5 Signs Your Child Is Falling Behind in Reading

Is My Child Falling Behind in Reading? 5 Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Reading struggles don’t always announce themselves loudly. Sometimes, the signs are subtle—easy to dismiss as normal growing pains. But if you’ve had a nagging feeling that something isn’t quite right with your child’s reading progress, trust your gut. Early intervention can make all the difference.

Here are five research-informed signs from Reading Success Academy’s Parent Guide that could mean your child is falling behind in reading—and what they might be trying to tell you.

1. Difficulty Sounding Out Words

If your child hesitates or stumbles over simple words like cat or ship, they may be struggling with phonemic awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words. This is a foundational skill. Without it, decoding becomes a constant uphill battle.

🚨 What it might look like: They say “can” for “cat” or guess “top” for “stop,” skipping the sounds altogether.

2. Frequent Guessing Instead of Reading

Relying on pictures or the first letter of a word to guess what it says isn’t reading—it’s compensating. Kids who guess instead of decoding may not have mastered the skills needed to read unfamiliar words accurately.

🚨 What it might look like: Pointing to the word “horse” and saying “pony” because there’s a picture of one.

3. Confusion with Letters and Sounds

Mixing up letters like b and d, or not remembering the sounds that go with letters, signals phonics trouble. This confusion leads to spelling mistakes, reading errors, and frustration.

🚨 What it might look like: Writing “bog” for “dog,” or not being able to tell you what sound the letter M makes.

4. Inability to Retell What They’ve Read

Reading isn’t just about saying the words—it’s about understanding them. If your child can’t retell what happened in a story, they may be decoding with so much effort that comprehension falls apart.

🚨 What it might look like: Reading a full page and then staring blankly when you ask, “What was that about?”

5. Unusual Spelling Patterns

Spelling words inconsistently, or “inventing” spellings that don’t follow typical patterns, can be a red flag for issues with phonics.

🚨 What it might look like: Inconsistent, invented spellings even after repeated exposure to the correct spelling.

What You Can Do

If you’ve noticed one or more of these signs, you’re not alone—and your child is not broken. The good news? Reading struggles are highly responsive to the right kind of instruction.

At Reading Success Academy, we specialize in helping struggling readers—including those with dyslexia—get back on grade level in just 12 weeks. Our approach is based on the Science of Reading and uses proven methods that work quickly and effectively.

👉 Ready to take action? Click here to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help your child catch up—without endless frustration.