Reading and Comprehension: How to Help Your Child Make Lasting Progress

Understanding Why Comprehension Feels So Hard

Maybe you've watched your child read an entire page aloud — every word pronounced correctly — only to realize they didn't retain a thing. "I don't know," they say when you ask what the story was about. It's not that your child isn’t trying. And it’s certainly not that they’re not smart enough. But reading comprehension is more than decoding words — it’s about making meaning. And for many children between 6 and 12, that part just isn’t clicking yet.

Reading comprehension involves attention, memory, vocabulary, and a bit of imagination. If even one of those gears isn’t turning smoothly, understanding breaks down. Perhaps your child struggles with attention, or maybe they don’t recognize key words. Or it might be that they understand better when they hear information rather than reading it silently.

The Power of Talking It Out

One mother I spoke to told me her 8-year-old son started understanding stories better after they began discussing books during breakfast. Instead of quizzing him, she would simply ask, “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character did that?” Little by little, his eyes lit up more often — a sign that the storyline was sinking in. Simple conversation gave him a safe space to puzzle things out without pressure.

Create these moments. Talk about what your child is reading, but more importantly, be patient with their pace. Understand that comprehension develops unevenly for many children — especially if they associate reading with stress or failure.

Make Reading an Experience, Not a Chore

Think back to your own favorite childhood books. Was it the plot that hooked you, the characters, or just the voice of a parent reading beside you? For many kids, comprehension blooms when reading becomes immersive. If your child flat-out refuses to read because it feels like a never-ending worksheet, it might be time to shift strategies.

One strategy many families have found helpful: letting the child hear the story while reading along. This dual input — visual and auditory — often makes it easier to follow. In fact, some educational tools now allow children to hear their lessons read aloud while they're on the move. Within the Skuli App, for example, you can turn a photo of a lesson into an interactive audio story — even starring your child as the hero — which can transform a dull paragraph into a small adventure.

If your child gets lost mid-chapter, don’t push forward blindly. Go back together. Try re-reading just one paragraph and paraphrasing it in your own words. Then ask your child to try the same. Modeling this helps them build internal comprehension habits over time.

Personalize How They Learn

No two children develop comprehension the same way. Some need to hear; some need to move; some simply learn best through questions. If your child struggles with a passage, consider rephrasing it into a playful quiz or a series of challenges. This is where personalized learning approaches matter more than rigid tasks.

For instance, a parent I know started turning her 10-year-old daughter's science notes into a game. They used flashcards with silly questions, like: “What would happen if plants didn’t like water?” It made studying memorable — and comprehension came with laughter. With the right tools, you can even instantly create custom review questions from a textbook page, reducing the mental load for both of you.

Let Stories Do the Work

Reading doesn’t always have to come from textbooks. In fact, one of the most effective ways to build comprehension is story exposure — in all its forms. Fairy tales, podcasts, cartoon transcripts, even comic books — if they engage your child, they’re worth exploring.

Increasingly, parents are turning to audio stories not just for entertainment but to boost learning. On car rides or during quiet time, children can absorb rich language and complicated story arcs without realizing they’re practicing comprehension. Try selecting stories with vocabulary slightly above your child’s level. Pause occasionally to ask what’s happening or to predict what could come next.

Remember: it’s not about rushing to grade-level expectations. It’s about helping your child feel confident they can make sense of what they read (or hear), piece by piece.

Choose Connection Over Correction

Many parents feel helpless when their child’s reading falls behind. The added stress only makes learning harder. But progress in comprehension isn’t about perfect recall. It’s about helping kids understand that reading is a way to see how things work, how others feel, how stories unfold. That takes time, and it often starts with a sense of safety and support.

Maybe the real question isn’t “How do I make my child progress?” but “How do I stay connected while they do?” Sit beside them. Read aloud together. Laugh at the silly parts. Ask what confused them. A supportive presence and the right tools — be it your own patience or a creative app that brings lessons to life — can sometimes open the exact door your child needs.

And if you're wondering how to keep your child engaged during those longer assignments, you might find something useful in this guide on active learning strategies.

Progress will come — not always fast, but often deeper than you expect. Keep reading, keep tuning in, and follow your child’s unique rhythm. They’re learning more than you think.