How to Help Your Child With Reading at Home

You don't need to be a teacher to make a big difference in your child's reading. A few focused minutes a day, done consistently, can build both skills and confidence. Here are the simple routines I recommend to families, grouped by where your child is as a reader.

For every age: read aloud together

Reading aloud is one of the most valuable things you can do, even after your child can read on their own. When you read books above their reading level, they hear new vocabulary, sentence patterns and ideas they can't yet read themselves. Aim for 10 to 20 minutes most days, and let your child pick some of the books.

Talk as you go. Ask "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why do you think she did that?" These conversations build the comprehension skills kids need later.

Beginning readers (K–1): play with sounds

Before kids can read words, they need to hear the individual sounds inside them. These quick games need no materials:

• Rhyme time: "What rhymes with cat?" Silly made-up words count.
• I spy sounds: "I spy something that starts with /b/."
• Break it up: Say a word like "sun" and have your child say each sound: /s/ /u/ /n/.
• Put it together: Say /m/ /o/ /p/ slowly and have your child blend the sounds into "mop."
• Clap syllables: Clap out names and favorite foods, like spa-ghet-ti.

Early readers: sound it out, don't guess

When your child gets stuck on a word, it's tempting to say "Look at the picture" or "What would make sense?" But guessing can build habits that cause trouble later. Instead, try this:

1. Point to the word and say, "Let's sound it out."
2. Have your child say each sound, then blend them together.
3. If it's a tricky word that doesn't follow the rules, just tell them the word and move on.
4. Then ask, "Does that make sense in the sentence?"

Decodable books, which only use the letter patterns your child has learned, are great practice at this stage. Ask your child's teacher which patterns they're working on in class.

Growing readers (2nd–3rd): build fluency

Fluency means reading smoothly, accurately and with expression. It frees up a child's brain to focus on meaning.

• Echo reading: You read a sentence with expression, then your child reads it back the same way.
• Repeated reading: Have your child read the same short passage a few times across the week. Kids love hearing themselves get smoother.
• Partner reading: Take turns reading pages of a book together.

Older readers (4th–6th): read to learn

• Before reading, look at the title, headings and pictures together and ask, "What do you think we'll learn?"
• After reading, have your child tell you the main idea in their own words.
• Break big words into parts: un-be-liev-a-ble.
• Let them read about what they love, whether that's sports, animals, graphic novels or cookbooks. Interest is a powerful motivator.

Keep it short and positive

Ten focused minutes beats a frustrating half hour. Stop while it's still going well, praise effort ("You kept trying on that hard word!"), and keep reading time separate from screens and chores. Audiobooks are a great way to enjoy stories together too, especially for kids who find reading tiring.

Use your local library

Libraries are one of the best free resources for families. Near me, the Agoura Hills Library, Westlake Village Library, Oak Park Library, Calabasas Library and Thousand Oaks Library are all great places to find books, and librarians are happy to help you find ones at the right level.