As parents, we all want our children to succeed in reading, but sometimes it’s hard to know when they need extra help. Reading struggles aren’t always obvious, and kids can become experts at compensating for their difficulties. If you’re wondering whether your child could benefit from additional reading support, here are five key signs to look for—along with practical steps to help them thrive.
1. They Guess at Words Instead of Sounding Them Out
Does your child look at the first letter of a word and then guess? This is a sign that they may not have a strong foundation in phonics. Instead of decoding words, they rely on visual memory or context clues, which can cause frustration as texts become more complex.
How to Help: Encourage phonics-based reading strategies, where they break down words into sounds rather than guessing. In our live Kiss Your Brain reading classes, we teach kids how to decode words confidently using a structured, multisensory approach.
2. They Struggle with Sight Words or High-Frequency Words
Common words like the, said, come, and where should become automatic over time. If your child consistently forgets or misreads these words, it could be a sign of weak orthographic memory, meaning they aren’t storing words effectively in long-term memory.
How to Help: Use multi-sensory activities like tracing words in sand or writing them in different colors to reinforce recognition. Our live classes integrate engaging, research-backed methods that make learning stick.
3. They Avoid Reading or Say They ‘Hate’ It
A child who frequently complains about reading, avoids reading assignments, or gets frustrated easily may be struggling with underlying reading difficulties. Kids don’t hate reading—they hate struggling with reading.
How to Help: Create a low-pressure reading environment and read aloud together to build confidence. If avoidance continues, structured literacy support—like our small-group Kiss Your Brain live classes—can provide the encouragement and instruction they need.
4. They Read Slowly and Choppily
If your child reads word-by-word with little expression, skips words, or struggles to get through sentences fluently, they may need more practice with decoding and automatic word recognition. Reading fluency is essential for comprehension—if they’re using all their energy to sound out words, they’ll struggle to understand the story.
How to Help: Have them re-read familiar books to build fluency, or try paired reading (taking turns reading sentences). In our live classes, we focus on phonics and fluency-building activities to strengthen reading skills in a fun, interactive way.
5. They Have Trouble Understanding What They Read
Even if your child can decode words, comprehension struggles can hold them back. If they can’t retell the main idea, answer simple questions about a story, or make predictions, they may need help developing reading comprehension strategies.
How to Help: Ask open-ended questions while reading together: What do you think will happen next? Why did the character make that choice? In our Kiss Your Brain live reading classes, we teach students to use strategies like visualization, summarization, and making connections to deepen their understanding.
