As a school leader with over 20 years of experience walking the school halls, I’ve had countless conversations with parents whose child was struggling with reading, but wasn’t sure how to help.
If your child is between the ages of 7 and 13, you’re in one of the most pivotal windows for literacy development. Reading is no longer just about decoding words—it’s the bridge to every other subject in school. And when a child begins to fall behind, there is a flow-on effect: lower confidence, behavioural issues, and an aversion to school itself- this is often seen as a sore tummy or even sleepless nights.
What to do as a parent?
Here are five tell tale signs your child may be struggling with reading—and what you, as a parent, can do about it.
1. Avoids Reading Like It’s Homework (Because It Is!)
When a child is constantly struggling with reading, whether it’s assigned schoolwork or casual bedtime stories, it’s more than just disinterest. Avoidance is often a protective strategy. Kids would rather dodge a task than fail at it. If your child is always “too tired” to read or suddenly needs a snack every time reading time rolls around, take note.
Principal’s Tip: Try reading aloud with your child. It lowers the pressure and lets you subtly assess what’s hard for them—word recognition, pronunciation, or comprehension.
2. Struggles to Sound Out Words or Guess-Reads
One red flag I’ve seen time and again: students who guess at unfamiliar words based on the first letter or picture clues instead of sounding them out. This suggests gaps in phonological awareness, a foundational skill for reading.
Principal’s Tip: During shared reading, pause on a tricky word and ask, “Can you break this word into sounds?” If they can’t, it might be time for a phonics-based intervention.
3. Reads Slowly or in a Choppy Manner
Fluent readers sound smooth and confident. Struggling readers? Not so much. Reading that’s halting, overly slow, or robotic can indicate trouble with decoding or automatic word recognition.
Principal’s Tip: Use “echo reading” where you read a sentence first, then have your child repeat it back. This builds fluency and confidence simultaneously.
4. Doesn’t Understand or Remember What They Read
It’s not just about reading the words—it’s about making sense of them. Children who read a passage but can’t tell you what it was about may be missing key comprehension strategies.
Principal’s Tip: After reading, ask open-ended questions like “Why do you think that happened?” or “What do you think might happen next?” Watch how your child responds.
5. Uses a Limited Vocabulary
Vocabulary development is directly tied to reading success. If your child uses vague words like “thing” or “stuff” often, or avoids using new vocabulary, it may be due to limited reading exposure or a deeper language issue.
Principal’s Tip: Introduce new words during everyday conversations. Even discussing dinner can be a vocabulary lesson—“Let’s sauté the vegetables. Do you know what sauté means?”
What Causes Reading Struggles?
The reasons can be complex:
- Phonological processing issues
- Dyslexia or other learning differences
- Limited exposure to language-rich environments
- Attention or memory difficulties
- Speech and language delays
Whatever the cause, early identification is critical.
What You Can Do as a Parent
- Create a reading-friendly environment — Keep books visible and accessible at home.
- Make reading a daily habit — Even 15 minutes a day can make a difference.
- Use audiobooks and graphic novels — These can boost comprehension and interest before moving onto books/novels.
- Don’t wait to seek help — If your gut says something isn’t right, talk to your child’s teacher or request a reading assessment.
A Final Word from my Office
I’ve seen the transformation that happens when a child who once hated reading suddenly lights up at story time. It doesn’t happen overnight, but with your support, patience, and the right tools, your child can thrive.
Reading isn’t just an academic skill. It’s a lifeline to curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
Leader, Lifelong Educator, and Advocate for Young Readers