Read Learn Lead:
Help Your Child Read with Confidence
Reading Struggles Are Common—Support Makes the Difference
Reading is one of the most important skills a child can learn, but not all kids develop reading skills at the same pace. The good news? You don’t have to be a teacher to help. Small, simple actions—talking, singing, playing—help build the foundation for reading success. And when reading challenges come up, acting early makes a big difference.
Make Reading Part of Everyday Life
Reading can be simple and fun. There are activities in your community that you and your child can explore together, like visiting a library or joining a reading program. Every little bit helps build your child's confidence and skills.
Here are a few simple ideas to make reading a part of your everyday routine.
Let Kids Read About
Things They Love
Take a trip to your local library and find books about things your child really likes–dinosaurs, space, animals, anything that gets them excited.
📚 Click this link to find a library near you →
Read Out Loud Together
Even if your child can read on their own, reading together helps make their reading skills stronger. This helps them learn more words, understand what they read, and creates a love for stories. Read in the language you speak at home to make it part of your family routine!
Turn Everyday Actions into Learning Moments
Cooking: Read recipes together.
Grocery shopping: Make a list and have your child help find the items.
Driving: Read road and building signs together.
Playing games: Read the instructions out loud.
Talk, Talk, Talk
Talk about what you did today at home or work or your plans for the weekend. Ask your child about their day. What did they learn? How are their friends? When kids have strong speaking and listening skills, it also helps them to read!
Watch and Listen
If it seems like your child is having a hard time reading, there’s help. Try to see how they’re struggling–are they avoiding reading, skipping words, or having trouble with sounds? Talk to their teacher when school starts again. Take action early; it can help your child get reading help in school.
Reading Struggles? Early Action Makes a Big Difference
Kids develop reading skills at different speeds, but the earlier you notice a struggle, the easier it is to help. If your child is having a tough time, don’t wait—support is available, and early help makes all the difference. No matter how old they are, what matters is if you notice something, speak up.
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How to Tell if Your Child Needs Extra Reading Help:
Guessing words instead of sounding them out
Avoiding reading or getting frustrated easily
Skipping or mixing up small words (like “of” and “on”)
Trouble remembering what they just read
Reading only the first letter of a word and guessing the rest
Struggling to match letters with sounds
If your child is having trouble with these things, they may have a very common reading challenge like dyslexia. With early help from teachers, they can improve!
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If Your Child Needs Extra Help, Schools Can Help
If a child struggles with reading, Colorado schools create a personalized READ Plan with goals and support to help them succeed. These plans give teachers and parents a clear path to help kids build their reading skills. The plan outlines how your child’s school will give extra support in the classroom and sets progress checkpoints to help them stay on track. A READ Plan is a roadmap to success that helps children gain confidence and reach grade-level reading skills.
Parents play an important role in the process, but it’s not all on your shoulders! If you think your child is having a hard time with reading, ask their teacher if your child has a READ plan.
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Talking to Teachers About Reading Challenges
Parents should let teachers know when children are struggling with reading. Teachers can help. Here's how to ask:
Call, email or meet with your child’s teacher and ask: “How is my child doing with reading?”
Share what you notice at home, like if your child avoids reading.
Ask what supports are available, like a READ plan, tutoring, or small group instruction.
Work together! Teachers and parents are a team in helping kids succeed.
Reading Challenges Are Common—It's Okay to Ask for Help
Reading challenges are a lot more common than many people think. Fear of judgement may stop families from seeking help for their child. But the truth is that every child learns at their own pace, reading challenges are really common, and getting support early makes all the difference.
Many kids struggle with reading—it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Asking for help shows you’re supporting your child’s success.
Teachers and schools want to help! Working together is a strength.
Reading challenges don’t mean a child isn’t smart. The science of reading curriculum can help all children learn how to read.
More Than Books:
Why Strong Reading Skills Matter
Reading is more than just a school subject. It’s a skill that shapes every part of life. Reading well isn’t about memorizing words—it’s about gaining the tools to think critically, express ideas, and get through life’s challenges. Strong reading skills help kids grow into strong, connected, and independent adults.
Here’s why reading matters beyond the classroom:
Builds
Confidence
Kids feel proud and capable when they can read well.
