Book Week is a celebration of stories, imagination and creativity, but helping children love reading isn't just something that happens during one week of the year. The good news? It doesn't take expensive resources or hours of extra time. Often, it's the small, everyday habits that make the biggest difference.
1. Let them see you read.
Children are more likely to value reading when they see the adults around them enjoying it too. Whether it's a novel, magazine, recipe or newspaper, showing that reading is part of everyday life helps build positive attitudes towards books.
2. Read together, even after they've learnt to read.
Many parents stop reading aloud once their child becomes an independent reader, but shared reading continues to support vocabulary, comprehension and a love of storytelling well into the primary years. It also creates moments to connect and talk about ideas.
3. Give children the freedom to choose.
Not every child will be drawn to classic novels, and that's okay! Graphic novels, comics, fact books and magazines all count. When children can explore topics they're genuinely interested in, reading becomes something they want to do rather than something they have to do.
4. Make reading part of everyday life.
Ten or fifteen minutes before bed or reading together after school helps establish reading as a regular habit. Consistency matters more than long sessions.
5. Talk about stories.
Asking simple questions like "What surprised you?" or "Who was your favourite character?" encourages children to think more deeply about what they've read. These conversations also help develop confidence and comprehension.
6. Celebrate curiosity, not perfection.
Children don't need to finish every book they start or read at the same level as their peers. The goal is to nurture confidence and enjoyment. When reading feels positive, children are more likely to keep coming back to it.
Wondering how schools help children become confident readers?
At Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD), engaging literacy experiences, dedicated teachers and well-resourced libraries help students build the skills and confidence to thrive as readers and learners.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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17 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π¦ Kindy Zoo Excursion β Living Things π¨ Our Kindy students had a wonderful day exploring the zoo as part of their Science unit on Living Things! πΏπ Students had the opportunity to observe a variety of animals in their habitats and learn more about what living things need to survive and grow. They looked closely at how animals move, eat, live and interact with their environments. The excursion provided a wonderful opportunity for our young scientists to take their learning outside the classroom and make real-world connections with the natural world. ππ A fantastic day of exploring, observing and discovering! Well done, Kindy! πππ¦ #Kindy #LivingThings #Science #ZooExcursion #YoungScientists #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #HandsOnLearning #CTK #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic
14 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π¨Learning to use Proportion like an Artist! π¨ Year 3 loved being able to pull from their inner artist and learnt how to use their pencil as a measuring device - just like a true artist! The students brought in a loved plushy and used their new skills to bring their fluffy friend to life on paper! Take a look at these talented artists in Year 3! #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #CTKCommunity #ChristTheKing #CTKNorthRocks
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20 Aug 2026
Six Habits That Help Children Develop a Love of Reading
Book Week is a celebration of stories, imagination and creativity, but helping children love reading isn't just something that happens during one week of the year. The good news? It doesn't take expensive resources or hours of extra time. Often, it's the small, everyday habits that make the biggest difference.
