Struggle With Reading Yourself? Here's How You Can Help Your Child Learn to Read

You don't have to be a strong reader to support your child's literacy development.

Did you struggle with reading growing up? Maybe reading is still difficult for you today. And now, you're trying to figure out how to help your child learn to read.

If this sounds familiar, I want you to know something: Your own struggles with reading do not mean you can't support your child's literacy development.

As a speech-language pathologist, I believe it's important to have more conversations about how we support families who may not feel confident helping their children with reading. We often tell parents to “read with your child every day,” but we don't always consider how struggle-with-reading-yourself-here-s-how-you-can-help-your-child-learn-to-readoverwhelming that advice might feel for someone who struggles with reading themselves.

Some parents may feel anxious about reading aloud. Others may feel unsure about how to help when their child brings home reading homework. And some may want to help but simply don't know where to start.

The good news? There are practical ways to support your child's language and literacy development that don't require you to be the person reading every word.

Let's talk about a few!

1. Talk about the pictures in books

You don't have to read all the words on a page to share a book with your child.

Choose a picture book and spend time looking at the illustrations together. Talk about what you see, what the characters are doing, and what you think might happen next.

Here are a few questions you can ask:

• “What do you see in this picture?”

• “What do you think is happening?”

• “How do you think that character feels?”

• “What do you think will happen next?”

These conversations help children build vocabulary, express their ideas, and develop an understanding of stories.

Remember: Sharing a book can be about more than reading the printed words. Talking about the story is valuable, too!

2. Play with sounds

Learning to read involves more than recognizing letters. Children also need to learn to notice and work with the sounds in spoken words.

You can help your child practice these skills through simple, playful activities during your everyday routines.

Try:

• Singing songs and nursery rhymes together.

• Thinking of words that rhyme, like cat, hat, and bat.

• Clapping out the parts in words, such as ta-ble.

• Finding words that start with the same sound.

For example, while driving in the car, you might say, “I’m thinking of a word that starts with the same sound as sun. Can you think of another word that starts that way?”

You don't need worksheets or a formal lesson to get started. A few minutes of playful practice can create opportunities for your child to notice the sounds in words.

3. Let audiobooks and read-alouds help

You don't always have to be the person reading the story!

Audiobooks and videos of books being read aloud can be helpful ways to enjoy stories together, especially if reading aloud feels difficult for you.

As you listen together, try to:

• Pause and ask, “What do you think will happen next?”

• Talk about how the characters might be feeling.

• Connect something in the story to an experience your child has had.

• Ask, “Can you tell me what has happened so far?”

You can also follow along with the printed words when possible.

These conversations help children build vocabulary, understand stories, and make connections between ideas.

Audiobooks and read-alouds can complement reading instruction, but children who are learning to read also need opportunities to develop word-reading skills through appropriate instruction and practice.

4. Make literacy part of everyday life

Reading and writing aren't limited to books or homework. There are opportunities to explore print throughout your day!

Invite your child to help you:

• Read items on a grocery list.

• Look for familiar words on signs.

• Explore a menu at a restaurant.

• Write a shopping list together.

• Read simple instructions while preparing a meal.

You can also point out letters and words in your environment and talk about what they mean.

These everyday experiences help children see how reading and writing are used in real life.

You don't have to turn every activity into a lesson. Start with things you're already doing and look for natural opportunities to involve your child.

5. Pause and talk as you go

Whether you're sharing a picture book, listening to an audiobook, or watching a read-aloud, you can help your child understand the story by stopping to talk about it.

You might ask:

• “Why do you think that happened?”

• “What would you do if you were that character?”

• “What do you think will happen next?”

• “Can you tell me the most important thing that happened?”

For younger children, you might keep your questions simple and focus on naming objects or describing actions. Older children may be ready to explain characters' choices, make predictions, or summarize what they've heard. The goal isn't to quiz your child after every page. It's to have a conversation and help them think about what they're hearing.

6. Ask for help when you need it

If you're unsure how to support your child's reading development, it's okay to ask for guidance.

Talk with your child's teacher or reading specialist about what your child is learning and which strategies you can practice at home. Ask for demonstrations, examples, or resources that you can use together.

If your child is also having difficulty with language skills, a speech-language pathologist may be able to help address areas such as vocabulary, understanding language, narrative skills, and phonological awareness as part of a broader literacy support plan.

You don't have to know all the answers. You can learn what works for your child with support from the professionals involved in their education.

A final reminder for parents

If reading has always been difficult for you, you may feel unsure about how to help your child. You may even worry that your own experiences will make it harder for you to support them.

But you don't have to be a reading expert to be an important part of your child's literacy journey.

Start with what feels manageable. Talk about pictures. Play with sounds. Listen to stories together. Ask questions and make connections to your child's everyday experiences.

And remember that it's okay to ask for help when you need it.

A note for the professionals supporting these families

For speech-language pathologists, educators, and other practitioners, this is an important reminder to consider the families behind our recommendations.

When we tell parents to “read with your child every day,” let's also consider whether that recommendation feels accessible to them.

Demonstrate activities. Provide specific examples of what parents can say and do. Share resources that fit their needs, and help them identify strategies they can realistically use at home.

Our job isn't just to tell families what their children need. It's to help families understand how they can support those needs.

When we make literacy support practical and accessible, we create more opportunities for families to participate in their children's learning without adding unnecessary pressure or shame. Because every family deserves support, and every parent deserves to feel that they can make a difference.