Abby Barnes, M.S., CCC-SLP
Learning to read is one of the most important academic milestones in childhood. But this complex skill doesn’t just happen overnight. There are many earlier skills that have to be in place before a child begins reading fluently. Some kids gain these abilities quickly, while others need more help.
If your child is struggling with reading, it’s important to take action. With early intervention, reading can become easier for your child–not just now, but in the long term, as well.
In this article, we explain the early signs of reading problems, the reading milestones to look for, and how to support your child if they have reading challenges.
How and when do children learn to read?
You probably know how important it is to read books with your child. This is because reading together–even when your child is still a baby–supports very early literacy skills.
As you read stories with your child, you’ll probably see them start recognizing some basics: how to hold a book, the direction in which we read (left to right), and the fact that each “chunk” of letters is a word. Eventually, they’ll begin identifying some letters and sounds.
But what about when it’s time for kids to begin reading themselves? Children typically begin reading at age 5 or 6 years old. They may begin learning early reading skills at around 4 years old.
As kids go to preschool and then to kindergarten, the types of reading tasks they take on become more challenging. Preschoolers start to learn the names and sounds of each letter, which is a big step toward reading. In kindergarten, children start taking the sounds and letters and learning to put them together to read and write words.
All these skills come together to help kids learn not only how to read, but how to understand what they’re reading.
What are early signs of reading problems?
A child who struggles to read may show resistance or frustration around reading tasks. A child might have reading problems or a reading disorder if they have difficulty with:
Sounding out words
Recognizing sounds and the letters that make up those sounds (for example, the letter “m” sounds like “mmm”)
Delayed speech or language skills, which can be linked with later reading difficulties
Spelling
Identifying sounds in words (for example, the word “cat” is made up of the “k,” “ah,” and “t” sounds)
Identifying the beginning, ending, or middle sounds of words
Breaking words apart into sounds (example: the word “me” would be split into the sounds “m” and “eee”)
Blending sounds together to make words (example: the sounds “h,” “ow,” and “s” blend together to make “house.”)
Remembering the names and sounds of the letters (example: B says “b,” E says “eh,” T says “t”, etc.)
Pronouncing new words and remembering them
Reading out loud with correct expression
Understanding what they read
Important reading milestones by age
There are two important reading milestones parents should be on the lookout for:
By the end of kindergarten, when kids write words, they should be including most of the consonant sounds in the words. (Incorrect or missing vowels are OK at this point.)
By halfway through first grade, kids should be able to read 100 simple words. They should have strong enough letter association (understanding the sound that a letter makes) to read simple books.
Support for children who have trouble reading
Remember that reading is a complex skill. Some children catch on quickly, while others need more support. Some kids may have difficulty with just a few aspects of reading. But others may have a true reading disorder, such as dyslexia.
This is why all concerns should be discussed with a professional. Your child’s teacher is a good place to start. This will allow your child to (1) get the support they need now, and (2) be monitored in case an evaluation for a reading disorder is needed.
A speech-language pathologist, school psychologist, or reading specialist can give your child a reading evaluation. Research has shown early intervention to be very effective in treating and preventing reading disorders. So if your child is having trouble with reading, don’t wait to get them evaluated!
There are few different ways kids can get help with reading. One way is to work with a reading specialist. These are teachers who have a specialization in reading. In many cases, reading specialists work in schools and see children in groups. They help support students in the school setting and can work with their classroom teachers, as well.
Speech therapy is another way kids can get reading support. A speech therapist can help your child build their phonological processing skills. This refers to the ability to identify and understand sounds in our language in order to process spoken and written words. These skills play a large role in reading and writing.
A speech therapist treats reading issues holistically. They assess all the potential issues that may contribute to a child’s reading problems. Kids in speech therapy for reading disorders may work on the following:
Phonological awareness: This is the ability to understand sounds and how they work together to form words. For example, adding sounds can change the meaning of a word: “dog” + “s” = “dogs,” meaning more than one dog.
Phonological working memory: This is the ability to remember words and sounds in order to use them during a variety of phonological awareness activities. Your speech therapist may have your child use a word in a sentence or think of words that start with a certain sound. For example, “Tell me all the words you can think of that start with /d/.”
Phonological retrieval: This is the ability to recall letter shapes that represent letter sounds. Your speech therapist will help your child learn to recall the sound formation for letters and letter combinations. One example might be practicing putting your teeth on your bottom lip and blowing air to form the /f/ sound in a word.
6 ways to help your child with reading problems at home
Having a child with a reading disorder or other reading problems may seem overwhelming at first. There’s a lot to understand about the way your child learns. But the good news is that there are specific ways your child can be supported in the classroom when learning to read. Plus, there are lots of things you can do to help them at home. Let’s walk through this together!
1 Talk to your child’s teacher about accommodations
It’s important for kids who need extra help to get the support they need. If your child is diagnosed with a specific learning disability in reading, they will be eligible for an individualized education plan (IEP). This plan allows students with disabilities to receive an education that’s tailored to meet their needs.
An IEP often includes accommodations in the classroom that help your child. These changes might include extra time on assignments, testing in a quiet place, or receiving any needed therapies or one-on-one help in school.
2 Read with your child every day
Even though your child may struggle with reading, don’t avoid books. Reading together with your child will help them build positive feelings toward reading. Plus, they’ll get bonding time with you. Choose books on topics your child is interested in, and make it part of your daily routine.
3 Let your child see you reading, too
When you show your child that you enjoy reading, this will help them feel more positive about it. Pick out books together at the library. Tell them what you enjoy about the books you read. Ask your child what they like about their books, as well.
4 Use audio books
Another option is to find audio books for your child to listen to. This shouldn’t replace practicing reading together. But if your child is having an especially hard time or needs to complete an assignment for school, audio books can be helpful. One technique is to have your child listen to the story while following along with the actual book in front of them.
5 Give extra time for reading and spelling homework
As mentioned above, your child may need more time for this type of work. Practice reading and spelling during a time of day that’s calm, where neither of you will be rushed. This will help decrease frustration, and your child will be more focused.
6 Celebrate your child’s strengths
Having a learning disability can be hard on a child’s self-esteem. They might feel frustrated or embarrassed, or compare themselves to classmates. You should focus on their strengths for a few reasons.
First, focusing on areas where your child excels, like art, science, sports, or music, helps build their confidence. All kids need to recognize their successes and feel confident in their ability to keep trying. Celebrating what they do well will help them with this.
Also, be sure to recognize any of your child’s strengths in reading. This encourages them to build on their skills. For example, if your child does well with sounding out words, but they just need some extra time to do it–start there! Simply give them the time they need to succeed. Or perhaps they do fine with spelling, but they have trouble learning vocab words. Work spelling into their practice as you help them learn new words. When kids get to use their strengths, it can make tough tasks seem easier.
Schedule a free call to learn more about therapy for reading problems
If you have concerns about your child’s reading or early reading skills, contact us to schedule a free consultation call. We’re here to talk about your concerns, answer your questions, and explain how speech therapy can support your child.
