What to Do When My Child Is Not Reading Well
What to Do When My Child Is Not Reading Well: What the Science (and Experience) Really Says
If there’s one consensus among parents, teachers, and literacy specialists, it’s this: proficient reading is the key to unlocking all other skills in a child’s life.
Reading goes beyond merely decoding letters on a page — it encompasses comprehension, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and future academic achievements. In fact, a child’s reading proficiency by the end of primary school is one of the most significant indicators of long-term academic success and even life outcomes (Hernandez, 2011).
Thus, the crucial question is: How can we genuinely assist kids in enhancing their reading abilities — not just increasing the quantity?
Here’s what research and top educators recommend as effective strategies — and the reasons why they are important.
1. Read Aloud Every Day — WhateverTheir Age
Reading aloud is more than just a way to connect — it enhances vocabulary, narrative comprehension, and attention span. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2014) states that reading aloud promotes brain development in regions essential for language learning and literacy abilities. This holds true even for infants as young as 6 months.
Additionally, a 2018 study by Scholastic revealed that 83% of children between the ages of 6 and 14 expressed that they enjoyed or loved being read to, even if they were capable of reading independently.
📣 “Reading aloud is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading.”
— National Institute for Literacy (2008)
Pro tip: Continue reading aloud even when they are capable of reading on their own. This practice enhances understanding and demonstrates fluent expression.
2. Let Kids Choose Their Own Books
A child who picks their own books is much more likely to get into them — and actually finish reading them. According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™ (2019), 91% of children say they are more likely to complete a book they chose on their own.
This helps to create a real motivation from within, and studies show that it is an important part of long-term reading achievement (Gambrell, 2011). When kids feel they can choose what they want to read, they read more often and develop a better attitude about reading.
🧠 “Motivation to read is significantly influenced by a child’s sense of choice and ownership.”
— Guthrie & Humenick, 2004
Let it be comics, graphic novels, or joke books — anything that gets them thrilled to flip the page.
3. Use Stories That Reflect Who They Are
Kids are more engaged with tales when they can identify with them — whether through the characters, the environment, or even seeing their own name in the text.
A research article in the Journal of Educational Psychology (Biemiller & Slonim, 2001) revealed that when a story is personally relevant, it enhances understanding, memory, and involvement. When kids connect with a story, they are not merely reading — they are emotionally engaged.
🧠 “Personalisation in stories helps build cognitive scaffolding, which enhances learning outcomes.”
This is why teachers are more frequently suggesting personalized or culturally relevant books — they assist children in feeling acknowledged. (For instance, at Cherish Tales, personalized storybooks are crafted to put your child in the center of the story — which can be particularly beneficial for hesitant readers.)
Whether it’s their name in the story or a character who looks like them, these connections matter.
4. Teach with Phonics — Not Just Sight Words
The debate is over. Years of studies show that clear, structured phonics teaching is crucial for assisting children in becoming fluent and precise readers.
The landmark National Reading Panel (2000) meta-analysis of over 100,000 studies concluded that teaching phonics improves children’s word recognition, spelling, and reading comprehension — especially during their early developmental years.
Recently, the Education Endowment Foundation (UK) has consistently placed phonics as one of the most effective methods for enhancing early literacy, showing an average impact of +5 months of progress each year.
🎯 “Phonics instruction is critical in the development of skilled reading. It should be explicit and systematic.”
— National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
5. Focus on Understanding, Not Just Fluency
Reading quickly isn’t reading well.
True reading ability is about understanding what you read — and that takes active instruction. Children should be taught how to ask questions, make predictions, summarize, and connect ideas as they read.
According to Duke and Pearson (2002), effective readers do more than just decode — they keep track of their understanding, revisit unclear sections, and make corrections on their own. These metacognitive techniques can and must be taught directly.
📘 “Comprehension strategy instruction significantly improves children’s reading outcomes across all age groups.”
— RAND Reading Study Group (2002)
6. Be the Reader You Want Them to Be
Children imitate what they see — not what they’re told.
According to a study by the OECD (2010), children whose parents read regularly score significantly higher on literacy tests, even after controlling for socioeconomic background.
👨👩👧 “Parental involvement in reading is more strongly associated with a child’s academic success than family income, education level, or occupation.”
— OECD PISA 2009 Results, Volume III
Make reading a visible, normal part of daily life — even if it’s just the newspaper, a cookbook, or your own book before bed. Set the example, and the habit will follow.
📚 Final Reflection
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for nurturing an excellent reader — but there is a method to it.
Read aloud frequently. Allow them to select their own books. Make it relatable. Teach them phonics. Discuss what they read. And demonstrate it yourself.
Approach it with warmth, patience, and joy.
Because assisting your child in becoming a more proficient reader is not merely a present for the moment — it’s a building block for their future.
Let us know what you think in the comments.