When Reading Feels Hard: How to Support Your Struggling Reader at Home

A parent friendly guide to spotting red flags and knowing what to do next

TL; DR:

If your child is struggling with reading or spelling, you are not alone. Many early signs are easy to miss, such as slow reading, guessing, losing their place, or frustration during homework. This article explains what these signs mean, why they happen according to reading research, and how to support your child at home. For a complete checklist and step by step strategies, download the free parent guide: “When Reading Feels Hard: How to Support Your Struggling Reader at Home.”

Why Reading Begins to Feel Hard for Many Children

Many parents first notice something is off when reading homework takes much longer than it should or when a child who is normally bright and creative suddenly avoids reading. In some families, homework time becomes filled with frustration, tears, or statements like “I hate reading.” What parents often do not realize is that these struggles usually have a root cause supported by decades of reading research.

Studies from the National Reading Panel (National Reading Panel, 2000) show that children who struggle with early decoding or phonemic awareness must work significantly harder than their peers. Lindamood Bell (LMB) has also found that when children lack strong sensory cognitive foundations for reading, the brain must use inefficient pathways to decode words (Lindamood Bell Research Summary). This does not mean a child is not smart or not trying. It simply means the skills needed to make reading feel automatic have not developed yet.

The good news is that reading can improve with the right type of support. The first step is recognizing what the early signs look like.

This article will help you:

• Recognize common signs of reading difficulty
  
  

• Understand why these signs matter
  
  

• Try a few simple strategies at home
  
  

• Learn the science behind reading challenges
  
  

• Know when it’s time to seek extra support
  
  

What Signs Do Parents Notice First

Reading struggles show up differently for every child, but below are some common reading behaviors that parents may notice.

1. Slow, Labored Reading

Children may:

• Read much more slowly than classmates

• Lose energy quickly

• Avoid reading altogether

Children who struggle to decode may read much more slowly than classmates. Slow reading is often a sign that phonics and sound symbol relationships are not automatic yet. The National Reading Panel found that strong phonics skills are necessary for fluent reading (National Reading Panel, 2000). Orton Gillingham (OG) supports this by teaching decoding in a structured and sequential way.

2. Guessing at Words Instead of Decoding

Instead of sounding out unfamiliar words, children may rely on:

• Pictures

• Context clues

• First letters only

Guessing usually happens when a child has weak phonemic awareness or incomplete decoding skills. Research shows that accurate decoding depends on the ability to break words into sounds and blend them (National Reading Panel, 2000). Lindamood Bell’s LiPS program strengthens this by helping children feel the mouth movements that produce each sound (Lindamood Bell Research Summary).

3. Losing Their Place or Trouble Tracking Words

Kids may:

• Skip lines

• Read the same line twice

• Move their finger word by word

• Get tired quickly

Skipping lines, rereading lines, or needing to use a finger to track can be signs of visual tracking or convergence difficulties. The American Optometric Association notes that these issues can impact reading stamina and accuracy (American Optometric Association, 2024). Many parents find that once reading becomes easier through structured literacy instruction, tracking improves as well.

4. Letter Reversals or Directional Confusion

Children may:

• Reverse letters/words (examples: b/d, p/q, saw/was)

Although reversals can be developmentally normal in early grades, continued reversals may signal weaknesses in phonological or orthographic processing. The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) explains that children with dyslexia often have difficulty remembering letter shapes and patterns (International Dyslexia Association, 2019).

5. Difficulty Understanding What They Read

If a child can say the words but cannot retell the story, research suggests they may be using all of their mental energy to decode. This leaves little cognitive space for comprehension (National Reading Panel, 2000). Both OG and LMB aim to free up working memory by making decoding more efficient.

6. Inconsistent Word Recognition

When a child reads a word correctly on one page but not the next, this is often linked to weak orthographic mapping. Linnea Ehri’s research shows that orthographic mapping helps store words in long term memory for quick recognition (Ehri, 2014).

7. Struggles With Spelling

Kids may:

• Spell the same word differently each time

• Avoid writing assignments

• Have trouble applying phonics rules

Children may spell the same word several different ways or have difficulty remembering patterns. Strong spelling depends on phonemic awareness, sound symbol associations, and orthographic mapping skills (National Reading Panel, 2000). OG and LMB both strengthen these underlying skills through multisensory activities.

If you recognize even a few of these signs, you are not alone, and help is absolutely available.

Simple Reading and Spelling Strategies Parents Can Try at Home

These high level strategies can help your child start feeling more confident. The goal is not perfection. The goal is to make reading feel safer, calmer, and more manageable.

Tip 1: Create a Calm, Predictable Routine

Short, consistent routines reduce anxiety and help children focus. Even 10 minutes of low-pressure reading time can make a difference. Research supports that predictable learning environments improve engagement and confidence for struggling readers (International Dyslexia Association, 2019).

Tip 2: Try Light Multisensory Practice

Multisensory learning, such as tracing letters, air/cloud writing, or tapping sounds, strengthens sound symbol connections. This approach is used in Orton Gillingham and is supported by research showing that combining senses enhances memory and learning (Lindamood Bell Research Summary).

Tip 3: Read Together to Build Confidence

Taking turns reading sentences or pages reduces pressure and allows children to hear fluent modeling. Shared reading supports fluency, which the National Reading Panel identifies as an essential pillar of reading success (National Reading Panel, 2000).

Tip 4: Use Gentle Homework Adjustments

If reading homework brings tears, adjustments such as reading directions aloud, listening to an audiobook, or allowing oral answers can reduce frustration. These supports align with recommendations from the International Dyslexia Association for students with reading difficulties (International Dyslexia Association, 2019).

Tip 5: Celebrate Small Wins

Confidence plays a major role in motivation. Praise effort, not perfection. Encouraging small steps supports resilience and reduces reading avoidance, which the National Institute for Literacy found is common when children face repeated challenges (National Institute for Literacy, 2008).

A Free Resource to Guide You Step-by-Step

If you want a deeper, more detailed guide designed specifically for parents, download:

“When Reading Feels Hard: How to Support Your Struggling Reader at Home”

Inside, you’ll find:

• A complete checklist of reading and spelling red flags

• Parent-friendly explanations of why reading feels hard

• Multisensory reading and spelling strategies

• Gentle homework modifications

• Encouragement for rebuilding confidence
  

Download your free guide here → When Reading Feels Hard: How to Support Your Struggling Reader at Home

What Happens After You Download the Guide?

You’ll also receive the option to:

• Join my email list for weekly support and tips

• Receive additional resources for reading, spelling, and homework

• Schedule a consultation if you want expert guidance tailored to your child

You don’t need to wait for your child to fall further behind, support is available now.

About the Author: Stacy Wiest

Stacy Wiest is a reading tutor and former K–6 classroom teacher with more than 23 years of experience helping children develop strong reading, spelling, and writing skills. With training in Orton-Gillingham, Lindamood-Bell, and Handwriting Without Tears, Stacy specializes in supporting struggling readers, especially children with dyslexia or foundational reading gaps.

What makes Stacy’s approach unique is her calm, patient, whole-child focus. Parents often share that she gives children the time they need to process, teaches strategies that finally make reading “click,” and clearly explains methods to families so they can support learning at home. Stacy also understands vision-tracking and convergence concerns and helps parents identify practical next steps.

After 8 years of tutoring, Stacy’s proudest achievement is seeing children who once avoided reading begin to enjoy it, and watching families feel hopeful again.

You can connect with Stacy through:

• Website: Simply Smart Tutoring

• Email: [email protected]