Teach
Start Here
Milestones
If you’re wondering how to teach your preschooler to read, this is the best place to start. These simple, step-by-step ideas will help you build skills naturally at home.
Your child is always learning—even when it doesn’t look like it. Progress happens in small steps that build over time.
Understanding how children learn at their own pace is an important part of how early reading skills develop over time.
Progress Happens in Small Steps
Progress happens in small steps.
Focus on one simple skill at a time, repeat it often, and let it build naturally. Small steps lead to lasting learning.
Introducing New Skills
I Do, We Do, You Do
Many parents wonder how they'll know when their child has mastered a skill so they can move on to something new. The best way is by paying attention to your child's level of autonomy when using the skill. Can they "use" the skill independently, or do they wait for your help?
Use I Do, We Do, You Do to help you decide if it's time to move on:
- In the "I Do" stage you model the skill for them.
- In the "We Do" stage you and your child work together to perform the skill.
- In the "You Do" stage, your child models the skill for you.
Link New Skills to What They Know
When introducing your child to a new skill, link it to something they already understands. For example, if you want them to learn what red is, use their red fire truck as an introduction. Play a searching game. Search the house for red items. Once they've mastered finding red items at home, expand the search. Look for red in your neighborhood. Then look for red in books you read together. Connecting new skills to the world they live in will make their learning more meaningful.
Short & Sweet, then Repeat
Teachers of young children should adopt this as their mantra. Short and sweet, then repeat. Short attention spans call for short lessons. Fun, low-stake lessons are the ones your child will tune in to. Introduce something new. Keep it light. Move on quickly. Repeat the process the following day.
Take a Pause
Not every moment needs to be a lesson.
Take time to play, explore, and enjoy being together. When learning feels relaxed and natural, your child stays more engaged and open to trying new things.
Model the Behavior
Your child learns by watching you.
Sit beside them, not above them. Talk through what you’re noticing, wondering, and trying. When you stay patient and curious, your child learns to do the same.
Encourage Questions
Encourage your child to ask questions, and ask a few of your own.
When your child says or does something unexpected, pause and explore it together. Ask simple questions like, “Why do you think that?” or “How did you figure that out?” You don’t need to have the answers. Learning happens when you stay curious together.
Start with simple skills like colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. These build the foundation your child needs to begin reading.
Not sure where to begin? Start with colors and follow the step-by-step ideas from there.
