As a parent, it can be hard to tell when your child needs a little extra reading practice versus more specialized help.
Maybe you've noticed that your child avoids reading whenever possible. Homework that should take 15 minutes turns into an hour of frustration. Or maybe your child knows a word one day, only to struggle with it the next.
You might even find yourself wondering, "Is this normal? Will my child eventually catch up, or should I be doing something more?"
I hear these questions from parents all the time.
After 31 years in education, I've worked with many children who struggle with reading. One thing I've learned is that reading difficulties don't always look the same. Some children become frustrated and upset, while others quietly avoid reading or find ways to hide how difficult it is for them.
And sometimes, parents are the first to notice that something just isn't clicking.
If you've been wondering whether your child could benefit from a reading tutor, here are seven signs I encourage parents to watch for.
1. Your Child Guesses at Words Instead of Sounding Them Out
Have you ever listened to your child read and noticed that they're guessing at words instead of actually reading them?
For example, they might see the word horse and say "house," or look at a picture of a dog and say "puppy," even though the word on the page is dog.
Sometimes their guesses make sense in the story, which can make it seem like they're reading better than they really are.
But here's what parents need to understand: guessing isn't the same as reading.
When children learn to read, they need to understand how letters represent sounds and how to put those sounds together to read words.
If your child relies on pictures, the first letter of a word, or what they think makes sense in the sentence, they may be missing important foundational reading skills.
I work on this quite a bit with struggling readers. Once children learn to look carefully at letters and use their phonics skills, they can start reading unfamiliar words more independently.
2. Reading Homework Is a Daily Battle
Does your child suddenly need a snack, a drink of water, or a bathroom break every time it's time to read?
Maybe they complain, get upset, or say things like:
"I hate reading!"
"This is too hard!"
"Do I have to?"
It's easy to assume a child just doesn't want to do their homework. But sometimes there's more going on.
Think about how frustrating it would be to spend 20 minutes trying to do something that seems easy for everyone else.
For children who struggle with reading, even a short assignment can feel exhausting.
I've found that when children start to succeed with reading, their attitude often changes, too.
They may not suddenly love every reading assignment, but they begin to realize they can learn to read.
And that can make a big difference.
3. Your Child Forgets Letter Sounds or Words They've Already Learned
This is one that can be especially frustrating for parents.
You practice a letter sound or a word with your child. They seem to know it. You feel like you're finally making progress.
Then the next day, it's as if they've never seen it before.
You might be thinking, "We just went over this yesterday!"
If this happens occasionally, it's not necessarily a concern. Learning something new takes practice.
But if your child consistently struggles to remember letter sounds, recognize familiar words, or apply phonics skills they've already been taught, it's worth looking into.
Some children need much more explicit instruction and carefully planned review before those skills become automatic.
That's why I use the Orton-Gillingham approach in my tutoring. Skills are taught in a structured, step-by-step way, with plenty of opportunities to practice and review what has already been learned.
The goal isn't simply for a child to remember a word during today's lesson. It's for them to develop the skills to read that word independently the next time they see it.
4. Your Child Reads Very Slowly or Has to Sound Out Almost Every Word
When children are first learning to read, sounding out words is exactly what we want them to do.
But as they become more skilled readers, many words should begin to feel familiar and become easier to recognize.
If your child still has to sound out nearly every word, even in books they've read before, reading may take much more effort than it should.
You might notice they read word by word, pause often, or lose track of the story.
Sometimes parents tell me, "My child can read the words, but when I ask what they just read, they can't tell me."
That makes sense when you think about it.
If a child uses all their energy just to figure out the words, they have little left for understanding the story.
That is why building accurate, fluent reading skills matters so much. We want children to reach the point where they spend less energy figuring out words and more energy enjoying and understanding what they're reading.
5. Spelling Is Just as Difficult as Reading
Reading and spelling go hand in hand.
If your child has difficulty sounding out words when reading, you may also notice they struggle with spelling.
For example, they might spell stop as "sop" or frog as "fog" because they're having difficulty hearing or representing all the sounds in the word.
You might also notice that they spell the same word differently each time they write it.
Of course, spelling mistakes are a normal part of learning. I'm not concerned about a child making mistakes as they learn new spelling patterns.
I pay attention to whether a child consistently struggles with sounds and spelling patterns they've already been taught.
When I work with students, I include both reading and spelling instruction because the two skills support each other.
Children need opportunities to practice reading words, but they also benefit from learning to listen for sounds in words and represent them with letters.
6. You've Been Practicing, but Your Child Still Isn't Making Much Progress
This is often when parents start reaching out for help.
You've been doing everything you can think of.
You read together. You practice sight words. You use reading apps. You work on homework every night.
