You don't need to be a teacher to help your child learn to read. What matters most is a little daily practice, lots of reading aloud, and keeping it fun. These ten steps follow the order most early-reading programmes use.

1. Read aloud every day

Reading aloud builds vocabulary, listening and a love of stories long before a child can decode. Point to the words now and then so they see that print carries meaning. Our free picture books and nursery rhymes are a good start.

2. Play with sounds

Rhyming games, clapping syllables and "I spy something that starts with /m/" build phonemic awareness — hearing the sounds inside words — which is the foundation for reading.

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3. Teach letter sounds, not just names

Knowing that m says /m/ matters more for reading than knowing its name. Start with a few common letters (s, a, t, p, i, n) so your child can soon build real words.

4. Blend simple words

Say the sounds, then blend: /c/ /a/ /t/ → cat. Use magnetic letters or cards. Short, three-letter words (CVC words) are perfect first practice.

5. Add sight words

Some common words (the, said, was) are tricky to sound out. Learn a few at a time with our free kindergarten sight-word printables — flash cards, tracing and games.

6. Read decodable books

Decodable readers use only the sounds your child has learned, so they can succeed on their own. Early readers in our library are sorted by level on the reading levels pages.

7. Take turns reading

You read a page, they read a line. Sharing the load keeps the story moving and the confidence high.

8. Talk about the story

Ask "What do you think will happen?" and "How did she feel?" Comprehension grows from conversation, not quizzes.

9. Keep sessions short

Ten focused minutes is plenty for a four- or five-year-old. Stop while it's still fun, and always end with something they can do.

10. Celebrate progress

Make progress visible — a sticker chart, a reading log, or streaks and badges in the Pagine app. Every book finished is a win worth noticing.

Every child learns at their own pace. If reading still feels very hard after steady practice, talk to their teacher — early support makes a big difference.

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