Is Your Child Really Behind in Reading? The Truth About Brain Development & Literacy

Is your child “behind” in reading—or are they just developing at their own pace? In this episode, I’m sharing a heartfelt (and maybe unpopular) perspective as both a former educator and a homeschooling mom. We’ll explore why I’m not worried if my daughter isn’t reading by age 7 or 8, and how science supports a more developmentally appropriate timeline for literacy.

You’ll hear:

What essential pre-reading skills really matter in early childhood

Why so many kids struggle with fluency and comprehension before age 10

The brain research that explains why decoding isn't the end goal

Why reading struggles don’t always mean a learning disability

How you can support your child’s literacy journey through trust, play, and patience

Whether you’re homeschooling or just concerned about your child’s reading progress, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and peace.

Mentioned Research Studies:

The Brain Basis of Fluency Development (2020)
https://sterncenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/OGA-NEWS-Brain-Basis-of-Fluency-Developmen_WinterSpring2020-F_2.pdf

Reading Skill and Structural Brain Development (2014)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4128180/

Brain Dynamics of (A)typical Reading Development (2020)
https://www.nature.com/articles

Contrasting views: The Benefits of Early Reading Mastery (2024)
https://explore-academy.com/2024/06/the-benefits-of-early-reading-mastery/

What Age Should a Child Read Fluently? (2024)
https://readingeggs.com/articles/what-age-should-a-child-read-fluently/

Reading and the Brain (Harvard)
https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/reading-brain

K3 Homeschool Foundations Resources:

Science of Reading Simplified Ecourse
https://k3homeschoolfoundations.com/literacy-resources/ols/products/science-of-reading-simplified-course

5 Foundations of Reading Ecourse
https://k3homeschoolfoundations.com/literacy-resources/ols/products/the-5-foundations-of-reading-e-course

Skill-Based Literacy Curriculum
https://k3homeschoolfoundations.com/literacy-curriculum

Tuttle Twins Books
https://tuttletwins.com/ref/K3_homeschool_foundations/

FREE Literacy for Littles Ebook
https://gem.godaddy.com/signups/549d243e06a8486cbe43dc25267281a2/join