How I Helped My Children Learn to Read — Without Pressure, Tears, or Timelines
I didn’t teach my children to read by age 3. And guess what? We’re doing just fine.
Reading didn’t become a war in our home. It became a journey, one rooted in curiosity, patience, and finding what actually worked for us. No shame, no rush, no forced drills or meltdowns at the table. So if you’re a mama wondering if you’re “doing enough,” or worried because your child isn’t on someone else’s timeline, this is for you.
Letting Go of the Rush
I had to unlearn a lot of what school taught me about reading. The pressure to be fluent by kindergarten. The constant comparing. The belief that struggle equals failure. Truth is: reading is developmental. Some kids are ready at 4. Some not until 8 or 9. And either way, they’re not broken. They’re becoming and I think that’s pretty cool.
What Actually Helped Us (The Tools We Used)
Here’s what we explored, one day at a time, one child at a time:
FreeReadingProgram.com – This free tool was a blessing. Structured enough to give us phonics, sight words, and comprehension…but not overwhelming.
Reading With Ms. B – A beautiful Black reading tutor who brought patience and praise into every session. Having someone else affirm their progress made a huge difference.
Outschool – We found a few reading classes on here that helped reinforce phonics in fun ways. Some sessions felt like playdates with a purpose.
Mrs. Karle’s Reading Patch – Old school, but solid. Printables, word families, and guided reading support that helped build early confidence.
Bob Books – These little books are gold. Predictable, repetitive, and perfect for beginner readers to build momentum.
Toddlers Can Read (by Danny Brassell) – His Instagram clips + program reminded me that talking, playing, and bonding with our kids lays the foundation for strong reading later. Absolutely love the decodable books he offers and my kiddos enjoy them too!
We didn’t use these all at once. I rotated, followed their lead, and paid attention to what gained their interest.
When It Didn’t Click Right Away…
There were weeks when we paused. Days where they refused to “try.” Moments where I wanted to cry because I thought I was failing them. But I reminded myself: reading is not a race. When we hit resistance, I backed off. Sometimes we watched movies with captions. Sometimes we just focused on vocabulary and conversation. And you know what? That was still literacy.
The Magic of Interest-Led Reading
The biggest shift? Letting my kids choose what they read - or what they wanted to understand.
One started reading menus, street signs, game instructions, and Roblox chat messages.
The other fell in love with books that looked like cartoons and didn’t care if they “counted.”
They were reading. That’s what mattered.
Tips for Other Mamas (from One Still in the Journey)
Trust your child’s timeline. Their readiness is not your failure.
Let them read what they love, not just what’s “age appropriate.”
Audiobooks count. So do graphic novels. So do memes.
Let them hear you read out loud, joyfully, not just during “school.”
Celebrate effort, not perfection.
Keep a cozy reading corner - pillows, snacks, whatever makes it feel like peace.
Take breaks. Come back later. It’s okay.
I used to think I had to teach reading like a teacher. But now I know, I just had to protect their love of words. If you’re walking this path too, remember you’re not behind. You’re building something deeper. And that matters more than any test score ever will.