Many parents eventually ask the same question:
“Why is my child struggling with reading?”
In my 30+ years in the classroom, I’ve heard this question more times than I can count and I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating it can feel for both children and parents.
If your child avoids books, guesses words while reading, or becomes frustrated during homework, you are not alone. Reading is a complex skill that develops step by step, and many children experience challenges along the way. At home, this might look like a child avoiding reading time, guessing at words, or becoming frustrated during homework even when they’re trying their best.
The encouraging news is that reading difficulties usually stem from specific skill gaps that can be identified and improved with the right support.
Below are five common reasons children struggle with reading and what parents can do to help.
1. Gaps in Phonemic Awareness
One of the most common reasons children struggle with reading is difficulty with phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear and work with the individual sounds in spoken words.
Before children can read printed words, they need to be able to hear sounds within words.
For example, children should be able to:
• identify the beginning sound in a word
• break a word into sounds (c-a-t)
• blend sounds together to make a word
• recognize rhyming words
When phonemic awareness skills are weak, children may struggle to connect sounds with letters when they begin learning phonics. This is often the piece parents don’t see because it happens in listening, not reading. But it’s one of the most important building blocks for early literacy.
How Parents Can Help
Parents can support phonemic awareness through simple activities such as:
• rhyming games
• clapping syllables in words
• identifying beginning sounds
• playing sound blending games
Even short daily activities can strengthen these important early literacy skills.
Check out our phonemic awareness blog: Phonemic Awareness Activities Every Parent Should Try!
2. Difficulty With Phonics and Decoding
Another common reason children struggle with reading is difficulty with decoding, which means sounding out words using phonics patterns.
Decoding allows children to read unfamiliar words by connecting letters with their sounds.
For example, a child might decode the word:
ship
by recognizing the sh sound and blending the remaining letters together.
Children who struggle with decoding may:
• guess words based on pictures
• skip unfamiliar words
• struggle to sound out simple words
• rely heavily on memorized sight words
Without strong decoding skills, reading can feel frustrating and overwhelming. When children rely on guessing instead of decoding, it’s usually a sign they haven’t been taught how to break words apart in a clear, structured way.
How Parents Can Help
Parents can support decoding by:
• encouraging children to sound out unfamiliar words
• practicing simple phonics patterns
• reading decodable books that reinforce phonics skills
• praising effort rather than speed
Decoding improves with consistent practice and clear instruction.
Check out our phonics blog: Why Phonics is the Secret to Your Child’s Reading Success!
How Decoding and Spelling (Encoding) Work Together
Reading and spelling are closely connected skills.
When children learn to decode, they are learning how to read words by connecting letters with sounds.
Encoding is the opposite process. It means using sounds to spell words.
For example, when a child hears the word ship and writes:
s-h-i-p
they are using encoding skills.
Strong readers usually develop both skills together. When children practice spelling words using sound patterns, it strengthens their ability to recognize those same patterns while reading.
Children who struggle with decoding often experience similar challenges with spelling because both skills rely on understanding how sounds and letters work together.
How Parents Can Help
Parents can strengthen both reading and spelling by:
• encouraging children to sound out words while writing
• practicing spelling patterns connected to phonics lessons
• playing simple word-building games
• asking children to stretch out sounds in words
These activities reinforce the connection between reading and spelling, which strengthens overall literacy development.
3. Weak Reading Fluency
Some children can decode words but still struggle because their reading is slow and choppy. This is known as a fluency challenge.
Reading fluency refers to the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression.
Fluent readers can focus on understanding the text rather than concentrating on each individual word.
Children with fluency difficulties may:
• read very slowly
• pause frequently between words
• sound robotic while reading
• struggle to remember what they just read
Fluency improves as children gain more practice and confidence with reading.
How Parents Can Help
Parents can build fluency through:
• repeated reading of short passages
• reading aloud together
• echo reading (parent reads first, child repeats)
• practicing familiar books multiple times
Just 10 minutes of daily reading practice can make a meaningful difference.
Check out our fluency blog: Why Fluency Is the Missing Link in Your Child’s Reading Progress
4. Difficulty Understanding What They Read
Sometimes children can read words correctly but still struggle with comprehension, or understanding what the text means.
Reading comprehension requires several skills working together, including vocabulary knowledge, background knowledge, and the ability to make connections while reading.
Children who struggle with comprehension may:
• read a passage but not understand it
• have difficulty retelling a story
• struggle to identify the main idea
• answer questions incorrectly after reading
How Parents Can Help
Parents can strengthen comprehension by:
• asking questions while reading together
• discussing characters and events in stories
• encouraging children to summarize what happened
• helping children connect stories to their own experiences
These conversations help children think more deeply about what they read.
5. Limited Reading Practice
Another reason some children struggle with reading is simply not enough reading practice.
Reading is a skill that improves with regular exposure to books and print. Children who read frequently tend to build vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension naturally over time.
However, some children avoid reading because they find it difficult or frustrating.
How Parents Can Help
Parents can encourage more reading by:
• setting aside a daily reading time
• letting children choose books they enjoy
• reading together regularly
• creating a comfortable reading space at home
The goal is to make reading feel positive and manageable, rather than stressful.
Signs Your Child May Need Extra Reading Support
While every child develops at a different pace, some signs may indicate that a child could benefit from additional reading support.
Parents may notice that their child:
• guesses words instead of decoding them
• reads extremely slowly
• struggles to remember common sight words
• avoids reading whenever possible
• becomes frustrated during reading assignments
When these challenges continue over time, targeted support can help children build the skills they need to become confident readers.
Parent Resource: The 5 Essential Areas of Reading
Reading success is built on several key skill areas that work together to help children become strong readers. The good news is that once you understand where the breakdown is happening, you can take simple, effective steps to support your child at home.
If you would like a simple checklist and strategies for supporting reading and writing at home, download the free guide:
The Reading and Writing Roadmap at Home
This resource explains the foundational skills children need and provides practical ideas parents can use to support reading development.
Support From Fox Tutoring Academy
Melissa Fox has more than 30 years of experience helping children develop strong literacy skills. I support homeschool families by providing personalized reading, writing, and enrichment guidance that helps children build strong literacy skills with confidence.
Families receive guidance in areas such as:
- building strong reading foundations through phonemic awareness and phonics
- developing confident writers with simple, structured writing support
- improving reading fluency so children read smoothly and with understanding
- strengthening comprehension through meaningful conversations and connections
- creating simple, consistent literacy routines that fit naturally into your homeschool day
- adding enrichment experiences that connect reading and writing to real-world learning
The goal is simple: to help your child grow into a confident reader and writer while making learning feel positive and manageable at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many bright children struggle with reading because they have gaps in foundational skills such as phonemic awareness, decoding, or fluency.
Yes. With the right instruction and regular practice, children can strengthen their reading skills and become confident readers.
Daily reading practice, phonics support, and discussing books together can help children build important literacy skills.