Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, including links to RTL English. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
You do not need to be a teacher to support early reading. For children aged 4–6, the foundations are talk, stories, hearing sounds in words and learning how letters represent those sounds, all in short, playful sessions.
In this guide
Start with talk and stories
Reading together every day, chatting about the pictures and introducing new words builds the language children will later need to understand what they read. The National Literacy Trust: support for parents and families has ideas for making shared reading enjoyable at home.
Hearing sounds in words
Before children can read words, they need to hear the separate sounds in spoken words. This is called phonemic awareness, and the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read found that teaching it helps children learn to read. Games such as these help:
- Rhyming games (“What rhymes with cat?”).
- I-spy with sounds (“I spy something beginning with /m/”).
- Clapping syllables in names.
- Saying a word slowly (“c-a-t”) and asking your child to say it fast.
Linking letters and sounds
Systematic phonics teaches children which letters represent which sounds, and how to blend sounds to read words. In England, schools follow the approach set out in the The reading framework. If your child is at school, ask which sounds they are learning so you can practise the same ones at home and use the same pronunciation.
Blending and first words
Once your child knows a few sounds, practise blending them into simple words (s-a-t, sat). Use magnetic letters or write words on cards. Celebrate small successes and keep sessions to a few minutes.
Early reading foundations (ages 4–6)
Tick the foundations you have noticed. Many children develop these between 4 and 6, and some later.
0 of 6 ticked
Choosing materials
Printable programmes can give structure and save planning time. Look for a clear sequence of sounds, playful activities and simple guidance for adults. Avoid anything that promises your child will read by a particular date. Children develop at different rates.
Affiliate resource
About RTL English Level 2 (Ready To Read, ages 4–6)
According to the seller, Level 2 is a digital home learning pack of 36 printable workbooks with 1,767 exercises, 979 activities and 810 notes for parents, designed for children aged 4–6. We have not tested it ourselves, and individual results vary.
See RTL English Level 2 on the seller’s site →
Prices, sales and refund terms change. Check the current price and the seller’s guarantee terms before buying. This is an affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is my 4-year-old too young to learn to read?
Children vary a lot. At 4, playful talk, stories and sound games are ideal. Formal reading usually develops over the following years.
How long should sessions be?
A few minutes of a game or activity, plus a shared story, is plenty for most young children.
Should I teach letter names or sounds first?
Schools teaching systematic phonics usually focus on letter sounds first. Ask your child’s school so you stay consistent.
What if my child loses interest?
Stop and try again another day. Keeping reading enjoyable matters more than finishing an activity.
Affiliate resource
About RTL English Level 2 (Ready To Read, ages 4–6)
According to the seller, Level 2 is a digital home learning pack of 36 printable workbooks with 1,767 exercises, 979 activities and 810 notes for parents, designed for children aged 4–6. We have not tested it ourselves, and individual results vary.
See RTL English Level 2 on the seller’s site →
Prices, sales and refund terms change. Check the current price and the seller’s guarantee terms before buying. This is an affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
Sources and further reading
- National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read (NICHD, 2000)
- The reading framework (Department for Education, England)
- Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade (IES What Works Clearinghouse practice guide)
- National Literacy Trust: support for parents and families
Last reviewed October 2026.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to RTL English. If you buy through them, JNR Epic Tales may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We have not tested RTL English ourselves; product details come from the seller’s website, and individual results vary. This article is general educational information. If you are worried about your child’s reading, speak to their teacher, school or a qualified specialist.