Kindergarten will be a big step for your child, especially when it comes to reading. They’ll likely start the year by reviewing the alphabet and each letter’s corresponding sounds, vowel teams, and consonant blends.
Next, it’s off to the races with sight words, book features, decoding unknown words, and more beginning reading skills. Before you know it, your child will be reading independently!
Of course, a few challenges may spring up along the way. Luckily, kindergarten teachers like Michele Johnson and Greg Micek have seen it all. Below they share five everyday reading challenges kindergarteners face, and solutions for parents to help their young readers overcome them.
Challenge 1: Understanding some letters may have two sounds.
Though your child may know every letter of the alphabet and its corresponding sound, some letters like “c” and “g” have two sounds — one hard, one soft — which may confuse them during reading.
Johnson, a kindergarten teacher in Florida, recommends pairing visuals that children can associate with the letter’s distinct sounds, such as a picture of a goat (soft “g”) and another of a giraffe (hard “g”). In the classroom, she always reminds her students to “flip it out” if they encounter one of these letters during reading, which means encouraging them to try a letter’s second sound if the first one doesn't sound quite right.
Challenge 2: Remembering sight words.
Sight words like “the,” “is,” or “and” that appear frequently in text can often trip young readers up. While learning strategies like flashcards and learning mats are effective, you’ll also want to focus on sight words while reading books with your child at home as well.
“I have them find those words in the text before we even read the book, so they have confidence in knowing a handful of words already coming in,” says Johnson, adding that books with repetitive text are a great way to build confidence with sight words.
Challenge 3: Getting interested in books and reading.
“Sometimes when kids are exposed to or asked to read books that do not connect to their passions, they are turned off from reading," says Micek. "Then they start to show the traits of reluctant readers and avoid new texts.”
Micek lines his classroom library shelves with a variety of books at all different reading levels to make sure he’s catering to his students’ interests. At home, he suggests finding ways to show your child how much joy can be found in reading, which starts with modeling.
“Parents need to have their kids see them reading,” he says. “Make reading a part of their day that is not forced upon them.”
Challenge 4: Handling texts that feel complex to them.
If you notice your child is struggling with grade-level text and their confidence wanes as a result, there are a few things you can do at home to coach them. Micek suggests helping your child review decoding strategies when they encounter a challenging word and to break a story up into smaller parts so kids can take their time to work with the text.
“To help with this, turn your yard or another outdoor space into a book walk,” says Micek. “Break the story up into parts and read them in order around the yard. Have questions be stopping points between each section for students to talk about what they’re reading.”
Challenge 5: Being okay with making mistakes.
Kindergarten is often the time when your child will begin reading text on their own, and they’ll need some help — especially when they encounter new or challenging words. But don’t overdo it!
“I would encourage parents to allow their kids to struggle,” says Micek. “By jumping in too quickly, we do not give students a chance to solve problems and figure things out on their own. Parents should take on the role of a coach to support them through the struggle.”
Also, make sure you’re letting your child choose the books they want to read.
“If you’re selecting the text for them, some kids really don’t have a connection to that book," says Johnson. "A lot of kids need that, especially at this age."
Find more expert-approved kindergarten books, tips, and resources at our guide to getting ready for kindergarten.
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