Help Your Child with Reading
- For parents
- Kindergarten–5th grade
- Plain language, no jargon
You don't need to be a teacher to help your child become a strong reader. These guides explain what the research says about learning to read, in plain language, and turn it into simple things you can do at home in about 20 minutes a day.
Guides for parents
- How to Teach a Child to ReadThe whole path from first sounds to fluent reading, in seven steps, with what to do each day.
- What Is the Science of Reading?What the research says about how children learn to read, and why schools are changing.
- Phonics vs. Sight Words: What Your Child NeedsWhy your child needs both, and the smart way to teach the tricky words.
- My Child Is Behind in Reading: What to DoHow to find the gap, what to do at home and how to get help from school.
- A 20-Minute Reading Routine at HomeWhat to do each minute, by grade, plus a weekly plan that fits busy families.
- How to Read Aloud to Your ChildSimple ways to make story time build vocabulary, knowledge and a love of books.
Where to start
- Get the big picture. Read how to teach a child to read. It explains the seven steps from first sounds to fluent reading.
- See where your child is. The free reading check-up takes 10 minutes for kindergarten to 2nd grade and links to exactly what to practice.
- Set up a routine. Use the 20-minute reading routine for your child's grade.
- Practice one skill at a time. Every phonics, grammar and punctuation lesson has a short explanation, a read-aloud quiz and a free worksheet. Sight word lists come with printable flashcards.
- Read aloud every day. It's the easiest and one of the most powerful habits. See how to read aloud.
By grade
Every grade page lists the skills for the year, in order, with links to lessons and worksheets: kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade.
What we believe
- Teach the code. Children read best when they're taught clearly how letters stand for sounds. See what is the science of reading?
- Build language too. Talking, read-alouds and books about the world build the vocabulary and knowledge that understanding depends on.
- Short and daily wins. Ten focused minutes every day beat an hour once a week.
- Act early. If something isn't clicking, find the missing skill now. See my child is behind in reading.
- Keep it free. Every lesson, quiz and worksheet here is free, with no ads. Optional printable workbooks pay for the site.
Last reviewed: November 11, 2026
Questions parents ask
Where should I start if I want to help my child read?
Start with how to teach a child to read for the big picture, then take the free reading check-up to see what to practice first.
How much time does it take each day?
About 20 minutes, including reading aloud. Ten minutes of skills practice is plenty for young children.
Do I need to buy anything?
No. Every lesson, quiz, worksheet, word list and the reading check-up on this site are free. The printable workbooks are optional.
My child is in 4th or 5th grade. Is this still useful?
Yes. The guides on reading aloud, routines and being behind apply at every age, and older children with gaps often need the same foundational skills.