Should You Wait? How to Improve Students’ Reading Skills Before It's Too Late

If you’re a parent of a struggling reader, you’ve probably heard it before:

“Don’t worry, they’ll catch up.”

It’s a phrase that sounds reassuring. You want to believe it. But deep down, you might be thinking: What if they don’t? What if I wait too long?

You’re not alone in wondering that. And you’re not wrong to ask the question.

When it comes to reading, especially in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade, waiting can mean missing a powerful opportunity to intervene while your child is still building foundational skills.

In this post, we’ll explore what “they’ll catch up” really means, why acting early matters, and how you can actually help improve your student's reading skills starting now.

What “They’ll Catch Up” Really Means

Many schools take a “wait and see” approach when a child is behind in reading. Teachers are overwhelmed. Resources are limited. And yes, sometimes kids do catch up with a little more time.

But here’s the thing: many kids don’t. Especially children with learning differences like Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, or processing issues. These kids often need more than extra time. They need a different approach.

The longer a reading issue goes unaddressed, the wider the gap becomes. Reading doesn’t just affect Language Arts.

It affects every subject. Science, social studies, even math. These all require strong reading comprehension. And let’s not forget the emotional toll. When a child struggles with reading, it chips away at their confidence day by day.

How to Know When It’s Time to Act

So how do you know if your child is just taking their time or if they really need support to improve their reading skills?

Here are some common signs your child may benefit from additional help:

• They aren’t meeting grade-level reading expectations

• They avoid reading or complain it’s too hard

• They guess at words instead of sounding them out

• They struggle to remember sight words or basic phonics patterns

• They confuse similar letters or reverse them

• They have trouble with rhyming, blending, or segmenting sounds

• They get frustrated with reading homework or feel embarrassed reading aloud

• Their teacher says, “Let’s wait and see how the next few months go…”

If you’re hearing that last one and your gut says something isn’t quite right, trust yourself. No one knows your child like you do.

Why Early Action is So Important

Reading is not just a subject. It’s the foundation of your child’s entire education. And the earlier we intervene, the easier it is to close the gap and boost your child’s confidence. When kids fall behind in early elementary school and don't get targeted support, they often continue to struggle for years.

This is sometimes called the "Matthew Effect" – the idea that the strong readers keep getting stronger while the struggling readers fall further behind.

Here’s what happens when we intervene to improve students' reading skills early:

• Children build essential decoding and comprehension strategies

• They learn in ways that align with how their brains work

• They gain confidence, which boosts motivation to keep trying

• They develop a love of learning instead of fear around reading

What If My Child Isn’t That Far Behind?

Great question. Many parents worry about “overreacting” if their child is only slightly behind grade level or just not as excited about reading as other kids.

Here’s our take: You don’t need to wait for things to get bad to get help. Early support doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means you’re giving your child an edge.

We work with lots of children who aren’t failing, but they’re not thriving or just don't enjoy reading either. They might be quietly slipping through the cracks, or they’re trying really hard but not seeing the results they deserve.

These kids benefit just as much from personalized support.

How to Improve Students’ Reading Skills at Home

Whether your child is already receiving school support or not, there’s a lot you can do at home to help:

• Read aloud daily – No matter your child’s age or skill level, reading aloud builds vocabulary and fluency

• Talk about books – Ask open-ended questions like “Why do you think that happened?” or “How would you feel if you were that character?”

• Break it down – Help your child sound out tricky words rather than guessing

• Build phonemic awareness – Play word games that involve rhyming, blending, and segmenting

• Keep reading fun – Let them choose books that interest them, even if they’re a little below their grade level

• Don’t stress over perfection – Focus on progress, not perfection. Celebrate small wins

And of course, when you need a more structured, personalized plan, that’s where we come in.

What We Do as Online Reading Specialists

Our Reading Specialists help struggling readers in grades K through 5 close their reading gap so they can feel confident and capable in school and beyond.

Whether your child has Dyslexia, attention challenges, processing issues, or no formal diagnosis at all, we meet them where they are and create a plan that works. We teach in a way that makes sense for them.

Even if your child isn’t behind but simply wants to build stronger reading skills, our tutoring sessions can make a huge difference.

We know how hard it is to watch your child struggle. But we also know that early action changes everything.

Should I Wait or Act Now?

If you’re asking this question, you probably already know the answer.

Waiting might feel easier in the short term, but it rarely leads to long-term growth. Acting now gives your child the best chance to catch up, stay on track, and learn to love reading.

You don’t have to do this alone.

If you’re ready to find out how we can support your child, schedule a free consultation call. We’ll talk about your concerns, what you’re seeing at home, and what kind of help might be the right fit.

Your child deserves to feel confident and capable. And we’re here to help make that happen.

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