Develops Critical
Thinking
Reading helps kids solve problems and think deeply.
Creates
Connection
Stories and books help kids
understand the world and others.
Prepares Them
for Life
From school work to job applications, reading is everywhere.
Unlocks Future
Success
Strong reading skills lead to better opportunities in school and work.
Easy Ways to Help Your Child Become a Strong Reader
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When you're talking about your day, point out new words. If you see a "dog," say the word clearly. You can even make the sound a dog makes!
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If your child is trying to say a word and it's hard, say it slowly, sound by sound. You can do this in English or your home language.
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If you're reading about a "tractor," and you've seen a tractor before, talk about where you saw it and what it did.
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Even with young children, you can pause during a story and ask what they think might happen next. This helps them think about what they're hearing.
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Don't worry about saying every word perfectly. Tell the story in your own words, in the language you feel most comfortable with. The important thing is sharing the story together.
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Even with young children, you can ask things like, "Why do you think the dog was happy?"
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Ask silly questions like, "What if cats could fly?" This encourages imagination and talking.
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Share simple things about your day and ask your child about theirs. This builds their talking skills.
Ages 0-4
Creating a "reading environment" doesn't need lots of books or lots of time. Even just looking at pictures together and making it fun helps your young child discover the joy of books and words. Every little bit counts!
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Make silly voices for characters, sing parts of the story, or turn a page into a game. This helps them enjoy reading and learn sounds.
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When you're in the car, say a word slowly and tap out each sound on your leg or hand. For "hat," tap /h/ - /a/ - /t/. Ask your child to try!
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Say a word slowly, like "sun." Ask, "What's the first sound?" (/s/) or "What's the last sound?" (/n/).
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Play a simple game: "I spy something blue that starts with the /b/ sound." Your child guesses!
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Say a sound like /p/ and then another sound like /ig/. Ask, "What word is /p/ - /ig/?" (pig).
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When you're shopping, say the names of foods slowly and clap for each part (syllable). "Ap-ple" (clap-clap), "ba-na-na" (clap-clap-clap). Can they try?
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Sing simple songs and try saying funny tongue twisters together. This helps them hear the different sounds in words.
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If your child is stuck on a word, say it slowly, sound by sound. Help them put the sounds together.
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Sometimes the pictures can give clues about what a word might be.
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You don't have to read a whole book at once. Even reading a page or two is great practice.
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Let your child know it's okay to ask for help when reading is tricky. You're there to help them learn.
Ages 5-6
Learning to read can be an exciting adventure! Here are some simple and fun ways to help your 5-6 year old build their reading skills by playing with sounds and words in everyday moments.
Ages 7-8
As your child grows, reading becomes more about understanding words and how they work. These tips offer simple ways to explore spelling patterns, tricky words, and build reading confidence together in everyday situations.
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When you see a word, like "boat," point to the "oa" and explain that it often makes a long /o/ sound
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Instead of just memorizing words like "was," talk about how the letters work in that specific word. "The 'a' in 'was' sounds like /uh/."
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Whether you're reading together or your child is reading alone, gently encourage them to use a finger or pencil to follow along with the words. This helps them focus.
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For children who are still finding reading challenging, look for books that mostly use words they can sound out. This builds confidence.
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Have your child help you write the grocery list and then read it to you at the store. It's real-life reading practice!
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Play a game of finding alphabet letters on signs, in books, or even on food packaging when you're out and about.
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If your child misreads a word, gently help them say it correctly and then have them read the whole sentence again. This helps them understand the meaning.
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Reading takes practice, and sometimes it can be slow. Be patient and let your child work through the words without rushing them.
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When you're walking or shopping, point out simple signs like "EXIT" or "SALE." Ask if they can sound out the words.
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Talk to your child's teacher about how they're doing with reading and ask for ideas on how you can help at home. You're a team!
Tools to Support Your Child’s Reading Success
Summer Reading Tips
School may be out, but it’s important to keep your child reading throughout the summer. Check out these simple tips to keep them reading and ready for the next school year.
Helping children read at grade level is a team effort. Schools take the lead, but you can provide extra support at home, too. Here are some useful resources to help with reading and learning at home:
Reading Rockets
Easy ways for parents to support their children’s literacy development. Designed for parents of children 0-9 years old.