How to Help Your Child Read — Even If You Struggle With It Yourself

By Charlotte Evans, Understanding Individual Minds
charlotte-evans.com

“I didn’t read fluently until I was 40.”

Let that sink in. I wasn’t lazy, or slow, or uninterested. I just couldn’t make sense of the way reading was taught. And for most of my life, I believed that meant something was wrong with me.

But it turns out, the system didn’t fit the way my brain worked. And chances are, if you’re here reading this, you know exactly what I mean.

If You’ve Struggled with Reading, You Are Not Alone

Let’s clear this up right now: struggling with reading doesn’t mean you can’t teach your child. In fact, it might make you the most powerful person to help them — because you get it. You know what it feels like to be lost in a sea of letters. To pretend you understand. To hide it.

That makes you the perfect guide. Not because you’re perfect — but because you’re real, and determined, and you want better for your child.

My Turning Point

When I hit 38, something changed. Our son was in grade 4, and we were struggling big time to keep up at school. He was crumbling before our eyes. I was doing everything I knew how but we were not even coming close to passing grade 4. I knew we had to do something different, but what? I was smart, but the written word had always felt like a locked door, and I couldn't let that be our son's journey. So I tried a different way — a multisensory way.

I stopped trying to memorize long lists of sight words.
I stopped staring at pages I couldn’t decode.
Instead, I started using sounds, movement, rhythm, visuals, games, and repetition.

And for the first time, reading clicked. Not only for me — but for the kids I started helping.

Here’s What I Know Now

Reading is not about memorizing.
It’s not about drilling.
It’s not about being “smart.”

Reading is about connecting sound to symbol, symbol to meaning, meaning to purpose — and doing it in a way the brain can absorb. Every child (and every mom) can learn that.

Try This One Simple Reading Activity (Even If You Hate Reading)

🔤 The Sound-Tap-Spell Game (5 Minutes)

You don’t need a book. You don’t need to read anything yourself. Just a piece of paper and a pencil.

Step 1: Pick a word — something simple like cat, hat, or run.
Step 2: Say it slowly. Stretch it: “c-a-t”
Step 3: Tap a finger for each sound. One sound = one tap.
**Step 4: Say the sounds again and write each one down as your child says it.
Step 5: Read it back together — sound by sound. Then say the full word. Smile. Celebrate.

That’s it. You’ve just helped your child connect sounds to letters — and you didn’t have to “read” anything yourself.

You Don’t Have to Know Everything — You Just Have to Start

Your child needs your presence, not your perfection.
They need you to show up, not show off.
And if you’re willing to try — just a few minutes a day — they will feel your confidence growing, and so will theirs.