Introduction

As a parent, while you want see your teen become a stronger reader and writer, you might not always be sure what you can realistically do to help. The truth is you have more influence than you think when it comes to shaping your teen’s habits, motivation, and confidence. Even encouraging small, consistent actions at home can build a powerful foundation for growth.

This guide, full of writing and reading at home tips for parents, is designed to show you how to support your teen’s reading and writing journey outside of school, whether you’re doing it alone or looking to reinforce what they’re doing with a tutor.

And if you ever decide to work with a tutor, the great news is everything you're doing at home will only make tutoring more effective. Think of this as your cheat sheet to helping your teen thrive with or without a pro by your side.

Let’s dive into some practical, doable steps you can start using today!

1. Help Your Teen Build Daily Reading Habits

Reading every day is the number one way to boost comprehension, vocabulary, and stamina. But that doesn’t mean your teen needs to sit down for an hour with Shakespeare every day. Even 15-20 minutes can make a difference. An article from Renaissance Learning summarized the results of an analysis of students' daily reading practices and how those practices related to their reading scores, suggesting students who read less than 15 minutes a day experience very little growth, even failing to meet the national average, while students who read for at least 15 minutes a day experience significant growth, placing them above the national average. If just 15 minutes of daily reading can considerably impact a teen’s reading gains, then it’s something worth implementing.  

Here are some ways you can help make daily reading stick:

• Choose a regular time for it to encourage consistency: before bed, after dinner, or right after school.

• Let your teen choose what they read: it’s outside reading, so it doesn’t have to be something academic or challenging.

• Read alongside them: modeling the habit is incredibly effective!

Want more ideas to keep reading fun? Read Parents, Here’s How to Motivate Students to Read at Home and Actually Enjoy It!

2. Show That All Reading Counts (Not Just School Books)

One reason teens avoid reading is they unfortunately associate it with homework and academic pressure.

Help reframe reading as something enjoyable by expanding what “counts” as reading. Encourage:

• Manga and graphic novels

• News articles or blog posts on their favorite topics

• Audiobooks (yes, these count as reading!)

• Poetry or fan fiction

This mindset shift can be huge in helping readers, particularly reluctant ones, engage.

Explore more tips in Reluctant Readers Strategies: How Parents Can Inspire Teens to Pick Up a Book.

3. Encourage Light and Fun Vocabulary Practice

Stronger vocabulary leads to better reading and writing. However, simply memorizing word lists or drilling flashcards aren’t the only ways to get there.

Try one of these at-home strategies:

• Play word games like Balderdash, Scrabble, or word scrambles

• Encourage them to use new vocabulary words in conversations with different family members

• Put a “word of the week” on the fridge

• Have your teen keep a notebook while reading so they can jot down any new words they encounter

In tutoring, we build vocabulary through context and repetition. Learn how to support that at home here: How to Support Your Teen’s Reading and Writing Journey Between Lessons.

4. Make Writing a Regular, Low-Pressure Habit

If you want your teen to get better at writing, they need to practice it more! Of course, the best way to do this is to receive feedback from a teacher or tutor so they can identify which areas of their writing could improve, but if they just need to grow more comfortable with writing in general, producing any type of writing outside of school will suffice.

Try to make writing a normal part of their week:

• Encourage journaling, even just a few sentences a day

• Have them write a blog about something they enjoy

• Suggest they write letters to friends, family, or even their future self

• Review books or movies they’ve seen recently

When writing feels more personal and less like homework, it can become a space for creativity and self-expression.

Get even more inspired by reading Why Writing Outside of School Matters and 6 Fun Ways to Encourage It.

5. Talk About Their Books, Even If You Haven’t Read Them

Having your teen discuss what they’re reading is a great way to build their comprehension. And the best part is you don’t have to be an English teacher to engage them in book talk!

Try these conversation starters:

• “What surprised you most about the story?”

• “Were there any parts that confused you?”

• “Which character did you relate to the most?”

In addition to building comprehension, the practice of discussing a book also builds critical thinking and connection, and if you’re the one starting the discussions, it shows that reading matters to you too.

6. Support, Don’t Supervise

One of the best things you can do to help your teen improve their reading and writing is to offer them independence and encouragement.

You don’t need to check every sentence they write. Alternatively:

• Praise their effort, not just the outcome

• Ask open-ended questions about what they’re working on

• Avoid criticism; try guiding with curiosity instead

This will grow your teen's confidence and help them take ownership of their learning.

7. Stay in Touch With Teachers and Tutors

If your teen is working with a tutor or has a teacher you trust, reach out to them periodically so you can stay in the loop.

Ask:

• What skills are they working on?

• How can I help support that skill development at home?

• Are there resources or books you recommend we use for supplemental work?

Maintaining communication with the people in whom you’ve entrusted your teen’s reading and writing advancement will ensure your teen progresses.

8. Consider Bringing in Extra Help (When It Makes Sense)

Sometimes, your teen needs more than your support at home, and that’s okay!

A professional tutor can:

• Pinpoint the exact skills your teen is struggling with

• Offer custom strategies to help them improve

• Track growth and give feedback

• Serve as a mentor and motivator

If you’ve tried everything and still feel stuck, a tutor could be the missing piece, and your support at home will make that investment even more impactful.

Curious how online tutoring works? Read What Do I Do to Help Struggling Readers and Writers with Online Language Arts Tutoring?

Final Thoughts

You really don’t need much to help your teen thrive. With just a few intentional steps, like building routines, encouraging real-world reading and writing, and offering praise instead of pressure, you’re laying a strong foundation for reading and writing success.

And whether you choose to do this on your own or in partnership with a tutor, remember this: Your involvement matters more than you think.

I hope you learned something new with my writing and reading at home tips for parents!

Want more tools to help your teen succeed? I’d love to connect and share how tutoring can fit into your support system. Contact me using one of the methods listed below, and let’s chat!