closer look at what reading challenges are and how your child can benefit from them.

Key Points

• Reading challenges aren’t about making reading harder; on the contrary, they make reading much more engaging and fun for kids of all ages.
• There are many types of reading challenges, and depending on your kid’s preferences and goals, each type can help them become more focused and deeper readers.
• Simple routines, clear goals, small rewards, and parental support can keep kids motivated and turn reading into a lasting habit.
• Worksheet reading challenges can be especially effective for improving comprehension and vocabulary, if you are looking for structured, yet varied and engaging practice that doesn’t get boring.

Types of reading challenges

• Worksheet reading challenges
• Text scavenger hunt
• Read around the world challenge
• Exploring genre
• Friend and family reading challenges

Worksheet reading challenges

Grade/Age Range: 1-9 (ages 6-15)

If you are looking for a structured, yet versatile way for your kid to practice their reading, the worksheet reading challenges for students may be just the right choice. This challenge helps them practice their reading and comprehension through grade-relevant texts and guided activities. 

In each noteworthy worksheet, kids can find reading passages followed by questions, sequencing tasks, fill-in-the-blank questions, or short written exercises. So, the variety of tasks and the concentration of your child are guaranteed.

I recommend using this type of reading challenge for kids if you want your child to have an engaging reading session, become a more independent reader, develop deep reading skills, while also have a measurable way to track their goals and progress.

Why consider Brighterly worksheets?

If you are looking for reading challenges, Brighterly’s reading worksheets are a convenient place to start. All the worksheets are prepared by experienced reading tutors, and you can find challenge ideas for any grade level, to make sure your kid is practicing with reading materials for their age. 

The worksheets are free, come filled with engaging exercises and colorful illustrations that even reluctant readers will love. Just take a look:

Beyond the reading challenges for children printable PDFs, on the Brighterly math and reading platform, you can find free reading tests with multiple-choice questions you can use as independent fun reading challenges.

Text scavenger hunt

Grade/Age Range: 1-6 (ages 6-12)

Another one in my list of reading challenges for elementary students is the text scavenger hunt. As the name suggests, this is the type of kids reading challenge that turns the whole process into a playful treasure hunt. 

When practicing this activity, instead of simply reading the text from start to finish, your kid gets a list of clues or items they need to search for as they go. These can be anything from specific words to finding sentences or expressions that indicate an emotion, a character who tells a lie, or a clue about a setting. The fun lies in spotting each target and checking it off the list. 

This activity can make your kid feel like they are solving a mystery inside the text. You can even keep time to make it even more challenging, or invite friends and let them play together. 

Read around the world challenge

Grade/Age Range: 2-8 (ages 7-14)

Reading is a window into new cultures and worlds, and this book reading challenge is a wonderful way to help your kid see it that way. The idea of this one is very simple, really. Each book or short story they read should represent a different country, culture, or region. 

You can use this activity in two ways:

• Choosing a set of countries, areas, cultures, and even languages for a specific time period (from a few weeks to a year), and then selecting stories or books written by authors from those countries. 
• Alternatively, you can go with ones set in authentic local settings, so your kid can get a glimpse into how people live, eat, think, and celebrate around the world. 

And the great thing is, the number of options you can have with this one is infinite! One week, your kid can read a story set in Japan, the next week explore a folktale from France, and then move to an adventure story set in Brazil. You can turn this reading challenge for kids into a visual journey by marking each new location on a map or a picture.

Exploring genre reading challenges

Grade/Age Range: 3-9 (ages 8-15)

If your child always gravitates toward the same kinds of books and stories, a genre exploration reading challenge for kids can help shake things up a bit. The idea, as you probably guessed already, is to read across a variety of genres. From mystery and fantasy to historical fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, literature has so much to offer, and this reading book challenge is a great way to start discovering that. 

One thing to note is that this challenge is particularly useful for students in upper elementary or middle school, who are already prepared to explore more complex themes and writing styles. If your kid has just learned the alphabet, this challenge can be a bit overwhelming.

Friend and family reading challenges

Grade/Age Range: 1-8 (ages 6-14)

Reading does not have to be a solo activity, and this is exactly what makes the friend-and-family reading challenges so enjoyable. In this type of book reading challenge, your kid reads alongside you, someone else in your family, or their friend during a shared study session. 

You can set shared goals, like finishing a book together, reading, say, 5 chapters per week, and discussing them on a Sunday, or just take turns reading aloud and discussing your favorite character. 

