7 Things Every Parent Should Know About Teaching Their Kids to Read
Teaching a child to read is something a lot of parents want to do even before they start school, but if you aren’t a teacher, it can be tricky right? Still, it’s good to get them used to words as early as possible, and if you are going to do that, here are a few things you should know.
1. Stories Are More than Words on a Page
Reading doesn’t have to be a formal, sit-down, hush-now-or-else ordeal. You can turn the most basic moments of life into a storytime experience. Loading the dishwasher? Narrate it like you’re performing a West End theatre show: “And here we have the valiant spoon diving into the sudsy sea, in search of the fabled lost fork!” Yes, it might get a bit weird, but trust me, your little one will be so entertained they won’t even notice they’re learning language skills on the side.
Children absorb language through sounds, repetition, and context. When they see reading as more than just letters on a page, they’ll start to recognise how stories can live anywhere—even among the dishes.
2. Bedtime Stories Aren’t Optional
Let’s be honest: if bedtime was a sport, most parents would have questionable stats. We’re knackered, the kids are hyper, and somebody has likely left Lego blocks lurking to injure your unsuspecting foot. But bedtime reading is more than just a cosy routine—it’s a brilliant bonding opportunity that also helps kids wind down. By hearing your voice bring words to life, they’ll learn about inflection, tone, and how stories work.
Pro tip: Make the voices silly. Go full Shakespearean for the cat’s lines, or attempt the squeakiest mouse impression you can muster. Your kids will giggle, and that positive connection with books will work wonders for their long-term reading enthusiasm.
3. Phonological vs. Phonemic Awareness (Yes, There’s a Difference)
If you’ve ever tried to read up on teaching your child to read, you’ve probably stumbled onto fancy terms like “phonological awareness” and “phonemic awareness.” But what is the difference between phonological awareness and phonemic awareness? In short, phonological awareness means being able to hear and play with different sounds in language—rhymes, syllables, all that jazz. Phonemic awareness, on the other hand, zooms in on the smallest units of sound (the “phonemes”)—like hearing that c-a-t has three distinct sounds.
It might sound like hair-splitting, but it’s actually super helpful. Phonological awareness is the broad skill, phonemic awareness is the close-up tool. Think of it like training with your lightsaber (phonological) before trying your hand at the ultimate Jedi mind trick (phonemic). Once children grasp how sounds piece together, decoding words becomes a lot less intimidating.
4. Turn Spelling Mistakes into Learning Gold
Kids will inevitably spell something in the most bizarre way possible—“cawed” for “cold,” anyone? Instead of wagging a parental finger (or delivering a lecture on the seriousness of silent letters), seize the teachable moment. When they say or write something incorrectly, smile and explore why it might be spelled that way. Ask them what sounds they can hear. Offer them a puzzle piece: “Which letter can you try instead to make that oh sound?” Give gentle guidance, rather than turning it into a grammar boot camp.
Mistakes are signposts for growth. If we shut those moments down with impatience, kids might conclude that reading is a big, scary labyrinth rather than a fun puzzle.
5. Make Reading a Treasure Hunt
There’s something magical about the thrill of a hunt—especially if there are stickers or edible prizes involved at the finish line. Plant words around the house on Post-it notes (on the fridge, under the pillow, near the biscuit tin). Encourage your child to find them and read them out. Each time they collect a certain number of words, they earn a small reward.
You can even make daily tasks more amusing: label items, create silly word pairs (“banana shoe,” “sparkly dragon”), and let your child come up with their own bizarre combos. It’s amazing how quickly they’ll learn to read words when they see them popping up on their favourite cupboard or leading to a secret stash of sweets.
6. Embrace Tech (But Not Too Much)
Yes, yes, we live in a digital age, so ignoring technology altogether is about as effective as trying to keep a cat out of a cardboard box. There are plenty of reading apps and games that can genuinely help your child practise phonics and comprehension in engaging ways. The key is balance—no one becomes an enthusiastic reader by staring at blinking animations all day.
Use tech to reinforce what you’re already doing offline. If an app has them reading out loud or breaking down words, that’s great. Just remember that no app can replace the sense of wonder kids get from real books or your lively bedtime performances.
7. Stoke Their Passions
If your child is obsessed with dinosaurs, fill the house with all the T-Rex books and pterodactyl flashcards you can find. Are they mad for football? Grab a children’s magazine about their favourite team. When kids read about the things they already love, they’re more eager to press on through those tricky words. Reading suddenly feels less like a chore and more like a gateway to more dino facts or the ultimate Messi highlights.
Time to get reading!