17 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π¦ Kindy Zoo Excursion β Living Things π¨ Our Kindy students had a wonderful day exploring the zoo as part of their Science unit on Living Things! πΏπ Students had the opportunity to observe a variety of animals in their habitats and learn more about what living things need to survive and grow. They looked closely at how animals move, eat, live and interact with their environments. The excursion provided a wonderful opportunity for our young scientists to take their learning outside the classroom and make real-world connections with the natural world. ππ A fantastic day of exploring, observing and discovering! Well done, Kindy! πππ¦ #Kindy #LivingThings #Science #ZooExcursion #YoungScientists #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #HandsOnLearning #CTK #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic
14 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π¨Learning to use Proportion like an Artist! π¨ Year 3 loved being able to pull from their inner artist and learnt how to use their pencil as a measuring device - just like a true artist! The students brought in a loved plushy and used their new skills to bring their fluffy friend to life on paper! Take a look at these talented artists in Year 3! #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #CTKCommunity #ChristTheKing #CTKNorthRocks
11 Aug 2026
From Facebook
St Mary MacKillop Faith In Action Award - Advocacy Yesterday we were privileged to have Taleishah visit from the Jarara Team to help our award students advocate for healing country and care for country. Our project is to reimagine the 2021 NAIDOC Week poster for our school. Watch out for the finished message stick! #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #CTKCommunity #ChristTheKing #CTKNorthRocks #faithinactioncspd
06 Aug 2026
From Facebook
ππ Young Mary Comes to Life! ππ Today, our students were captivated by the inspiring performance of Young Mary, a play exploring the early life of St Mary MacKillop. Through storytelling students discovered how Mary's deep faith, courage and compassion shaped her life from a young age. They learnt about her determination to help those most in need and her unwavering trust in God, even when faced with challenges. The performance reminded us all that we can make a difference through kindness, perseverance and service to others, just as St Mary MacKillop did. Her famous words, "Never see a need without doing something about it," continue to inspire our school community to live our faith through action every day. Thank you to the performers for bringing Mary's remarkable story to life and helping our students connect with the legacy of Australia's first saint. β€οΈπ #StMaryMacKillop #YoungMary #FaithInAction #CatholicEducation #CTK #LearningThroughTheArts #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney
06 Aug 2026
From Facebook
πβ¨ REMINDER: Toddler Story Time at Christ the King is TOMORROW! β¨π We can't wait to welcome our little learners and their families to our third Toddler Story Time! π π Friday August 7 2026 β° 9:00 β 9:30 am π Mary MacKillop Parish Hall, Christ the King Primary School πΆπ§π¦ Babies, toddlers and preschoolers (0β5 years) are invited to join us with their parents, grandparents or carers for a fun and engaging story time led by our CTK staff. β¨ Bring a friend and come along for a wonderful morning of stories, learning and community connection!
03 Aug 2026
From Facebook
π See a Need. Do Something About It. π As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop, we invite our students and families to take part in our "See a Need. Do Something About It." Challenge. Inspired by Mary MacKillop's famous words, "Never see a need without doing something about it," students are encouraged to notice a need at home, at school or in the community and respond with an act of kindness, service or compassion. πΈ Simply take a photo of the action and submit it with the completed student entry form. We can't wait to see the many ways our students put their faith into action and make a positive difference in the lives of others. β€οΈβ¨ #FaithInAction #StMaryMacKillop #SeeANeedDoSomethingAboutIt #ChristTheKing
31 Jul 2026
From Facebook
πΈπ€ Battle of the Bands rocked Year 6! π€πΈ Energy, enthusiasm and incredible talent took centre stage as our Year 6 students performed in this year's Battle of the Bands last term. From powerful vocals to impressive instrumentals, every group brought creativity, confidence and teamwork to the stage. A huge congratulations to all of our performers for the hard work and courage it takes to perform in front of an audience, and thank you to our staff, families and classmates for cheering them on. What an unforgettable celebration of music and talent!
31 Jul 2026
From Facebook
π See a Need. Do Something About It. π As we prepare to celebrate the Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop, we invite our students and families to take part in our "See a Need. Do Something About It." Challenge. Inspired by Mary MacKillop's famous words, "Never see a need without doing something about it," students are encouraged to notice a need at home, at school or in the community and respond with an act of kindness, service or compassion. πΈ Simply take a photo of the action and submit it with the completed student entry form. We can't wait to see the many ways our students put their faith into action and make a positive difference in the lives of others. β€οΈβ¨ #FaithInAction #StMaryMacKillop #SeeANeedDoSomethingAboutIt #ChristTheKing
31 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Burning off the waffles cream and berries (berries seemed to be optional for most) before our last 2 activities. Had a great night last night with schnitzel for dinner and trivia. There were lots of tired bodies last night. They should all sleep well tonight. See you all this afternoon!