Three Lazy Mom Hacks That Build Better Readers (Backed by a Reading Professor)

Three “Lazy” Things I Do at Home (As a Tired Mom) That Secretly Make My Kids Better Readers

I’m a tired mom. I’m also a reading professor.
And somewhere between my professional brain knowing what works and my mom brain just trying to survive the day… I’ve found a few shortcuts that build strong readers without requiring hours of extra work.

These are my three “lazy” (but actually very intentional) literacy habits—simple things that fit into our daily routines, even on the most chaotic days.

1. Books in the Kitchen

In our house, books live where the action happens. That means you’ll find them next to the fruit bowl, propped on the counter while dinner’s cooking, or waiting at the table for breakfast.

Why? Because when books are visible and easy to grab, kids are more likely to read—without it feeling like “homework.” Research backs this up: kids in neighborhoods with easy access to books had four times as many books in their homes—and they read more often—than kids in areas with limited access (Neuman & Celano, 2001).

I rotate books every few weeks so there’s always something new to catch their eye.

I always put my Books of the Month on display!

What I use: I keep a couple of these book stands in the kitchen so the covers face out. Kids judge books by their covers (and so do adults)—a forward-facing book display makes them far more likely to pick it up.

2. Audiobooks in the Bath (and Sometimes at Bedtime)

My toddler listens to stories in the bath through our YOTO PLAYER—we pick a story before and keep it on the counter away from the bath. 

For my older kids, we use the LIBBY APP to check out audiobooks from the library for free. They’ll listen in the bath or shower, during car rides, and yes—sometimes I count it as our bedtime story on the nights when I’m completely done.

Here’s the best part: listening to audiobooks can improve comprehension, vocabulary, and motivation—benefits similar to reading the printed page (Wolfson, 2008). It’s one of the easiest swaps I’ve made to keep stories part of our day, even when I can’t be the one reading aloud.

Some of our favorites audiobooks linked here!

3. Labels Everywhere

It started small—labels on toy bins so my kids knew where to put things away. Then it spread… now our pantry shelves, drawers, furniture, and yes, even socks have labels.

Why? Because print-rich environments matter. When kids see words in context every day, they connect print to meaning, which builds decoding and vocabulary skills naturally. One study found that the more kids are surrounded by books and print, the stronger their vocabulary, comprehension, and general knowledge—even into adulthood (Mol & Bus, 2011).

What I use: I printed and laminated these labels and used mounting puddy to put them around my house.

Why This Works (and Why It’s Worth It)

None of these things take a ton of time or energy. They work because they turn reading into part of our everyday life—not just something we do at “reading time.” The more kids are surrounded by books, stories, and print, the more likely they are to grow into confident, capable readers.

So yes, I call them “lazy” habits. But my reading professor side knows… they’re actually some of the smartest things I do.

Neuman, S. B., & Celano, D. (2001). Access to print in low-income and middle-income communities: An ecological study of four neighborhoods. Reading Research Quarterly, 36(1), 8–26. https://doi.org/10.1598/RRQ.36.1.1 

Mol, S. E., & Bus, A. G. (2011). To read or not to read: A meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthood. Psychological Bulletin, 137(2), 267–296. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021890 

Wolfson, G. (2008). Using audiobooks to meet the needs of adolescent readers. American Secondary Education, 36(2), 105–114.