A parent’s guide to uncovering the real reason behind reading resistance and actionable steps for how to help.
“I hate reading!”
These are hard words that can be difficult to hear from our children. Whether it’s a groan, a pout, or a full-blown meltdown, it’s frustrating when something that should be fun turns into a battle. While “I hate reading” might sound like defiance, it’s often a sign that something deeper is going on.
When a child says they hate reading, what they often mean is “reading is hard for me… and I don’t feel good at it.”
Reading is a complex process that involves many moving parts. Oftentimes, there may be a few skills that are shaky, which makes reading feel really overwhelming.
The good news? Once we understand why and where a child is struggling, we can help them feel successful and begin to enjoy reading again.
Why does my child say, “I Hate Reading”?
When kids say “I hate reading,” what they often mean is “reading feels hard for me.”
They haven’t experienced success yet, so reading doesn’t feel rewarding.
Most of the time, reading feels hard because one or more foundational skills are missing or underdeveloped. Research has shown that children who struggle with decoding and fluency are more likely to avoid reading altogether. This avoidance leads to less practice, which in turn makes the gap grow wider. It’s not about effort or intelligence. It’s about needing the right kind of support.
To help you better understand what might be going on with your child, we’ve created a FREE guide that explains 3 of the most common reasons reading can feel hard for kids and what you can do to help.
Enter your email above, and we’ll send you the guide that will help you better understand what might be going on with your child and to begin feeling confident knowing how to help.
Tips to Help Your Child Begin to Enjoy Reading
You don’t have to wait for a meeting with the teacher to start helping at home. Here are a few powerful ways to help your child begin to enjoy reading:
1. Make reading feel safe again
Rebuild trust around reading by removing the pressure. Re-read old favorites and choose books with fun topics. Let your child choose, even if the book seems silly or “too easy.”
2. Use shared reading routines
Try “you read a page, I read a page” or echo reading. These side-by-side strategies help your child hear fluent reading and feel supported as they practice.
3. Read aloud every day
Even if your child can read on their own, continue reading aloud to build vocabulary, background knowledge, and a love for storytelling. This allows them to enjoy stories without the pressure of decoding.
4. Give your child extra opportunities for practice and review
Sometimes, children say they hate reading simply because it feels too hard. They may have gaps in their phonics skills or difficulty with fluency. Mastering these skills often takes a lot of repetition and practice. What they get in the classroom isn’t always enough.
It’s not a matter of “trying harder,” it’s about getting more consistent, targeted practice with the right support. Sure Start Reading gives children the practice and review they need to feel confident and successful.
5. Focus on the right skills in the right order
Learning to read doesn’t happen through random practice. It requires a clear, research-backed sequence of instruction. At Sure Start Reading, our lessons are backed by the Science of Reading and taught in a sequence that we know builds mastery.
When children are taught the right skills in the right order, they begin to feel confident and capable.
6. Add more fun (and practice!) with reading games
Most children require LOTS of practice and review to fully master the phonics skills they’ve been taught. That’s why we’ve created FREE phonics games you can use at home to review what your child is learning in a fun and low-pressure way. These games provide your child with a quick win, boost their confidence, and make practice feel like play.
👉 Grab Your Free Reading Games Here
You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
Reading confidence grows from reading competence. When your child starts to master the skills they need to decode and comprehend, they begin to see reading not as a chore, but as something they can do. Something they can enjoy.
At Sure Start Reading, we follow a clear and evidence-based sequence of instruction that fills skill gaps and builds confidence every step of the way. You don’t have to guess what to do next. We’ll guide you with simple, doable steps that fit into real life.
You’ve got this, and we’re here to help every step of the way.