BUILDing Confident Readers

Oct 15

BUILDing Confident Readers:

Learning to read is one of the most exciting milestones of childhood- but it’s also a skill that takes time, support, and lots of practice. Confidence is the key ingredient that helps young readers take risks, persevere through challenges, and fall in love with books. Here are a few powerful ways families can build reading confidence in children.

1. Create a daily reading routine.

Consistency builds comfort. Set aside 10-20 minutes each day for shared reading. This could be a bedtime story, a morning read-aloud, or a quiet after-school reading time. When reading is part of daily life, children begin to see themselves as readers.

2. Choose “Just Right” Books.

Confidence grows when children experience success. Help them select books that are a good fit- not too easy, not too hard. A simple guideline: if they struggle with more than five words on a page, the book may be too challenging for independent reading. Save those tougher books for shared read-alouds.

3. Celebrate Effort, not just Accuracy.

Mistakes are part of learning. When your child sounds out tricky words or uses picture clues to make sense of the text, praise their strategies- “I love how you worked through that word” or “You didn’t give up- that’s what great readers do!” This builds a growth mindset and keeps frustration low.

4. Read Aloud- Even for older kids.

Listening to fluent reading models rhythm, expression, and vocabulary. Children in grades 2-5 still benefit tremendously from being read to. Choose chapter books, nonfiction, or stories that spark curiosity and rich conversations.

5. Make Reading Social.

Confidence blossoms when kids talk about what they read. Ask open-ended questions like, “What part surprised you?” or “What do you think may happen next?” Invite them to read to younger siblings, pets, or grandparents to practice in a low-pressure and joyful way

6. Build a Positive Reading Identity.

Children take cues from adults. If they hear you say, “I love getting lost in a good book,” or see you reading for pleasure, they see reading as something enjoyable- not just schoolwork.

Confident readers are not just born- they are BUILT through encouragement, consistent practice, and joyful experiences with books. By making reading a shared, positive part of everyday life, families can set the foundation for lifelong literacy.

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