Literacy – Is your grandchild struggling with reading? Here’s what to look for
BY Carolyn Brown, Ph.D.
As a reading researcher, curriculum developer, and a grandparent, I have the joy of seeing literacy from two perspectives—professional and personal. In my work, I study how children learn to read and overcome struggles with reading. And, at home, I get to sit beside my own grandchildren as we read aloud, talk together, play with words, and make up new stories.
“When one of my grandchildren reads aloud to me, I listen closely. Do they stumble over common words?”
This shared experience at home provides a wonderful way for me to comfortably make observations as my grandchildren become more independent readers and writers, sounding out words, scribbling notes, and writing their own stories. These moments also remind me that grandparents are in a unique position to not only celebrate their grandchildren’s successes, but also notice early signs of struggle and, when appropriate, take action to support them.
Reading is the foundation for every subject in school, and when it feels harder than it should, children can grow frustrated. You don’t need test scores to spot the clues—your everyday interactions and observations can tell you plenty. Here’s what I watch for:
Oral reading is slow and uncertain
When one of my grandchildren reads aloud to me, I listen closely. Do they stumble over common words? Do longer or oddly spelled words trip them up? If the reading feels halted or choppy, it can mean they haven’t yet developed automatic word recognition, which is essential for fluent reading.
Spelling inconsistencies
I also pay attention when my grandchildren write—whether it’s a thank you card, a story, or just a quick list. Spelling tells us a lot. If a child spells the same word differently each time, or struggles with simple words they can already read, it suggests they’re still working hard to connect sounds and letters. That’s a window into how they’re processing print.
Effort doesn’t match the outcome
Sometimes, even when my grandchildren put in their best effort, reading still feels like an uphill climb. If a child hesitates to read aloud or avoids reading altogether, it’s often because it feels too laborious. That frustration is a sign that foundational skills need strengthening.
Our role as grandparents
As grandparents, we don’t have to act like teachers or turn time with our grandchildren into schoolwork. Instead, we can gently encourage, notice patterns, and support parents by sharing our observations or doing the legwork of finding resources to help our grandchildren. When extra help is needed, I look for research and science-backed solutions that provide regular check-in data, monitor success and challenges, and are personalized and proven to work.
Most importantly, as grandparents, we can make literacy joyful for our grandchildren—reading aloud with them, creating characters and stories, writing notes back and forth, or cooking together with a handwritten recipe list. These simple, everyday moments not only strengthen language and reading skills, but they also deepen the bond we share with our grandchildren.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
