Helicopter Reading: When Parents Over-Help
You sit down for reading practice with your child. They start sounding out a word. Before they finish, you tell them what it says. They hesitate on a sentence, and you immediately jump in to help. They look confused, and you explain before they even ask. You’re trying to prevent frustration, save time, and keep…
Transportation Books for Beginning Readers: Trucks, Trains, and More
Your child won’t sit still for five minutes of reading practice, but they’ll spend an hour lining up toy trucks and making engine noises. They can’t remember sight words, but they know the difference between a dump truck, a cement mixer, and an excavator. They resist every book you offer, except that one about trains…
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Competition Between Kids: When Reading Becomes a Race
Your first grader announces that Emma is on “level M” while she’s still on “level G.” Your kindergartener refuses to practice letter sounds because his older sister was already reading chapter books at his age. The teacher posts a reading chart, and your son has the fewest stars. Welcome to one of the most painful…
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My Child Only Wants to Read on Devices: Is That Okay?
You hand your child a beautiful picture book, and they push it away. You offer a chapter book that matches their reading level perfectly, and they say, “No thanks.” But mention an ebook on the tablet or a story on their device? Suddenly, they’re interested. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Millions of parents…
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Dinosaur Books That Actually Teach Reading Skills
Your child, who usually resists reading practice, suddenly can’t put down a book. The secret? Dinosaurs. Those magnificent prehistoric creatures have a special power to turn reluctant readers into eager learners. But here’s what most parents don’t realize: not all dinosaur books are created equal when it comes to building actual reading skills. The magic…
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Marvel Comics for Beginning Readers: Superhero Literacy
Your five-year-old insists they can’t read yet. Then you catch them “reading” their Spider-Man action figure packaging for the third time, narrating an entire adventure complete with sound effects. Your second grader claims books are boring, but they’ve memorized every detail about the Avengers from movie posters and cereal boxes. This could be a super…
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