Reading is one of the most important skills your child will ever learn. It opens the door to academic success, builds confidence, and helps children make sense of the world around them. Yet for many parents, it can be hard to know what reading skills matter most and how to support them at home. This is especially true if your child is struggling or not progressing as quickly as expected.
The good news? Reading is not a single skill. It’s a combination of several foundational abilities that develop over time. When these skills are taught clearly and practiced consistently, most children can become confident, capable readers.
In this post, we’ll walk through 7 essential reading skills every child needs to master, explain what each one means in plain language and share practical ways parents can support reading development at home.
1. Phonological Awareness: Hearing the Sounds in Words
Before children can read words on a page, they need to understand that words are made up of sounds. This skill is called phonological awareness and it’s entirely auditory (no letters required yet).
Phonological awareness includes:
- Recognizing rhyming words (cat/hat)
- Clapping syllables (pen-cil = 2 claps)
- Identifying beginning sounds (dog starts with /d/)
- Blending sounds together (/c/ /a/ /t/ → cat)
- Segmenting sounds (cat → /c/ /a/ /t/)
Why this skill matters:
Children who struggle with phonological awareness often find reading very difficult later on. It’s one of the strongest predictors of future reading success.
How parents can help:
- Sing songs and nursery rhymes
- Play rhyming games in the car
- Ask, “What sound does this word start with?”
- Stretch out words slowly and have your child blend them
This skill is especially important in preschool, kindergarten, and early Grade 1 but it can (and should) be strengthened at any age if a child is struggling.
2. Phonics: Connecting Sounds to Letters
Once children can hear sounds in words, they need to learn how those sounds connect to letters. This is known as phonics.
Phonics teaches children:
- Letter-sound relationships (b says /b/)
- How to blend sounds to read words
- How to break words apart to spell them
- Common spelling patterns (like “sh,” “oa,” or “ar”)
Why this skill matters:
Phonics gives children the tools to read new and unfamiliar words. Without strong phonics skills, children often rely on guessing or memorizing words, which becomes overwhelming as texts get harder.
How parents can help:
- Encourage your child to “sound it out”
- Focus on accuracy before speed
- Read decodable books that match what your child is learning
- Praise effort, not just correctness
If your child avoids sounding out words or guesses based on pictures, it may be a sign they need more explicit phonics support.
3. Decoding: Reading Words Accurately
Decoding is the ability to use phonics knowledge to read words correctly. This is where reading really begins to take shape.
When children decode, they:
- Look at letters in order
- Match them to sounds
- Blend the sounds together smoothly
At first, decoding is slow and effortful. That’s completely normal. With practice, it becomes faster and more automatic.
Why this skill matters:
If decoding is weak, reading becomes exhausting. Children may understand stories when they’re read to, but struggle when reading independently.
How parents can help:
- Let your child take their time when reading
- Avoid jumping in too quickly to give the word
- Encourage rereading short passages
- Celebrate small improvements
Remember: slow, accurate reading is far better than fast guessing.
4. Reading Fluency: Smooth, Confident Reading
Once children can decode words, the next goal is reading fluency.
Fluency means reading with:
- Accuracy
- Appropriate speed
- Expression
Fluent readers don’t have to think about every word so they can focus on meaning instead.
Why this skill matters:
When reading is fluent, comprehension improves. When it’s not, children may understand very little of what they read because all their energy is spent decoding.
How parents can help:
- Read aloud together (you read a page, they read a page)
- Encourage rereading familiar books
- Model expressive reading
- Track progress over time, not day to day
Fluency develops gradually and requires patience. Pushing speed too early can actually harm confidence.
5. Vocabulary: Understanding Word Meanings
Vocabulary refers to the words your child understands and can use. A strong vocabulary supports both reading comprehension and overall language development.
Children learn vocabulary through:
- Conversations
- Being read to
- Direct instruction
- Exposure to new experiences
Why this skill matters:
A child can read a sentence perfectly but still not understand it if they don’t know the words. Vocabulary gaps are a common reason children struggle with comprehension in later grades.
How parents can help:
- Talk about new words during reading
- Ask, “What do you think that word means?”
- Use rich language in everyday conversations
- Read a variety of books, including nonfiction
You don’t need to simplify your language! Just explain new words as they come up.
6. Reading Comprehension: Making Meaning from Text
Reading comprehension is the ability to understand, remember, and think about what has been read. This is the ultimate goal of reading.
Comprehension includes:
- Understanding main ideas
- Remembering details
- Making predictions
- Drawing conclusions
- Connecting text to prior knowledge
Why this skill matters:
Without comprehension, reading becomes a mechanical task rather than a meaningful one. Strong comprehension supports learning across all subjects.
How parents can help:
- Ask open-ended questions (“Why do you think…?”)
- Talk about stories after reading
- Encourage your child to retell what they read
- Model your own thinking while reading
If your child decodes well but struggles to explain what they read, comprehension strategies may be needed.
7. Motivation and Confidence: Wanting to Read
The final (and often overlooked) skill is reading motivation. Children who believe they can read are far more likely to practice and improve.
Motivation grows when children:
- Experience success
- Feel supported
- Read books at the right level
- Are allowed to choose what they read
Why this skill matters:
Even the best instruction won’t help if a child avoids reading altogether. Confidence and motivation fuel progress.
How parents can help:
- Avoid comparing your child to others
- Celebrate effort and growth
- Let your child choose books that interest them
- Keep reading time positive and low-pressure
A child who enjoys reading will naturally read more and get better faster.
Bringing It All Together
Reading success doesn’t happen overnight. It’s built step by step as children master each of these essential skills. Some children move through them quickly, while others need more time and support and that’s okay.
What matters most is identifying which skills your child needs and providing clear, consistent instruction in those areas.
A Note for Parents of Struggling Readers
If your child is:
- Guessing at words
- Avoiding reading
- Reading slowly and laboriously
- Struggling with comprehension
- Falling behind peers
It may be a sign they need targeted support. Early intervention makes a powerful difference and it’s never too late to help a child become a confident reader.
Get Personalized Reading Support
At Reading Nook Tutoring, we specialize in helping children build strong foundational reading skills through explicit, evidence-based instruction.
If you’re wondering:
- Why is my child struggling with reading?
- Which skills do they need help with most?
- How can I support them effectively at home?
We’d love to help.
Contact Reading Nook Tutoring today to learn more about our one-on-one online reading support and give your child the tools they need to succeed.
Strong readers don’t just happen! Readers are built with the right guidance, encouragement, and practice. And you don’t have to do it alone.