6 Fun Questions to Figure Out Why Your Child Isn't Loving Reading (Yet!)

"My 7-year-old still isn't reading at the level I thought she would."

"My 14-year-old knows phonics but reads sloooowly—and guesses at big words!"

Sound familiar? If so, don't panic.

Reading is the superhero skill every kid needs, and a child who loves to read? Total world-changer. But not every little learner becomes a bookworm overnight.

Before you stress, let's play detective together. Here are six quick questions to help solve the case of the Reluctant Reader!

Does he need glasses? First things first—can he actually see the words? If your kiddo has always seen the world a little blurry, he might not even realize it! If you've never had his eyes checked, this is your golden ticket to aha! moments.
Is memory the real villain? If he sounds out "f-r-o-g" but then says "toad," memory might be the sneaky culprit. Try this: Say a string of numbers ("4-2-6" ➔ "0-6-7-2" ➔ "9-8-5-8-4") and see how many he can remember in order. If he struggles with four or fewer digits, his brain might need a little power boost before reading clicks. (Psst… daily memory games can help!)
Does he really know phonics? Be honest—can he decode mystery words on his own? If not, it's time for a quick phonics refresh. Think of it like a superhero training montage. Phonics Pathways is a great way to blast through gaps and build a solid reading foundation (bonus points if he reads aloud to a younger sibling or the dog ).
Is he just bored stiff? If he's bored out of his mind, no wonder he's dragging his feet. Time to spice things up! Grab some graphic novels (hello, Tintin), silly comics, joke books, or anything that makes him grin.
Feed his interests, and pretty soon, he'll be reading because he wants to—not because you begged him.
Have you made reading the MVP? If you want him to love reading, it has to be the star of the show. Can you clear the deck and make reading the #1 focus this year? (Math and thinking skills can stay too, but everything else can take a little nap .) Pour your energy into this now—it will pay off BIG time later.
Is he reading… slooooowly? Maybe he can read... but it's like watching a turtle run a marathon. No shame! Speed reading programs can help turn that slow stroll into a confident sprint, helping him actually enjoy reading for the first time.

Bottom Line:

Reading isn't a race. Every bookworm-in-training blooms at their own pace.

With a bit of detective work—and a lot of encouragement—you'll help your kiddo fall in love with reading before you know it.

You've got this!