Let’s talk about teaching your child how to read.
If you’re new to homeschooling—like I was just a few years ago—I hope this post is helpful for you. Lucky for me, my firstborn came into this world already loving books. She loved being read to (which, in my very biased opinion, is true for most babies and young children). The trick is to find books that capture their interest. Just like us adults, kids need to enjoy what they’re reading to stay engaged.
When my daughter was four, she really got into Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. If you don’t already have this book in your home library, go grab it! Maybe it was the silly tone I used while reading it, or the rhythm I added that made it sound like I was singing or rapping—but whatever it was, it made her giggle and fall in love with the book.
Step 1: Start with the Basics
At the end of the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom board book, all the alphabet letters are listed in both uppercase and lowercase. After each reading, we would point and sing the ABCs slowly, helping her visually identify each letter. Once she could recognize them, we’d go a step further—pointing to the uppercase and lowercase versions of each letter to help her understand the difference.
Some homeschool curricula suggest starting with just a few letters at a time, but I really believe it depends on the child. If your child is grasping things quickly and showing excitement, go ahead and run with it! That’s exactly what we did.
Step 2: Teach Letter Sounds
Once she knew all her letters, we started working on the sounds each one makes. I focused on the most common sound of each letter to keep things simple and consistent. (Side note: Now that she’s a more advanced reader, we’re having fun conversations about things like short vs. long vowels.)
What was so exciting was how my daughter started to really engage with the sounds. She loved making the sounds so much that she would often go grab the book throughout the day, flipping through the pages and sounding out the letters herself. It felt like a secret code that she was cracking, and she was so excited to be “reading” on her own. This little ritual helped her feel empowered, and it gave her the confidence to keep going.
Step 3: Use Phonics-Based Books
When I felt she was ready to try reading on her own, I took the advice of my manager at the time and got a set of Bob Books. To be honest, I was hesitant at first. I usually enjoy creating our own homeschool curriculum tailored to our family. But as a lifelong book lover, I figured we couldn’t have too many! These books were a turning point. The words are simple and phonetically consistent—perfect for early readers. Within just a couple of weeks, she was confidently reading through all the Level One Bob Books.
Step 4: Keep it Fun and Consistent
We continued our routine of reading and pointing out letters and sounds, and we also started making weekly library visits. This helped to keep things exciting and gave her a variety of reading materials.
Step 5: Foster a Love for Reading
Every child learns differently and at their own pace. Give your child the space they need to grow and learn comfortably. I truly believe in molding reading instruction to fit the child—not the other way around. That’s how you nurture not just reading skills, but a lifelong love of learning and reading.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with teaching your child how to read. What strategies have worked for you? Do you have any favorite books or tips to share? Leave a comment below—I look forward to learning from you!