My love of reading began with my grandparents. I watched them read newspapers and books every day, and before long, I was spending my summers stretched out on a lawn chair with a library book of my own. Years later, when I volunteered with elementary students, I saw what a difference even a few minutes of patient, one-on-one reading practice could make.
If reading practice at home sometimes turns into a struggle, you’re not alone. Whether your child is learning the basics or is one of the many struggling readers who needs extra encouragement, you don’t have to be an enthusiastic reader yourself or have hours of free time to help. Here are nine simple ways to strengthen your child’s elementary reading skills.
9 Simple Ways to Improve Your Child’s Reading Skills
1. Read Together Regularly
A few minutes each day does more good than one long session on the weekend. Bedtime, right after school, or a quiet time after dinner can all work.
What matters is doing it often enough that reading becomes a normal part of your day, not something extra you have to remember.
2. Let Your Child Choose the Books
Giving your child a choice from a selection of books, whether it’s dinosaurs, space, or silly jokes, builds ownership and makes reading feel more enjoyable.
When children are interested in the topic, they are more likely to keep reading even when some of the words are difficult.
3. Choose Books at the Right Reading Level
A book that is too difficult can turn reading into a battle before it even begins.
Check the front or back cover, the publisher’s description, or the online book listing for a suggested age range or grade level. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines. Children of the same age can read at very different levels.
Look for books your child can read without stopping for help in every sentence. A few challenging words can help them learn, but too many can quickly lead to frustration.
4. Give Them Time to Work Out Unfamiliar Words
When I worked with students at school, I noticed that the biggest obstacle usually wasn’t ability. It was hesitation.
Children who were nervous about getting a word wrong struggled more than those who felt safe attempting an unfamiliar word. Resist the urge to jump in immediately. Give your child a moment to look at the letters, sound out the word, and try it independently.
Simple reading tools can also help a child focus on one word or line at a time. Discover 3 Surprising Back-to-School Shopping Items to Help With Early Reading Skills.
5. Praise Effort and Progress Specifically
Instead of offering a general “Good job,” try naming exactly what you noticed: “You kept going even when that word was tricky.” “That page was so much smoother than last time.”
Specific praise tells your child what is working and encourages them to keep doing it. It also helps build the confidence that struggling readers need to attempt difficult words without fear of making mistakes.
6. Ask Questions and Talk About the Story
Pause occasionally to ask what your child thinks will happen next or how a character might be feeling.
Talking about the story builds comprehension, not just word recognition. It can also lead to some of your favourite conversations of the day.
7. Reread Favourite Books
It might feel repetitive to you, but rereading a familiar book builds fluency and confidence in a low-pressure way.
For elementary children, repetition gives them another opportunity to recognize familiar words and read more smoothly. Your child already knows the story, so they can focus more of their energy on reading the words.
8. Connect Reading With Writing and Everyday Life
Point out words on cereal boxes, street signs, or recipe cards so your child can see how reading is used throughout the day.
Encourage them to write a simple journal entry, make a grocery list, or create a story about something that happened to them. Research suggests that writing by hand creates connections between areas of the brain involved in learning and memory. Combining reading with simple handwriting activities gives your child another way to practise words and remember what they are learning.
9. Create a Reading-Friendly Environment
Choose a comfortable place where your child can read without too many distractions. It could be a corner of the couch, a favourite chair, or a quiet spot with a pillow, a blanket, and good lighting.
Keep a variety of books where your child can easily see and reach them. Include familiar books they can read comfortably, as well as others that offer a little more or less challenge. On a tired day, they may prefer an easier book, while on a well-rested day, they may be ready to try something more difficult. A basket of books at different reading levels allows your child to choose what feels manageable that day.
Every child’s reading journey looks a little different, and progress often comes in small, steady steps rather than overnight breakthroughs.
With patience and a few consistent habits, reading practice at home can help your child develop stronger skills, greater confidence, and a lasting love of reading.
Does Your Child Need More Reading Practice?
Sometimes, even with support at home, a child needs more consistent, individualized reading practice. That’s completely normal.
Struggling readers often benefit from patient, one-on-one support that allows them to practise unfamiliar words and build confidence at their own pace.
If your child would benefit from additional help, learn more about online reading support with Gramma Kate.
Warm regards,
Gramma Kate