FOR PARENTS · AGES 5–11
Reading to your child: how long, how often, and is 9 too old?
There is no official minutes figure: the government's ask is “just 10 minutes a day”. And no age is too old to be read to, including 9.
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About ten minutes a day, on the days you can, for as long as your child will let you. This guide explains where that figure comes from, why reading aloud still matters when your child can read alone, and how to stop the school reading book turning bedtime into a battle.
By the Litsee team · Last reviewed · About this guide
The short answer: about 10 minutes, any day you can
No UK guideline sets a number of minutes. The nearest thing is the Education Secretary's appeal for the 2026 National Year of Reading: “I’m asking families across the country to read together for just 10 minutes a day.” (DfE). The DfE's tips for parents put it more loosely: “Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.” (DfE).
You may have seen “20 minutes a day” quoted as a research finding. We couldn't trace that figure to a UK guideline or study, so we don't repeat it. Ten minutes most days is realistic for a working family, and a favourite book read again counts as much as a new one.
Three kinds of reading, and how much of each
Advice about “reading every day” often lumps together three different things. The DfE's reading framework explains that early readers bring home two books: one they can read themselves, and one where “The other book has words your child may not be able to read yet. It is for you to read to your child and talk about together.” (DfE reading framework). As children get older, a third kind joins them: reading alone.
Reading to your child
You read; they listen. Books above their own reading level: picture books, chapter books, poems, non-fiction.
One picture book or a chapter, most days, for as long as they'll let you.
Your child reading to you
They read; you listen and help. The school reading book, matched to what they can decode.
Short and often: a few pages, not a marathon. Not at bedtime if it causes rows.
Your child reading alone
They read to themselves. Anything they choose: comics, annuals, joke books, series, magazines.
Make time and space, and let them pick. It counts even when it's easy.
The rough guides on each card are ours, not official targets. Each kind does a different job, so a little of each beats a lot of one.
Our reading week
| Kind | M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read to | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Reads to you | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Alone | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
From litsee.com/guides/reading-to-your-child
Is my child too old to be read to?
No. Reading aloud lets a child enjoy stories they couldn't yet read alone, with someone to explain a tricky word or a twist. The reading framework puts it simply: “Children benefit hugely from listening to family members reading aloud to them.” (DfE reading framework).
Yet shared reading tends to stop just as children start reading alone. BookTrust found: “While 67% of 2–4 year-olds engage in daily shared reading with an adult, this drops to 54% by age 5–7 (KS1) and to 40% by age 8–11 (KS2).” (BookTrust). The National Literacy Trust's 2026 survey adds that among children aged 5 to 8, daily reading for fun is still under half: 45.5% (National Literacy Trust).
If your 10-year-old says they're too old, change the offer rather than stopping: a longer book you both want to finish, taking turns a page each, or reading the first chapter of a new series to get them hooked.
Bedtime battles: take the school book out of bedtime
Bedtime is when everyone is tired, which makes it the hardest time to practise a tricky school book. A simple change that some families swear by is to move the school book to breakfast or straight after school, and keep bedtime for a story read to your child.
- Keep it short. The NHS suggests a calm wind-down routine: “For example, read only 1 story, then tuck your child in and say goodnight.” (NHS).
- No test at the end. The reading framework's advice to parents is: “Avoid asking questions to test what your child remembers.”
- Agree the deal for “one more”. One more page, or one more chapter at weekends, decided before you start.
How to read aloud so they want more
The DfE framework's tips for parents, in short (DfE reading framework):
- “Make reading aloud feel like a treat.” Cuddle up so you can both see the page.
- “Read favourite stories over and over again.” Repetition is how stories become theirs.
- Read the first time without stopping too much, then chat about it on later readings.
- Choose books above their reading level: that's what reading aloud is for.
How long is a chapter? Use the bedtime story calculator
Picture books and chapter books vary hugely in length, so a fixed number of pages doesn't work. Our bedtime story length calculator shows how long a story takes at each age, so you can pick one that fits the time you have.
Busy weeks: what still counts
- Two pages. A short read is better than none, and a favourite reread takes no planning.
- Stories in the car. Audiobooks and spoken stories keep the habit going on the move.
- Another grown-up. Grandparents and older siblings can read too, in person or on a video call.
- A story they listen to. Our free stories can be read aloud by a narrator while your child follows the words, which works for a tired evening.
Questions parents ask
How long should I read to my child each day?
There is no official UK figure. The Education Secretary has asked families to read together for just 10 minutes a day, and the DfE says a few minutes a day can have a big impact. In practice that's about one picture book or one chapter, most days.
Should I still read to my 9 year old?
Yes, if they enjoy it. Reading aloud lets older children enjoy books above the level they can read alone, and the DfE's reading framework says children benefit hugely from being read to by family members. Shared reading often fades in Key Stage 2, so keeping it going is worthwhile.
What age do you stop reading to your child?
There's no set age. Some families carry on into Year 6 and beyond with longer chapter books, and stop when the child prefers to read alone. If your child says they're too old, try reading a book together that you both want to finish, or take turns.
Is it OK to do the school reading book in the morning instead of at bedtime?
Yes. The school book is practice, and it can go at any time that works: breakfast, after school or the weekend. Some families find bedtime goes better when it's kept for a story read to the child, with no testing.
Sources
- The reading framework (Appendix 1: For parents: reading stories to children) Department for Education, July 2023, updated 22 September 2023, checked 3 November 2026
- 10 top tips for parents to support children to read Department for Education, 16 July 2020, updated 25 April 2022, checked 3 November 2026
- Premier League and literary greats back National Year of Reading Department for Education, 13 January 2026, checked 3 November 2026
- Primary school children's reading and the vital role teachers play in nurturing reading enjoyment BookTrust, 10 March 2025, checked 3 November 2026
- Children and young people's reading in 2026 National Literacy Trust, June 2026, checked 3 November 2026
- Sleep and young children NHS, reviewed 31 March 2023, checked 3 November 2026
About this guide
Written by the Litsee team and checked line by line against the sources listed on this page.
There is no official UK guideline on minutes of reading a day; we quote only what the government, BookTrust, the National Literacy Trust and the NHS actually say. The rough guides on the three kinds of reading are our own suggestions.
Spotted something wrong or out of date? Email info@litsee.com and we will fix it. Last reviewed: .
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