For generations, parents assumed that if they sent their children to school, reading would simply take care of itself. Today, many families are realizing that’s no longer something they can take for granted.

Whether you subscribe to conspiracy theories or not, there is no denying that reading proficiency has declined, and many teachers, parents, and literacy experts have raised concerns about whether too many children are leaving elementary school without the strong reading foundation they need. The reasons are widely debated — teaching methods, learning disruptions, increased screen time, curriculum changes, staffing shortages, and more. Whatever the causes, one fact remains:

Your child’s first and most influential teacher is you.

That’s not meant to put more pressure on parents. It’s meant to remind you that your daily habits at home can have an enormous impact — sometimes even more than what’s happening in the classroom.

There is no app, worksheet, or educational toy that replaces sitting down with your child and reading. Fifteen or twenty minutes a day may not seem like much, but over the years it becomes hundreds of hours of language, vocabulary, imagination, and connection.

Even after your child learns to read independently, don’t stop.

Read chapter books together. Take turns reading pages. Laugh at funny parts. Cry during the sad ones. Make books part of your family’s story.

Children who read because they have to often stop reading as soon as the assignment is finished.

Children who read because they want to become lifelong learners.

That doesn’t mean every book has to be a classic.

If your child loves dinosaurs, find dinosaur books. If they’re obsessed with football, let them read football magazines. Graphic novels? Great. Mysteries? Wonderful. Comic books? Absolutely.

The goal isn’t to raise a literary critic. The goal is to raise someone who picks up a book because they’re curious.

Our children are growing up in a world that constantly competes for their attention.

Notifications. Videos. Games. Doom scrolling.

None of those things are inherently bad, but they make sustained attention harder to build. Reading asks children to slow down, imagine, remember details, make connections, and think deeply. Those are mental muscles that need regular exercise.

Protect time each day when the TV is off, devices are put away, and everyone in the house reads something.

When your child finishes reading, don’t settle for “Did you like it?” Ask:
– Why do you think the character made that decision?
– What would you have done differently?
– What surprised you?
– What lesson did the story teach?

Those conversations build comprehension, reasoning, and confidence.

Strong readers don’t magically appear.

They build skills step by step: recognizing letters, connecting letters to sounds, decoding words, developing fluency, expanding vocabulary, and making meaning from what they read.

If your child seems to guess at words instead of sounding them out, struggles to read simple books, or becomes increasingly frustrated, don’t assume they’ll simply catch up. Ask questions, work with their teacher, and seek extra support if needed. Early intervention can make a tremendous difference.

Kids notice far more than we think. If every adult in the house spends evenings glued to a phone, children learn that’s what free time looks like. If they regularly see parents reading books, newspapers, recipes, or articles, they learn that reading is simply part of life.

Reading isn’t just another academic subject. It’s how we understand contracts. Follow medical instructions. Learn new skills. Evaluate information. Recognize misinformation. Make informed decisions.

It’s how we enjoy stories and connect with other people.

Strong readers have more tools for navigating everyday life.

It’s easy to become discouraged by headlines about declining test scores or debates over education.

But parents are not powerless.

Every bedtime story. Every trip to the library. Every conversation about a book. Every moment spent reading together sends a powerful message: “Reading matters in this family.”

Children who grow up with that message carry it with them long after they’ve forgotten individual spelling words or book reports.

Read with your children. Talk with them. Encourage their curiosity. Protect their attention. Celebrate their progress.

The greatest gift you can give your child isn’t just the ability to read words on a page — it’s the ability to understand the world, think critically, continue learning throughout life, and discover ideas that might change who they become.