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We read all the time. We make it fun. Books are readily available at all times. I've got a voracious reader at 5.

I'm a bookworm. Less after having LO but I still always have a book going on.

We read every night to our LO (4-1/2). She loves it. Sometimes I change parts of the story and she always corrects me. We've tried a couple chapter books with some success. She's starting to connect letters with words and reading. It's fun to watch. She's very keen on it so I think she'll be a reader.

The things we do are: 1) reading a lot to him, 2) reading a lot around him, 3) picking really good books, and 4) essentially eliminating screen time. I'm quite insistent about 3 and 4. I feel like if there's an alternative that doesn't involve nearly as much effort, it's human nature to take it. I think picking good books is the most important thing we do, but it's also the hardest.

Will those things work? Beats me. He's only 6. I don't think we'll know the verdict for at least another decade!

I agree with @Mamaof2, I think all you can do is read to them, let them see you reading, make it fun, and cross your fingers. We read to our kids every night and right now, at almost 3, B loves books. I hope they'll always love to read, because I do, but we'll just have to wait and see.

We read to my older daughter daily, even when she was in the womb. She has LOVED books from the beginning, and at age 4 will "read" in her room after we read her books at bedtime.

My poor younger daughter is not read to daily, and it's something I'm really trying to work on. She goes to bed so much earlier! She isn't interested in sitting still for books at all.

It's not something that I actively think about...I read to my son, there are books all over the house, but I don't want it to be a "thing" where he doesn't want to do it and I start to feel badly or guilty about it.

I used to read a lot more than I do currently, it's something that I would like to increase, but it's for me, if that makes sense.

I don't force it. Both of my kids have gone through periods where they were more/less interested in books and reading. We always read books before bed (and have just recently started introducing longer, pictureless chapter books as an option to our 4.5yo -- sometimes she wants to read some of those; sometimes she wants to do short picture books), and we both read a fair amount so they see us actively enjoying it. DD2 seems to bring books to us randomly the most; DD1 is always most interested when we go to grandma's house where she has a huge stash of DH's old books, and DD1 can wrangle grandma into reading those "new" books to her all day long.

Besides reading regularly, talk about what you have read on your own or together. Make it fun to learn. Because learning by reading is an important skill, you can mention its usefulness whenever appropriate. Read print out loud in everyday settings. Exaggerate when you read the signs. Actively engage your kids where they are at. I get non fiction and fiction kids books about the same high interest topic. I model reading my own books and remind LO when I am on my phone I am reading.

FWIW we skipped bedtime reading for a long time and still only read occasionally at night. We read during the day randomly, usually on a binge after a huge library haul and simply encouraged reading everyday things. LO picked up love for reading from both of us. I was raised by a non-reading family and LOVED to read despite everyone around me. It was my escape from reality and I learned so much.

@BrandNewMom: No worries. My daughter goes through phases. Just take a break, then get into it again. Persistence will click in eventually. As long as you are providing a foundation and opportunities for literacy, she will eventually see the purpose of reading (for joy, information, or something else).