I would recommend this reading challenge to you if you want to help add reading to your kids’ routine in a relaxed, social way. These book reading challenges can also help kids express their thoughts on what they just read more clearly, listen to others’ opinions, and become more confident when discussing stories.

How to implement a kids reading challenge

Now that you know some types of fun reading challenges for kids, you may be thinking about how to organize and implement them for yourself. Luckily, starting a reading challenge at home doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the key is not overcomplicating it. Make the challenge simple, consistent, and tailored to your child’s reading goals and interests. 

• Start by choosing a challenge that fits the age and personality of your kid. Maybe it can be a playful scavenger hunt for younger kids and worksheet challenges or genre exploration for older readers. It’s important to remember that every reader is unique, and the reading challenges need to reflect this.
• Then, set a clear, but (and this is the most important!) an achievable goal, such as finishing 2 books this month or reading for 30 minutes every day. 
• Visual tracking makes a big difference, so when possible, include some form of progress tracking. This can be marking off countries on a map, as mentioned for the round-the-world challenge, or just using a printed calendar, a hand-drawn chart, a number of worksheets completed, or any other metric you think your kid will love.
• Lastly, you can also add some small rewards, like choosing the next read or getting an extra read time before bed, to make the kids’ reading challenge experience even more exciting.

Implementing reading challenges into tuition with Brighterly

If you are looking for a platform that blends reading challenges, fun, and structure, the Brighterly reading program may be the right choice for you. 

Here is what makes Brighterly stand out:

• One-on-one tutoring with a dedicated teacher who will give your child individual attention, keep track of their reading goals, and help them where they need it most
• The programs are adaptable, and the teachers will make sure they match the pace, interests, and reading level of your child
• Brighterly’s programs are aligned with U.S. state standards and will support what your child learns in school

All the lessons will help your kid develop strong reading and comprehension skills, while keeping them engaged and motivated through an enjoyable learning process.

How parents can support reading challenges?

Parents can support reading challenges by introducing simple habits like: 

• Encouraging genuine interest in what a kid’s reading
• Asking questions about the stories and characters
• Staying on top of their progress
• Celebrating small achievements

Next, I recommend setting a reading time together each day, even if for just 15-20 minutes, to both make reading part of your routine and show them that you want to make a shared interest out of the challenge. Also, when your kid sees that you value reading, they are more likely to enjoy it themselves.

Benefits of reading challenges for kids

I want to start with, in my opinion, one of the most important benefits of a reading challenge for kids: developing the skills of setting clear reading goals, practicing consistently, and managing time better. These are all valuable skills that go far beyond reading.

The next benefit is that through these reading challenges for students, your kid learns to engage actively with the text, develop deep reading skills, and uncover clues and hidden meaning. This focused learning also helps to improve their vocabulary, as children start to pay closer attention to details and how each new word is used. 

Lastly, reading challenges encourage curiosity and creativity. Pair this with the boost in motivation your kid will get from finishing a challenge, and they will start seeing reading as a fun way to explore new genres, cultures, or story types and expand their imagination. 

Fun & popular reading challenge ideas

I went over the types of reading challenges, but the list is far from complete. And there are even more challenge ideas! Below are some fun reading challenges you can try with your kid for your next reading session.

• Create bingo cards with prompts like “finish a mystery story” or “try to guess what comes next,” and then pick the card and follow the prompt
• Do a reading streak, e.g., challenge them to read every day for 30 days, even for just 10 minutes
• Write down the names of books and stories, put them in the book jar, and let your kid draw their next read
• Do seasonal themes, e.g., read Christmas stories in December
• Visit a library for a “library hunt”, and there, search for new books or authors together
• Ask your child to draw their favorite character or a setting from their current read
• Spin a wheel (or again, do a jar) to choose the next genre

As you can see, there are quite a few book reading challenge ideas you can go with. As the saying goes, the only limit here is your imagination.

Conclusion: Kids’ reading challenges

Reading challenges for kids are a simple yet effective way to help your kid fall in love with reading, stay consistent, and be curious. From worksheet activities to scavenger hunts and family reading time, with a bit of creativity, you can turn reading from a routine into something your child enjoys and looks forward to.

But if you want consistent literacy and reading skills progress for your kid, the private tutoring help provided by Brighterly stands out as a good choice. The platform’s caring tutors will not only help your kid learn to read consciously, but also develop a deep love of reading.

You can book free reading lesson for your kid and get a sneak peek into how the classes work.