The “Big 3” of Raising Readers
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
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.
👂 Have Your Child Read 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:
✌️ Independent Reading
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.