If you’ve been wondering, “Is my child behind in reading?” or “Does my child need a reading tutor," you’re not alone. January is one of the most common times parents begin noticing reading struggles. School routines pick back up, texts get harder, and gaps that were easy to miss in the fall suddenly become clearer.

The good news? You don’t have to guess. There are several very clear signs that your child may benefit from extra reading support and simple steps you can take right now to help.

Here are the top five.

1. Your child is still guessing at words

One of the biggest red flags is when a child:

• looks at the first letter

• takes a random guess

• keeps reading without checking if it made sense

Parents often ask, “How do I help my child stop guessing at words?”  because it’s incredibly common and incredibly frustrating.

Guessing usually means:

• your child isn’t attending to all the sounds

• they don’t have a strong decoding strategy

• they’re overwhelmed by the text

A tutor teaches step-by-step decoding so your child feels confident reading every sound in the word, not just the beginning.

2. Reading homework is a fight every single night

If reading time leads to:

• tears

• refusal

• stomach aches

• “I hate reading”

• shutting down quickly

…it’s a sign your child may be working harder than their classmates just to get through a page.

Kids avoid what feels difficult. A reading tutor can remove the pressure, rebuild confidence, and give your child tools that make reading feel easier at home.

3. Your child forgets sounds or mixes them up

Parents often tell me their child frequently forgets words that were taught or they forget how to read after school breaks.

This usually signals that your child needs more structured practice with reading skills, not just more reading time.

A reading tutor uses explicit, systematic instruction that helps your child:

• remember sounds

• connect sounds to what they see

• build tools to handle those long words

• read more fluently

4. Your child skips or changes important parts of words

Do you hear your child read form instead of from or stop instead of step? This is a very common sign of a decoding gap.

Kids who skip middle sounds or switch letters around often need support with:

• blending

• segmenting

• sound-by-sound strategies

• slowing down

Tutoring helps your child break words apart clearly and read them accurately, without rushing or guessing.

5. Your child is losing confidence

Confidence is one of the biggest indicators a parent should not ignore.

Look for:

• “I’m dumb.”

• “I can’t read.”

• “Everyone else is better than me.”

• Avoidance or shame around reading

When a child loses confidence, they stop taking risks and reading growth slows down even more. A good tutor doesn’t just teach reading skills. They rebuild self-belief through small wins, predictable routines, and success your child can feel.

What to Do Next (The Part Parents Ask Most)

If you’re noticing any of these signs, the most important thing is not to wait.Reading expectations grow quickly between January and May, and early support makes a huge difference.

Here’s what you can do right now:

1. Don’t panic! Reading struggles are common.

Many kids need extra help at some point.

2. Look for a tutor who uses structured reading instruction.

You want someone who teaches decoding, spelling, and sound awareness, not just “more reading practice.”

3. Start using simple, parent-friendly activities at home.

Small, consistent support goes a long way. (I have a free January Reading Kit if you want something easy to start with.)

4. Reach out early.

It takes longer to help a 4th grader catch up than a 1st grader. Don't wait to see if reading and spelling problems go away. Reach out and get help earlier, rather than later.

If it is later for your kiddo, we can absolutely still help them. It will just take a bit longer.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

If you’re seeing your child struggle with reading, skipping sounds, guessing at words, or losing confidence, those are signs they may need more support. So many kids feel this way.

Tutoring gives them:

• clarity

• confidence

• structure

• strategies that actually work

• and a fresh start in the new year

If you’d like support, guidance, or a place to start, I’d love to help. Click the button below to schedule a 30-minute FREE Zoom consultation. You'll tell me about your kiddo, I'll ask lots of questions, and then I'll tell you how tutoring works for us!

I hope to meet you soon!