How Children
Actually Learn
to Read
Reading doesn't happen by accident. It follows a predictable progression. Understanding these stages helps you support your child exactly where they are—and move them forward with confidence.
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The Four Stages of Reading Development
Every child moves through these stages in order. Some move quickly, others need more time. What matters is meeting your child where they are and giving them the right tools to progress. This guide will help you identify your child's current stage and choose products that actually teach the skills they need next.
Letter Sounds & Recognition
Ages 3–5 | Pre-readers
What This Stage Looks Like
- •Learning that letters have names and sounds
- •Recognizing letters in different contexts
- •Beginning to connect sounds to symbols
- •Building phonemic awareness (hearing sounds in words)
What Your Child Needs
Repeated exposure to letter-sound relationships through hands-on practice. Children at this stage need to see, say, trace, and manipulate letters to build strong foundational connections.
Blending & Decoding
Ages 5–7 | Beginning readers
What This Stage Looks Like
- •Sounding out simple CVC words (cat, dog, run)
- •Learning to blend sounds together smoothly
- •Reading is slow and effortful
- •May guess at words instead of decoding
What Your Child Needs
Lots of practice blending sounds into words. Children need repeated opportunities to decode words in engaging, low-pressure contexts. The goal is building automaticity so reading becomes less effortful.
Sight Words & Word Recognition
Ages 6–8 | Developing readers
What This Stage Looks Like
- •Recognizing common words instantly (the, and, was)
- •Building a bank of words they know "by sight"
- •Reading becomes faster and more automatic
- •Can read simple sentences and short books
What Your Child Needs
Repeated exposure to high-frequency words in meaningful contexts. Children need to see and use these words over and over until recognition becomes automatic. Hands-on practice helps cement these words in memory.
Fluency & Comprehension
Ages 7+ | Confident readers
What This Stage Looks Like
- •Reading smoothly with expression
- •Understanding what they read
- •Reading for pleasure and information
- •Tackling longer, more complex texts
What Your Child Needs
At this stage, the best thing you can do is provide access to engaging books and encourage regular reading practice. The foundation is built—now it's about building stamina, vocabulary, and a love of reading.
NEXT STEPS:
Explore age-appropriate chapter books, visit the library regularly, and let your child choose books that interest them. Reading for pleasure is the best way to continue growing as a reader.
Ready to Support
Your Child's
Reading Journey?
Choose tools that match where your child is right now—and move them forward with confidence.
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