• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

A Better Way to Homeschool

What if we focus on character

  • Save Your Middle School
  • Quick Wins for Homeschool Moms
  • ▶️ YouTube Channel
You are here: Home / K-8th Grade / Don’t Panic if Your Kids Can’t Read Yet

Don’t Panic if Your Kids Can’t Read Yet

July 1, 2023 By Bekki 4 Comments This content may contain affiliate links.

Last week I couldn’t find him.
 
I was walking all over our new home looking for our youngest son.
No matter how many times I called his name, he didn’t answer.
 
Just about the time I started to be concerned, I saw him out of the corner of my eye; buried in a bean bag, snuggling with the dog and reading.
 
READING!
 
This may not seem like a big deal to you, but the boy was almost ten and hadn’t jumped into the world of stories on his own.
 
I wasn’t concerned. 
 

All five of our sons were reluctant readers in the beginning.

 
But our youngest?
 
He was the most reluctant yet.
He  never really picked up a book on his own… until that day…
 
Got kids who just can’t read, don’t want to read, or are struggling? Don’t panic…Just keep reading aloud to them.

 

What can you do to tickle their desire to pick up books?

  • Grab an exciting book and suddenly “Stop Reading” at an extremely exciting part.
  • Leave them hanging in stories.
  • Talk to them about the books you are reading.
  • Give them access to books, lots and lots of book.
  • Gather books that are below their reading level and have them “hanging around”.
  • You, mom, pick up children’s literature and read silently to yourself. Let your kids see that there are no age-appropriate kid’s books. Help them see that a good book is simply that, a good book.
 
 
 
Even though we took a very laid back approach to teaching this guy to read, I was still shocked when the lightbulb finally came on.
 
His progress from zero to a million miles an hour?
 
FIRST, he fell in love with the Magic Tree House Series. As a matter of fact he has read 1-2 books every day until he completed all the book in the house.
 
Next, he just kept going. After the first 20-ish books were devoured, he began reaching for bigger and bigger books.
 
Fast forward to today… He reads no less than 2 hours a day, has the HIGHEST reading comprehension out of all the boys in our family, and is an amazing writer.
 
 
Do you have a reluctant reader?
Keep reading to them.
Supply them with lots of books.
Visit the library. Often.
Leave ’em hanging in a story.
Just never give up. They will read.
Never make it a negative, reading is fun.
 

Every child learns to read at their own pace, and for some, the journey to literacy may be a bit delayed. Delayed readers, as we affectionately call them, are those who take a little longer to grasp the art of reading compared to their peers. While it can be a source of concern for parents and educators, it’s crucial to remember that this is entirely normal. In fact, patience and support are the keys to helping delayed readers flourish.
 
The only thing that matters is THAT they learn to read.
 

Help for Homeschoolers!

Filed Under: K-8th Grade, sticky Tagged With: reading, teach kids to read

Previous Post: « Transfiguration Coloring Pages
Next Post: This is the Best List of Delightful Books for Preschoolers (and their Parents) »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Ant Farm Kits: An Easy Science Lesson for Multiple Ages says:
    January 29, 2019 at 6:01 am

    […] Don’t Panic if Your Kids Can’t Read Yet […]

    Reply
  2. How to Homeschool When that First homeschool Year is a Flop says:
    October 9, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    […] How do you get kids to read? […]

    Reply
  3. Your Brilliant Dyslexic Child Will Surprise You The Most says:
    October 9, 2019 at 7:31 pm

    […] he didn’t read until he turned 10, his spelling is […]

    Reply
  4. Homeschool and Delayed Reader says:
    October 9, 2019 at 8:10 pm

    […] That’s how those silly little kid books made him feel. Related: Don’t panic if your kids aren’t reading yet. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© 2017 A Better Way to Homeschool
 · Contact · Disclosure and Ad Policy
 
· Terms of Use
 ·