Reading is a fundamental skill that opens doors to learning, imagination, and communication. However, for many children, learning to read is not a simple process. While some children pick up reading quickly, others struggle with recognizing words, understanding sentences, or staying engaged with a book. Why do some children find reading difficult? Let’s explore the key reasons and how parents and educators can help.
Difficulty Recognizing Letters and Words
Some children struggle to recognize and remember letters and sounds. The exact reasons for that are not really known; just know that some children require more repetition, much more patience, and work. The biggest problem is that the child and adults trying to help the child lose momentum and start to feel frustrated with the process. How to Help: Have patience! Give the child more time. Celebrate every success. Ignore the failures. Give the child more time to respond.
Difficulty Recognizing Sounds and Making Them
Our son substituted an N sound for other letters. It was so frustrating. We tried to help him sound out the words. We tried to help him form them correctly–but he persisted in his speaking problems. At about four years old, we took him to see an audiologist. The audiologist saw him once per week. She taught us how to help him make one sound per week and correct one sound each week. We worked with our son patiently, and by the time he started kindergarten, he had worked through each of the sound substitutions. What we learned is that he just couldn’t “hear” the sound differentiation. Once we helped him recognize the sound and produce the sound, he flourished and became an amazing reader. How to Help: Learn about phonetics. Learn how to recognize the mispronunciation and try to help the child “hear” the different sounds. Rhyming games, songs with sounds, and breaking down words into sounds can help. We had to enlist a professional–and that was well worth it! But recognize speech problems early and patiently work on them!
Limited Vocabulary
It is no surprise that children have a limited vocabulary. Finding a book with vocabulary that fits their age and language skills but might still have a few unfamiliar words that can make them stretch could make a difference. I remember loving Dr. Seuss’s books, even though many of them had long, made-up words in them that made me stretch when it came to sounding them out. The bright and active illustrations drew me in and kept my interest. How to Help: When talking to children, try to balance talking on their level and still using words that they might not know yet. A little interjection, with something like: “That word means ‘energetic'” to help bring the meaning of the word home can be very helpful. Read out loud to children often. Make reading time with a parent a fun part of every day!
Attention and Focus Challenges
Many children find it hard to sit for even a standard 32-page picture book. For many, it might be ADHD, but for some, it is just a short attention span. I was taught that a child has an attention span of about 1 minute per year of life. This means that a five-year-old has about a five-minute attention span, and a seven-year-old has about a seven-minute one. How to Help: It is OK to take a break in the middle of the book or say, “Let’s get some sleep,” and read the other half tomorrow night. Among the best things to do is find books that they are interested in. Some children love action and adventure. Others are attracted to books about feelings and friendships. Let them choose some of the books you pick up at the library and see what they are drawn to on the shelves.
Reluctance to Get Off Of Devices
Many children today are addicted to devices and over-stimulating video games and screen time. Their ability to put down a device or leave a screen is diminished by the number of hours they spend on devices and in front of screens. The Surgeon General and many others advocate limiting screen time for children. Children struggle with reading because they just can’t find a way to peel away from addicting screens. How to Help: Limit screen time. Use it as a reward. Thirty minutes of reading for thirty minutes of screen time. Take time to play with children outside or take them to indoor play areas during colder months of the year. Make time away from screens more interesting and more fun than being on the screens.
Insufficient Early Exposure to Books
Children who are not exposed to books and storytelling from an early age may struggle with reading later on. Early literacy experiences, such as being read to at home, help children develop a love for books and an understanding of how language works. How to Help: Make reading a daily habit from infancy. Surround children with books, visit libraries, and encourage a reading-friendly environment at home.
Final Thoughts: Encouraging Every Child to Read
Every child’s reading journey is unique, and struggles with reading do not mean a child is not intelligent or capable. With patience, support, and the right strategies, children can overcome reading difficulties and develop a lifelong love for books. Parents and educators play a crucial role in making reading an enjoyable and accessible experience for all children.
If your child is struggling with reading, don’t lose hope—help is available, and progress is always possible!
Need Something to Read?
Other Things You Might Like
One Reply to “Why Do Some Children Find Reading Difficult?”
Comments are closed.