Reading Together When Reading Feels Hard

By DiveLook Research · 29 October 2026

Bedtime, a picture book, and a child who wants one more story. For many parents, this is a happy moment. If you find reading hard, it can also feel worrying. What if you stumble over the words? What if you set a bad example?

If that sounds like you, here is the good news: an important part of reading together does not depend on reading well.

What's happening

Many parents who find reading hard, or who left school early, feel they do not have the right skills to read with their children. Some read less as a result, or keep it short: read the page, turn the page. That is understandable. But it can mean the child misses some of the conversation around the story.

Why it can feel hard

Reading aloud can feel like a test, especially if school was hard for you. Research on storybook reading suggests that parents who find reading harder tend to ask fewer open questions about the story, the kind that help a child think beyond the page. It is not about caring less. The words can take up so much attention that there is little left for conversation.

Why the talk matters

The talk around a story can build a child's language. Questions like “Why do you think she did that?” or “What would you do?” introduce new words, how stories work, and ways to explain an idea. Children can use these skills at school and in other subjects.

What you could try

• Talk about the pictures. You do not need to read a word to ask, “What's happening here?”
• Ask open questions. Try “Why?”, “What happens next?” or “How does he feel?”
• Let your child lead. Older children can read to you while you listen, ask questions, and enjoy the story.
• Pick easy books. Short books, picture books, and old favourites are all fine, even if you read them many times.
• Use audiobooks. Listen together, then talk about the story.
• Tell your own stories. Stories from your childhood or family count too.

When to get more help

Libraries can suggest easy books and may run reading groups for children. Your child's school or nursery can tell you what they are reading in class, so you can talk about it at home. If you want to build your own reading skills, adult learning courses could help, and there is no shame in joining one.

Further reading

• Uscianowski, C., Almeda, M. V., & Ginsburg, H. P. (2020). Differences in the complexity of math and literacy questions parents pose during storybook reading. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 50, 40–50.
• Hillier, C., Milne, E., & Aurini, J. (2019). “It’s not just helping your kid with homework anymore”: The challenges of aligning education policy with parents and teachers. Canadian Public Policy, 45(4), 497–510.