Your Child Is Starting to Read Independently. Now What?

Your Child Is Starting to Read Independently. Now What?

When your child advances through the I Can Read! reading levels and becomes a more confident reader, it's a proud moment for any parent. But it’s also an important time for parents to make sure their children get the help they may need.

Below are some common reading challenges kids face when advancing to reading on their own and some suggestions for what you as a parent can do to help:

Challenge: Your child is skipping words or pausing for long periods of time while reading.

What You Can Do: Have your child touch each word and say each sound to try to work through it.

Challenge: Your child is stuck on a specific word.

What You Can Do: Ask which word would make sense given what he or she just read. Suggest looking at the picture and seeing if that helps. If not, have your child keep reading to the end of the sentence, then go back and reread. You can also cover up all but the first letter, and move your finger to the right as your child reads each sound and then read the word quickly together.

Challenge: Your child sounds robotic when he or she reads.

What You Can Do: Practice sounding like you are talking with them. Choose phrases to reread together to make the text sound natural rather than stilted.

Challenge: Your child loses interest quickly.

What You Can Do: Ask what characters or themes your child wants to read about. It’s important to give children books they want to read. Is your child a superhero fan? Superman Classic: Day of Doom might be a good fit. It’s Valentine's Dayis great for a child who wants to read about holidays and love.

Remember to celebrate when your child reads successfully! Check out How to Use Activities to Make Reading Fun for fun ways to celebrate.

Featured Books