Is Your Child a Struggling Reader? What You Need to Know to Help

When it comes to reading challenges, parents are often the first to notice early signs of difficulty. Observing these clues, especially during your child’s preschool and kindergarten years, can be crucial to providing help for a struggling reader before their difficulties intensify. Knowing the signs of potential reading difficulties—and how to address them—can help you get ahead of any issues that might come up.

1. Watch for Early Indicators of Reading Difficulty

Children who struggle with manipulating sounds in words often have trouble with reading later. Some signs that may signal future reading challenges include:

• Difficulty with rhyming

• Trouble recognizing words with the same beginning sounds

• Struggling with word games or sound blending

Reading challenges are also common in children who had frequent ear infections or speech delays. Issues with early speech development, such as difficulty articulating sounds or talking later than peers, can sometimes lead to difficulties with reading down the road. Parents who observe these issues should consider scheduling a speech and hearing screening to rule out any underlying challenges.

2. Look for Patterns in Preschool Years

Several real-life stories can shed light on what early signs to look for. One parent noticed her child couldn’t remember letter or number symbols despite repeated practice. In another case, a mother observed her preschooler didn’t enjoy nursery rhymes and couldn’t fill in rhyming words despite hearing them multiple times. These patterns can provide insight into whether a child may be at risk for reading difficulties.

3. Pay Attention to First-Grade Reading Skills

The transition to first grade often brings more structured reading lessons, which can highlight additional challenges. If your child has difficulty making sound-letter associations, you might notice:

• Frequent guessing at unfamiliar words

• Difficulty blending sounds to form words

• Trouble remembering words they have already learned

• Skipping words without correcting themselves

By mid-first grade, children should recognize about 100 common words and be able to blend sounds smoothly to form words. If your child struggles to read aloud or avoids reading altogether, it may be a sign they are finding reading too challenging and frustrating.

4. Monitor Writing for Additional Clues

Reading and writing skills develop together, so monitoring your child’s writing can offer insights into their reading development. By the end of kindergarten, children typically spell out most consonant sounds in words, even if vowels aren’t yet accurate. If your child’s writing is missing many sounds or appears particularly difficult, this may signal areas where extra support is needed.

5. Know When to Seek Additional Help

If you’re concerned, speak with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and any specific areas of struggle. Here are some helpful questions to ask:

• What specific skills is my child finding challenging?

• What materials do you use to teach phonics and phonological awareness?

  • How can I support these skills at home?

• May I see my child’s progress monitoring data so I know what they have mastered and what they still need to work on?

  • Is that at, below, or above grade level expectations?

Teachers can often provide recommendations for activities to practice at home, or suggest resources tailored to your child’s needs. Seeking guidance from a reading specialist can also help children who need additional support to keep up with their peers.

Take advantage of our PreK - 5 Reading and Writing Milestones Checklist, a free resource available on our website! This checklist gives you a clear view of the essential skills kids should be developing at each stage, from preschool to fifth grade.

Every Child’s Journey is Unique

Remember, learning to read is a complex process, and each child progresses at their own pace. If you see any signs that concern you, try not to panic; early challenges don’t always signal a lasting problem. Instead, by monitoring, supporting, and communicating openly with your child’s teacher, you can give them the best start on their reading journey.

Need a little extra support? 

At TAS Literacy, our expert reading specialists are skilled in assessment and provide multi-sensory, structured phonics interventions tailored to each child’s unique needs. Reach out today to learn how we can help your child build confidence and reading success!

Happy reading!

Taylor Sofranko-Sutherland

Founder, TAS Literacy