Maybe your child's teacher has even been providing extra support at school.
But despite all that effort, your child continues to struggle.
Here's something I wish more parents knew: Sometimes children don't need more practice. They need a different approach.
If a child is missing important foundational reading skills, simply asking them to read more books or practice the same words over and over may not solve the problem.
We need to figure out which skills are missing and teach those skills directly.
That's why I believe it's so important to assess a child's reading skills before deciding where instruction should begin.
I don't want to spend time teaching a child something they've already mastered, and I certainly don't want to move ahead before they're ready.
I want to find out exactly where the difficulty is and build from there.
7. Your Child Is Starting to Lose Confidence
Of all the signs I've mentioned, this one hits me the hardest.
When a child starts saying things like:
"I'm stupid."
"Everyone else can read but me."
"I'm just bad at reading."
Those words tell us that reading struggles are beginning to affect how that child sees themselves.
I've worked with children who are incredibly bright, creative, and capable but have started to believe they're not smart simply because reading is difficult for them.
And that is heartbreaking.
One of my favorite parts of being a reading specialist is watching a child's confidence begin to grow.
Sometimes it's a small moment. A child reads a word they couldn't read before. They finish a sentence without asking for help. They look up and smile because they realize they did it on their own.
Those little successes matter.
Of course, building strong reading skills takes time, and progress doesn't happen overnight. But when children receive instruction that meets their needs, they have more opportunities to experience success.
And sometimes that success is exactly what they need to start believing in themselves again.
Does My Child Need a Reading Tutor, or Could It Be Dyslexia?
This is another question parents ask.
Not every child who struggles with reading has dyslexia. Several reasons can make a child have difficulty learning to read.
However, children with dyslexia often struggle to connect letters to sounds, sound out unfamiliar words, spell, and develop reading fluency.
If your child has been receiving reading instruction and still struggles with these skills, it may be worth considering a more comprehensive evaluation.
One thing I always want parents to understand is that you don't have to wait for a dyslexia diagnosis to get your child extra reading support.
If your child is struggling, we can begin addressing those reading difficulties while you explore whether additional evaluation is needed.
What Kind of Reading Tutor Should You Look For?
When parents start looking for a reading tutor, they often assume that all reading tutoring is pretty much the same.
But helping a child practice reading is different from providing specialized reading intervention.
For a child who is struggling with phonics, decoding, spelling, or reading fluency, extra reading practice alone may not be enough.
I encourage parents to look for someone who understands how children learn to read, can identify where their child is struggling, and knows how to teach those missing skills.
It's also important that the tutor regularly checks progress and adjusts instruction when needed.
And just as importantly, your child should feel comfortable with the person they're working with.
Learning to read can be hard work, especially for children who have already experienced a lot of frustration. They need someone who is patient, encouraging, and willing to celebrate the small steps along the way.
A Little About How I Help Struggling Readers
I'm Jessica Mohr, the founder of Mohr Reading Solutions.
I've spent 31 years in education, and I hold a Master's Degree in Education and certification as a dyslexia practitioner with specialized training in the Orton-Gillingham approach.
I primarily work with children in first through third grade who are struggling with reading, including children with dyslexia or suspected dyslexia.
My lessons focus on the specific skills each child needs, whether that's phonics, sounding out words, spelling, or reading fluency.
I also believe that parents should be part of the process. I want you to understand what your child is working on, why we're working on it, and the progress they're making.
But more than anything, I want children to feel successful.
I want them to leave our lessons proud of what they've accomplished and confident enough to keep trying, even when something is difficult.
I offer both in-person tutoring in Apple Valley, California, and online tutoring for families who live outside my area.
So, How Do You Know When It's Time to Get Help?
If you notice two or three of these signs, I encourage you to take a closer look at your child's reading skills.
It doesn't automatically mean your child has dyslexia or that something is seriously wrong.
But it may mean they need more targeted instruction than they're currently receiving.
And while every child develops at their own pace, I don't encourage parents to simply wait and hope that reading difficulties will disappear.
The earlier we identify the skills a child is struggling with, the sooner we can begin helping them.
You know your child better than anyone. If you feel something isn't quite right with their reading progress, it's worth asking questions.
Let's Talk About Your Child
If you're concerned about your child's reading, I'd love to hear what's been going on.
Maybe you're noticing some of the signs I mentioned, or maybe you're not sure whether your child's reading struggles are typical for their age.
Either way, I'm happy to talk.
I offer a free consultation to discuss your concerns, what you've noticed at home or heard from your child's teacher, and whether individualized reading tutoring might be a good fit.
There's no pressure. Sometimes, talking with someone who understands reading difficulties can help you figure out what to do next.
Let's work together to help your child become a more confident reader.
