“My Child Can Read, But They Don’t Understand What They’re Reading”
Sound familiar? It’s probably one of the most common worries parents bring to me. They often come in feeling pretty panicked, saying, “My kid can read the words, but it just doesn’t click. What should we do?”
I usually try to calm them down a bit. I tell them, “Look, it’s not that they don’t understand anything. It’s more that you want them to understand better and deeper, right?” And that’s usually the case. Kids do get the gist, but parents naturally want more for them and start looking for solutions. And honestly, that’s totally fair.
See, the heart of the issue is this: Why do we read? We read to get meaning. So if a child is struggling, it’s often because the fundamental skill of reading itself isn’t fully fluent yet. They’re putting so much mental energy into just decoding the words that there’s not much brainpower left over for understanding.
You see this a lot with parents of younger kids in primary school. Everyone’s in a rush. The child barely starts reading and everyone expects them to immediately comprehend complex sentences. But it’s a two-step dance. First, you’ve got the recognition part—figuring out the sounds, the words, the sentences. Then, after that, the meaning can fall into place. This whole process can take a good three years or so. So, just because a child has “cracked the code” of reading doesn’t mean they’re instantly going to understand a story perfectly. We have to be patient and let the process unfold.
There’s a saying I love: “Every child progresses at their own pace. Please, let’s not push them from behind.” It’s so true. Every kid is different. As parents, we need to respect that natural rhythm and try really hard not to compare our child to the kid next door. It just adds pressure.
So, what’s the game plan until about 4th grade? We need to give them space. The focus should be on helping them recognize words smoothly, read with expression, and follow punctuation. This takes practice and repetition. Their teachers are fantastic at guiding this—following their lead is key. Rushing rarely helps.
True reading comprehension, the kind where you can really test it, comes after a child is reading fluently. Before that, you can definitely work on understanding, but keep it small. Think single sentences. “The cat sat on the mat.” Then ask, “Who sat? Where did they sit?” Keep it light and step-by-step. No pressure.
Because here’s the thing: before you even worry about comprehension, you need to foster a love of reading. The reading environment, the psychology around it—it’s all so important. If you put too much pressure on understanding too early, you can completely turn a child off from reading altogether. You have to build the foundation first.
Another huge reason kids might not understand is that the book is just too hard for them. It doesn’t match their level or their interests. You might have a 4th grader reading at a 2nd-grade level. Or, sometimes, a 2nd grader who can handle 4th-grade material! You have to meet them where they are.
If you just listen, kids will show you what they’re ready for. They’ll naturally gravitate towards books that interest them. The right books are often colourful, have short paragraphs, biggish print, and words they mostly know. Wondering where to find them? Your child’s teacher is the best resource—they can point you to exactly the right level.
So, what can you actually do at home?
It all starts with creating a positive space. The most important thing you can provide is a sense of calm. No pressure. At all. Their attention spans are short—like, 5-10 minutes short. They’ll get fidgety, say they’re hungry, ask to play. Don’t respond with, “No! Finish this page first!” That never ends well.
It’s about listening to them and trying to see it from their point of view. From my experience, that’s the real key. Ask yourself, “Why doesn’t my child enjoy reading? What would make it fun for them?” If you can see the world through their eyes, you can solve most of these problems.
I always say, go with the child’s flow. We all get busy and stressed and just want to check the “reading homework” box. But if we just pause and breathe, we can make reading this amazing gift, not a chore. Be soft. Be kind. Be patient.
Let’s quickly sum up the main points:
- Focus on Fluency First: Worry about smooth, easy reading before deep comprehension.
- Small Steps: Work on understanding at the sentence level. “Mom went to the store.” “Who went?” “Where?”
- Make it a Game: No quizzes! Turn it into play. “Oh, wow, where did the dog go? To the park! Fun!”
- Good Vibes Only: A child might forget the story, but they’ll remember how reading made them feel. We want those feelings to be happy ones.
- Repetition is Okay: It’s fine to read the same simple paragraph a few times until it feels easy.
- Start Easy: Use books that are slightly below their level to build confidence. Make them feel like, “Hey, I can do this!”
- Get on Their Level: Literally and figuratively. Sit with them. Don’t talk down to them. You’re sharing a journey.
- Respect Their Pace: This is a marathon, not a sprint. It happens with time and lots of positive repetition.
- Praise the Effort: When they do understand, celebrate it! Tell the family, “Wow, listen to this, she read this whole page and got it!” That pride is a powerful motivator.
- The Reward is Reading: The joy of a good story should be the main reward.
There’s a saying I love: “Education begins with respect for the child.” If you don’t respect their time, their interests, and their unique learning style, nothing else really works.
So, if you’re worried, start with the reading itself. Make sure it’s a positive experience. Find the right books. Keep it light. The comprehension will follow when they’re ready. Sometimes our expectations are just too high, and that can discourage a child more than anything. Meet them where they are, and you’ll be amazed at the progress they make.
