How to Improve Reading Comprehension: Tips for Parents
Reading comprehension means understanding what you read, not just saying the words correctly. Some children can read a page aloud beautifully and still not be able to tell you what happened. Comprehension depends on two things working together: reading the words easily, and making sense of the language and ideas. The good news is that both can be built at home with everyday reading and good conversation.
Fluent word reading comes first
If a child is working hard to decode every word, there's little attention left for meaning. That's why phonics and quick recognition of common words matter so much in the early years. If your child often stops to sound out words like said, because or where, a few minutes a day on our Sight Words game can free up attention for understanding. Spelling practice helps too, because knowing how words are built makes them faster to read.
Grow vocabulary
Children can only understand a sentence if they know most of the words in it. Vocabulary grows fastest through talk and through being read to, because books use richer words than everyday conversation.
- Keep reading aloud, even after your child can read alone. You can share books that are a little above their own reading level.
- Pause on interesting words: “Furious. What do you think that means? How would a furious person look?”
- Play with word meanings: find words that mean the same or the opposite. Our Synonyms & Antonyms game is a quick way to do this.
- Use new words yourself during the week so they stick.
Ask questions before, during and after reading
| When | Questions to try |
|---|---|
| Before | “What do you think this book is about? What do you already know about this topic?” |
| During | “What's happened so far? Why do you think she did that? What might happen next?” |
| After | “What was the most important part? How did the character change? Did it end the way you expected?” |
Mix simple “what happened” questions with deeper “why” and “how do you know” questions. Inference, reading between the lines, is a skill many children need help with: “The book doesn't say he was scared. What clues tell us he was?”
Teach a few comprehension strategies
- Picture it: ask your child to describe what they see in their head as they read.
- Retell in order: beginning, middle, end. For non-fiction, “Tell me three facts you learned.”
- Summarize in one sentence: a great test of whether the main idea has landed.
- Notice when it stops making sense: teach your child to stop, re-read the sentence and check any unknown words. Good readers do this all the time.
- Make connections: “Does this remind you of anything that's happened to you, or another book?”
Read widely, and let them choose
Background knowledge has a big effect on comprehension. A child who knows a lot about animals will understand an animal article more easily. Encourage a mix of stories, non-fiction, comics, recipes and magazines, and let your child choose some books purely for enjoyment. Children who enjoy reading tend to read more, and reading more builds both vocabulary and knowledge.
When to look for extra help
If your child consistently struggles to decode words, avoids reading, or can read fluently but rarely remembers or understands what they read, talk to their teacher. They can tell you how your child is doing in class and whether extra support or an assessment would help.
Frequently asked questions
How can I help my child understand what they read?
Read together every day, talk about new words, and ask questions before, during and after reading, including “why” questions and questions that need reading between the lines.
Why can my child read the words but not understand them?
Decoding and understanding are different skills. If decoding takes a lot of effort, little attention is left for meaning. Gaps in vocabulary or background knowledge can also make text hard to understand.
Should I still read aloud to my child if they can read alone?
Yes. Reading aloud lets you share books above their own reading level, which builds vocabulary, knowledge and listening comprehension.