SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD'S READING JOURNEY

BY DR. PRARTHANA FRANKLIN-LUTHER, PH.D.

It is tough to see your child struggle with reading. It can be overwhelming to figure out what’s going on and how to help.

You should know you are not alone in this. Reading challenges are one of the most common learning difficulties, and it has nothing to do with how smart a child is. The good news is that over the last twenty years, researchers have identified effective strategies to help children with reading challenges. Let's explore these strategies alongside common questions that parents have.

1. HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY CHILD WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH SCHOOLWORK BECAUSE OF READING DIFFICULTIES?

When reading is challenging, your child might find it hard to keep-up in school. While you're waiting for extra help from their teacher or school, there are assistive tools your child can use at home and in school, that can make a big difference. While these are not a replacement for specialized reading intervention, they can play a crucial role in keeping pace with classmates and staying engaged with schoolwork.

• Physical reading aids like finger pointers or colorful magnetic letters can help your child track words on a page to make reading more interactive and hands-on.
• Text-to-speech software reads the words on the screen out-loud. By hearing the content, your child can better understand the information.
• Speech-to-text software allows children to say their thoughts out-loud, and the software will write it down. This can help your child manage writing-based tasks. These tools can help bridge the gap until the school can offer more tailored support. Plus, they can make learning fun.

2. IF ONE OF MY CHILDREN IS FACING READING STRUGGLES, SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT MY OTHER CHILD'S READING ABILITIES?

If one of your kids is having a hard time with reading, you might wonder about your other kids. It is normal to think this way. Reading problems can run in the family, but it is important to remember that each child's reading journey is unique. Here are some ways to make sure your other child is on the right track:

• Keep an eye on your child's reading behaviors for clues. Do they usually avoid reading? Can they understand what they read? Closely observing these behaviors can provide some insight into whether your child is struggling with reading.
• Talk to your child's teacher about how they are doing with reading at school. You can ask questions like "Does my child seem engaged and interested during reading activities?", "How is my child doing with letter-sound relationships?", "Are they willing to read out loud in class?", "How are they doing with this skill?". Teachers can tell you a lot about your child's reading behavior and engagement.
• Get a reading assessment for your child. An assessment could give you important information about your child's reading skills. This does not mean you are expecting problems. Rather, it is about being informed and prepared to help. Catching any reading issues early can make it easier to help them get better at reading.

These are some of the positive steps you can take to ensure each of your children receive the support they need to be successful in reading.