Watching your child learn to read is one of the proudest milestones you are likely to hit as a parent, but the thing is, unlike walking which is something that comes naturally to children at a certain point, reading can be much trickier for some children to get the hang of. It takes a lot of hard work and practice to become a confident reader, and some children seem to have a harder time than others.
If your child is one of those kids who doesn’t seem to be able to get to grips with the written world as confidently as others, don’t worry, because there are tons of things you can do to help them along.
Make Reading Part of Everyday Life
Reading doesn’t just happen in school. Point out street signs, labels at the grocery store, or words on a cereal box. Show your child that reading is everywhere, not just something that happens with a heavy book in their lap. When they see words as part of daily life, it starts to feel less like “work” and more like a skill worth having.
Pick the Right Books
Not every book is a good fit for every child. If they’re constantly hitting words they can’t figure out, frustration sets in fast. That’s where decodable readers come in. These are carefully designed to match the phonics patterns your child has already learned, so they can actually read the majority of words without guesswork. It’s like giving them a set of training wheels – they still do the pedaling, but with extra support to build confidence.
Keep Sessions Short (and Sweet)
Ten to fifteen minutes of focused reading a day is plenty, especially for younger children. Any longer and attention spans wander off to dream about dinosaurs or Minecraft. Short bursts keep them engaged, and consistency builds stronger skills than an occasional long cram session.
Celebrate Every Win
Did they sound out a tricky word? Applause. Finished a page without stopping? High five. Confidence grows when kids feel proud of themselves. And honestly, who doesn’t like a bit of praise for a job well done?
Read Together, Not Just to Them
Bedtime stories are wonderful, but let your child share the reading role too. Take turns reading sentences or characters, or let them “read” the words they know while you fill in the rest. Shared reading keeps things interactive and fun instead of intimidating.
Model a Love of Reading
Kids copy what they see. If you want your child to value reading, let them catch you enjoying a book, magazine, or even the newspaper. When they see reading as something adults do for pleasure, not just kids for homework, it suddenly feels more exciting and grown-up.
Ask for Help if Needed
If your child is still struggling despite daily practice, don’t wait – ask their teacher or a reading specialist for advice. Early support can make all the difference, and it helps your child see that needing help is part of learning, not a failure.
Summing Up
Supporting your child’s reading journey is so important, and as you can see, it can be achieved without putting pressure on them, because that rarely works, right? Instead, you can encourage them, backed up with the best resources, so that they not only get the hang of reading but actually love it too!