Why do you think your child is struggling? When your child is struggling and finding reading difficult, it is really important to find out why. When you know the reason, you can help your child get the right support.
There are a number of possible reasons. It could be due to something physical, such as poor eyesight, or a learning difference like dyslexia.
It may simply be a lack of motivation – your child may prefer to be outside playing rather than focusing on reading! Whatever the reason, you need to approach the situation with patience and encouragement.
So, how can you help your child become a more confident reader?
One of the most important factors is ensuring that the reading material matches your child’s ability. Books that are too difficult will be discouraging, while those that are too easy will not be interesting enough. For beginner readers, look for books with large text, plenty of repetition, and a gradual increase in difficulty.
A structured reading scheme can be particularly helpful, as these books are carefully designed to build skills step by step.
If your child is already using a reading scheme at school but doesn’t like it for some reason, it may help to introduce a different one at home and start from the beginning. Sometimes a fresh start with a new set of books can make all the difference, boosting their confidence and motivation.
For a carefully chosen list of recommended reading schemes, be sure to check out our resource page.
For beginner readers, combining reading and writing activities can be a powerful way to help them understand how letters form words. Here’s an idea you can try:
Write the letters ‘c,’ ‘a,’ ‘t,’ ‘m,’ ‘h,’ ‘s,’ and ‘f’ on separate pieces of paper or small cards. Start by arranging the letters to form a simple word, like “cat.” Say the word out loud with your child as you point to each letter, reinforcing the connection between the sounds and letters. (You can also use tiles from a word game like ‘Scrabble’.)
Next, show how changing one letter can create a whole new word. For example, replace the ‘c’ with ‘m’ to make “mat.” Then swap the ‘m’ for an ‘h’ to form “hat,” and so on. Encourage your child to experiment by rearranging the letters themselves. This hands-on activity builds confidence, phonics skills, and a sense of achievement as they see how small changes lead to new words. They can then write these words on a new sheet of paper and will have learned to read and spell several words in a playful fashion. A big ‘win-win’ for your struggling reader.
If your child is no longer a beginning reader and is struggling to read age-appropriate books, audiobooks can be a great way to support them – especially when paired with a relaxing activity like crafting. While listening to audiobooks won’t directly improve the mechanics of reading, it offers valuable exposure to intonation for questions or exclamations, helping your child develop a natural sense of rhythm in language. Audiobooks also introduce them to a wider range of vocabulary, including more sophisticated words that they might not encounter in everyday conversation.
If your child becomes a fan of a particular book or series – like my granddaughter, who adored Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven and practically knew those stories by heart – they’ll likely start to subconsciously remember certain phrases or expressions. This can later influence their own writing and enrich their use of language.
Once they’ve listened to a book, you might find that reading it together becomes much easier. Familiarity with the story can make their reading more fluent, and you may even notice improved intonation and confidence.
I hope you’ve found these suggestions about how you can help your struggling reader helpful! Feel free to ask any further questions in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.