Many moms considering homeschooling ask me, how do I get my child to read? Many of these moms come to me a little frightened at the daunting task, and with more and more families opting for homeschool, it can be a nerve-racking thing to think about for us young moms! Though teaching your child to read is one of the most rewarding milestones you can guide them through, and it’s easier than you might think! With a clear, intentional approach and a little creativity, you can help your child build a strong foundation for literacy that will last a lifetime. Here’s a step-by-step guide filled with practical tips, activities, and encouragement to make learning to read a joyful journey for both you and your child.
1. Positive and Intentional Mindset
Your mindset as a parent plays a significant role in your child’s learning journey. Start by fostering a positive and intentional attitude toward teaching. Instead of focusing on how much progress your child needs to make, celebrate each small success. A fun and exciting environment about learning will help your child associate reading with joy rather than stress, and if you do find yourself getting stressed in the process take a break, make a joke, or rub their backs to get your bodies back to feeling light. Remember that every child learns at their own pace. It’s okay if progress feels slow at times—what matters most is showing up consistently and staying patient. When your child sees you approaching teaching with a love for learning, they’ll mirror that energy. Incorporating phrases like, “You’re doing such a great job!” or “Look how much you’ve learned already!” can boost their confidence and motivation. Download our Weekly Growth Planner for 365 Phrases to tell your child this year to enhance his confidence!
2. Consistency: Make It Part of Your Daily Schedule
Consistency is the key to success when it comes to teaching your child to read. But consistency doesn’t mean you need to carve out large blocks of time. Instead, weave small, intentional reading activities into your daily schedule. These can be as simple as practicing a few letter sounds during breakfast, playing blending games in the car, or pointing out letters on street signs during errands.
By making reading part of your routine, you send a clear message: literacy is important and fun. Over time, these small, consistent efforts will build into a strong habit for both you and your child. You’ll also avoid the stress of trying to cram learning into a single long session, which can feel overwhelming for both of you.
3. How to teach your child to read: Letter Sounds First
Before your child can read words on a page, they need to develop phonemic awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate the individual sounds in spoken words. This means focusing on letter sounds in words rather than their names. For example, teach your child that the letter “S” makes a hissing “sss” sound, rather than emphasizing that it’s called “ess.” This step is foundational because it helps your child understand how sounds come together to form words. Once they’ve mastered the sounds of individual letters, you can gradually introduce blending those sounds into simple words like “sat” or “elk.” This approach builds confidence and creates a smoother, more direct transition into reading.
4. Play Cognitive Blending and Rhyming Games On the Go
You don’t need special materials or quiet time to build early reading skills—many activities can be done on the go! Play cognitive games that develop your child’s listening and sound-blending abilities. For instance, you can:
Ask, “What’s the first sound in ‘dog’?” and let your child guess.
Blend sounds together: “What word am I saying? D-o-g.”
Play rhyming games: “Can you think of a word that rhymes with ‘hat’?”
A little forewarning though, make sure your child has seen you consistency model these games before you ask them the questions plainly. For instance:
Say, "Duh-Duh-Dog, that's the first sound. Can you say Duh?
I'm going to say a word slow, and you're going to say it fast, ready: D-o-g, now fast is Dog!"
I'm going to say rhyming words and you repeat after me, "hat rhymes with bat, rhymes with cat!"
These games don’t just prepare your child for reading—they also turn everyday moments like car rides, waiting in line, or walking the dog into fun learning opportunities. The more playful and engaging these activities are, the more your child will enjoy learning.
5. Simplify Your Life: Use a Chalkboard or Whiteboard
Teaching your child to read doesn’t require a lot of fancy or expensive tools. Sometimes, the simplest resources are the most effective. A chalkboard or whiteboard is an excellent teaching tool because it’s reusable, tactile, and interactive. You can use it to write letters, practice sounds, or even create short words for blending practice. Let your child take an active role by erasing letters, rewriting them, or tracing over your examples. This hands-on approach helps them retain information better and makes the process feel like play rather than work. Additionally, having a dedicated place to practice can help your child focus and associate that spot with fun learning moments. Keep it in a central area of your home, and make it part of your daily routine.
6. Use All Your Senses When Learning Letters
Engaging all of your child’s senses in the learning process makes it both fun and memorable. When teaching letters, incorporate activities that stimulate their sight, hearing, touch, and movement. For example:
Sight: Show them the letter on your chalkboard, flashcards, in books, or even on cereal boxes.
Sound: Repeat the letter sound in silly songs or emphasize it in everyday conversation.
Touch: Trace letters in sand, shaving cream, or even with their finger on your arm to release that special bonding chemical, oxytocin!
Movement: Encourage your child to form letters with their body or jump to a large chalk-drawn letter on the ground.
Using multiple senses activates different parts of the brain, making it easier for your child to remember what they’ve learned. Plus, it keeps the learning process dynamic and engaging.
7. Point Out Letters and Sounds in Books
Reading aloud to your child is one of the best ways to foster a love of reading, but you can make it even more interactive by pointing out letters and sounds you’re working on. For instance, if your child is learning the “B” sound, emphasize words like “ball” or “bat” as you read. You can also pause occasionally to ask questions like, “Can you find a word on this page that starts with ‘B’?” This practice helps your child make connections between the sounds they’re learning and the words they see in books. It also reinforces the idea that reading is a fun, shared activity, not just a skill to be mastered.
8. Download Our Parent Plan!
Feeling unsure of where to start? Our Parent Plan is designed to take the guesswork out of teaching your child to read. This comprehensive program provides you with step-by-step guidance, fun literacy activities, and practical tips that fit seamlessly into your busy life.
The plan includes everything from phonemic awareness games to simple tools you can use on the go, making it easy for any parent to confidently teach their child foundational reading skills. Download it today and give your child the gift of literacy through meaningful, everyday moments.
Teaching your child to read doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By focusing on small, consistent efforts, incorporating play, and using everyday opportunities to reinforce learning, you can help your child build a strong foundation in literacy. Most importantly, enjoy the journey—it’s a chance to connect, laugh, and grow together. Start today and watch your child thrive!
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