Early Signs of Reading Struggles in Kids & What Parents Can Do
Foundations of Learning by Shali Flint
Episode notes
Reading doesn’t begin with letters. It begins with language.
In this episode, I’m walking you through:
• The early signs of reading struggles in toddlers and young children
• Why letter practice alone often doesn’t work • What phonological awareness actually is (in simple parent terms)
• How to strengthen pre-reading skills through play
• What to do if your child forgets letter sounds daily
• The difference between memorizing and mastering reading skills
Many parents think:
“If I just read more books, it’ll click.”
“If we practice flashcards more consistently, they’ll remember.”
“Maybe my child just isn’t a strong reader.”
But often, the real issue isn’t intelligence or effort. It’s foundation.
When we strengthen phonological awareness — rhyming, syllables, sound ...