Reading and Spelling (Literacy)
Why can't my child read?
Children may have difficulty beginning to read for a number of reasons. This includes:
- Hearing loss
- Speech sound delays
- Delayed development
- Genetic conditions (eg. Down Syndrome)
- Neurodevelopmental differences (eg. Dyslexia, Autism)
- Limited experience with books
When will my child read?
By 3 years of age, children can usually imitate sounds and rhythms, understand the meaning of familiar words, explore books by flipping pages, shows interest in books and stories, listen attentively to stories.
By 4 years of age, children usually attempt to read and write, recognise common signs and labels, enjoy listening to stories, and are able to write some letters.
By 5 years of age, children can usually retell simple stories, connect letters to sounds, and begin to write common words and phrases e.g., their name.
By 6 years of age, children can usually read and tell stories, develop some reading strategies, read a few things aloud, decode unfamiliar words, and increase their letter-sound knowledge.
How can I help my child to read?
- Help your child develop phonemic awareness—the ability to recognise and manipulate individual sounds in words. Engage in activities like rhyming, blending sounds, and segmenting words. These activities help children understand the relationship between sounds and letters.
- Help your child sound out unfamiliar words.
- Have story time often with books that interest your child
- Ask your child questions about the books you read together such as asking questions about the characters, inviting them to summarize what they've just read, and prompting them to make predictions or imagine what might happen next in the story.