Originally Published February 2016, Reviewed and Updated April 2026
Watching your child struggle with reading can be tough. It’s a foundational skill, and as a parent, you want to do everything you can to help them build confidence and find joy in books. The good news is that support can start right at home.
Small, consistent efforts can make a world of difference. Here are five simple, effective strategies you can use to support your child’s reading journey.
1. What if they get stuck on vowel sounds?
Vowel sounds and combinations are common hurdles. The Ladder Exercise is a great way to make learning them feel like a game instead of a chore.
Write words with short vowels (cat, hen, pig), then vowel combinations (boat, train, pie), and digraphs (ch, sh, th) on separate lines of a “ladder.” As your child correctly reads a word, they get to move up to the next rung. This visual progress is a fantastic motivator!
2. How can I help them remember tricky sight words?
Does your child have trouble with words that don’t follow the rules? Words like “said,” “was,” and “they” can be frustrating. Visualizing Sight Words helps move these words into long-term memory.
The process involves having your child look at the word, close their eyes, and “see” it in their mind, and then write it from memory. This technique strengthens the connection between the visual form of the word and its meaning. Resources like Gander Publishing highlight how visualization can support memory and word recognition.
3. What about words they miss over and over?
Every reader has a few “stumble words” they consistently miss. Turn practice into a game with Around the World.
Write these specific words on notecards. When your child reads one correctly, they get to keep the card. The goal is to collect as many cards as possible. This adds a layer of fun and removes the pressure of getting it “wrong” in the middle of a story.
4. How do I help with letter reversals like ‘b’ and ‘d’?
It is very common for children to mix up letters like ‘b’ and ‘d’. An effective activity to practice differentiating them is a simple Syllable Exercise.
Create lists of simple syllables (ba, be, bi, bo) and (da, de, di, do). Practice reading them separately, then mix them up. This helps train the brain to see the subtle differences and connect them to the correct sound, improving their automaticity while reading.
5. How can we make reading aloud less stressful?
Reading in front of others can be nerve-wracking. The goal is to build confidence by making it a positive and low-pressure experience.
- Model expressive reading: When you read to them, use different voices and show emotion. This makes stories more engaging and demonstrates what fluent reading sounds like.
- Focus on smoothness, not perfection: Encourage a steady pace. It’s better to read smoothly and mispronounce a word than to stop and start constantly.
- Take cues from punctuation: Show them how commas are like a quick breath, and periods are a full stop. This dramatically improves comprehension.
Building skills takes patience and practice, but turning that practice into a supportive and positive activity is key. You are your child’s best coach. For more ideas on how to make reading fun, Scholastic provides a great list of family literacy activities.
If you feel your child needs more individualized support, our team is here to help. ETLC provides one-on-one tutoring and academic support designed to help every child achieve their God-given potential. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your family.
About the Author
Sonia Strueby, M.A., CCC-SLP, is the founder of Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center. With over 25 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Sonia has dedicated her career to helping children overcome complex communication and academic challenges. She has advanced training and a special focus on treating dyslexia and childhood apraxia of speech, and she is passionate about providing families with a clear path to success.
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