After more than 20 years in early childhood education, one thing continues to stay with me: a child who struggles to read is often misunderstood.
Many people assume the child is inattentive, distracted, or not trying hard enough. In many situations, the child simply has not been taught in a way that matches how young children learn best.
Over the years, I have seen children transform when reading is taught with patience, structure, movement, sound awareness, and encouragement.
Reading is more than memorising words
Reading is not just about memorising words. It is about:
- confidence
- connection
- language
- cognitive development
- emotional growth
“When a child says, "I can't read," what they may really be saying is: "Please teach me differently."”
As educators and parents, we sometimes need to pause and ask ourselves: are we teaching the child, or are we expecting the child to adapt to our teaching?
Every child learns differently. Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader.
