Infographic about kindergarten reading recommendations, including total time and breakdown between parent and child reading, and independent reading suggestions.
Guideline for first grade reading practice, including recommended total reading time and breakdown of activities.
Guide for second grade reading time, including breakdown of parent read aloud, child read aloud, and independent reading durations with an arrow button at the bottom.
Reading instructions for third grade, including recommended total reading time of 30-35 minutes divided into parent reading aloud, child reading aloud to parent, and independent reading, with a small arrow icon at the bottom right.
A motivational poster with a yellow speech bubble at the top saying 'READ TO YOUR CHILD' in black text, and a paragraph below explaining the benefits of reading to children, such as building vocabulary, listening skills, and love of stories.

The “Big 3” of Raising Readers

Sign with bold black text on yellow background reading 'Let them read independently' followed by a paragraph encouraging children to choose books that they are curious about to foster joy and engagement.
A sign with yellow background and black text that reads 'HAVE THEM READ TO YOU'.Below is a message explaining that listening to children read improves literacy and confidence.

Research shows that children’s reading needs evolve as they develop. In early childhood, shared reading with a caregiver supports language acquisition and fosters a love of stories. As children gain decoding skills, reading aloud to an adult and independent reading become increasingly important for building fluency and comprehension. Because of this, the reading routine naturally changes as your child grows older, adapting to their developing skills and interests.

Reading to Your Child 🗣️

A woman with glasses and a young girl are sitting on a gray sofa, reading a book together in a cozy living room.

Choose literally anything.

Books that are too hard for them to read alone are perfect for reading together. This is your chance to stretch their vocabulary, build background knowledge, and just enjoy stories — no matter the topic, reading level, or length of book.

  • Dinosaurs? Tooth fairies? Talking animals? Yes.

  • Picture books? Chapter books? Absolutely.

  • Harry Potter or The Bad Seed for the eighth time? Go for it.

If they’re excited about it, read it. This is how you grow curiosity and connection.

A man and a boy sitting on a bed, reading a book together.

Your Child Reads to You 👂

Choose from our “just-right” books.

These are books they can mostly read on their own, but may still need occasional help. Think of this time as a mini five- or ten-minute tutoring session where you are listening, assessing, and helping as needed. “Just-right” books are often aligned with what they’re learning in school — especially when it comes to phonics and decoding.

We’ve analyzed the phonics content in these books to match classroom instruction. These are the “stretch zone” books — not too easy, not too hard, but just right for learning.

Read these together, talk through tricky words, and celebrate the effort.

Check out books by age here:

Kindergarten
First Grade
Third Grade
Second Grade

Independent Reading ✌️

A girl in a long sleeve floral shirt and pink skirt reading a book to a stuffed teddy bear in a grassy field with trees in the background.

Let them take the lead.

This is where reading confidence grows. Let your child choose books to read on their own — even if they’re a little too easy (yay, fluency!) or a little too hard (hello, curiosity!).

Keep offering those “just right” books, but don’t be afraid to mix in graphic novels, re-read favorites, or explore a whole pile of random interests. The goal is not perfection — it’s momentum and fostering a love of reading.