Reading is an important skill that impacts every area of learning and is used in many aspects of life. For children with ADHD, learning to read can be an extra challenging journey.
Kids with ADHD may experience a combination of attention difficulties, impulsivity, and struggles with focus, which can make traditional reading lessons feel frustrating — both for the child and the parent.
But here’s the good news: with tailored strategies and support, kids with ADHD can become successful, confident readers. I have worked with several children with ADHD over my years as a reading tutor, and through applying these science-backed strategies outlined below, I have seen them make great strides and gain confidence in their reading.
Here are nine practical strategies to help children with ADHD become better readers who can enjoy reading stories.
1. Break Reading Time into Short Sessions
Children with ADHD often struggle with sustained attention, especially during activities that require focus, like reading. One of the most effective ways to make reading more manageable is to break it into short increments of time and give frequent breaks.
How to Do It:
- Set a timer. This helps make for smoother transitions and reduces anxiety about when the activity will end. 10-15 minutes at a time of focused reading is usually reasonable, but you can get to know what amount of time works best for your child. You can do two rounds of this for a total of 20-30 minutes of daily reading.
- Take Breaks. Guide your child to take short movement breaks in between reading sessions to reset focus and get the blood flowing. You can do exercises such as jumping jacks, toe touches, stretching toward the ceiling, and dances like the floss, hokey pokey, or a GoNoodle short movement video on YouTube.
- Use a schedule. Create a simple digital or paper schedule for your child so they know what to expect. Try to make reading activities around the same time each day to create a routine.
Why It Works:
Shorter sessions help prevent frustration and burnout. Predictability and frequent breaks give kids the opportunity to release energy and be aware of expectations, making it easier for them to complete the task with renewed focus.
2. Use Multisensory Learning Techniques
Multisensory learning makes reading more interactive using sight, sound, touch, and movement, which can lead to better focus, comprehension, and retention of information.
Examples of Multisensory Activities:
- Act out a story to incorporate movement and deepen the understanding of the story.
- Use letter tiles to build words and physically move them around to arrange a silly sentence. It’s helpful to have your child make a few nouns, action words, and describing words (just a mental note for you) so the sentence works.
- Write letters in finger paint on a tray to practice letters and sounds. For a mess-free version, you can put paint inside a Ziploc bag, seal it, and tape it to the table with painter’s tape to have your child write the letters on the outside of the ziplock bag.
Why It Works:
Multisensory learning helps children with ADHD remember what they read by keeping them actively involved in the learning process.
3. Create a Distraction-Free Reading Environment
Children with ADHD can be easily distracted by their surroundings. A cluttered or noisy environment often makes it difficult to focus on reading. Creating an organized, minimal reading space can significantly improve their ability to stay on task.
Ideas for a Distraction-Free Space:
- Choose a quiet area with minimal visual clutter. Keep the area simple by including only a handful of items that make reading more comfortable.
- Use noise-canceling headphones or calming background music.
- Include a stress ball, a clicker, or a swing chair to busy the hands and incorporate movement for those who find it hard to be still.
Why It Works:
A distraction-free environment helps children feel less stimulated so they can concentrate on the task at hand, improving their focus and comprehension.
4. Incorporate Movement into Reading Activities
Many kids with ADHD have a high need for movement and find it difficult to sit still for long periods. Instead of fighting against their need to move, incorporate movement into reading practice to help them stay engaged.
Ideas for Movement-Based Reading Activities:
- Hopscotch Reading: Write words on the ground and have your child hop to each word as they read it aloud.
- Vocabulary movement games: Assign a movement to a new vocabulary word and have students perform that action when they hear the word when you are reading out loud to them.
- Letter Hunt: Hide letter cards around the house and have your child find and read them.
Why It Works:
Incorporating movement keeps kids with ADHD engaged and helps them channel their energy in a productive way.
5. Use Positive Reinforcement to Build Confidence
Children with ADHD often experience frustration and self-doubt when they struggle with reading. Positive reinforcement can help build their confidence and motivate them to keep learning.
Ways to Use Positive Reinforcement:
- Celebrate small successes: “You read that word so well!”
- Use a reward chart to track progress and celebrate milestones.
- Focus on effort rather than accuracy: “I love how hard you’re trying!”
Why It Works:
When children feel encouraged and recognized for their efforts, they’re more likely to stay motivated and continue improving their reading skills.
6. Focus on Phonics and Decoding Skills
Many children with ADHD benefit from structured phonics instruction, which teaches what sounds single and a combination of letters make. For example, the sound /k/ can be spelled as c, k, ck, or ch. Phonics gives kids the tools they need to decode unfamiliar words, which is essential for building reading fluency.
How to Practice Phonics at Home:
- Use decodable books. Decodable books are specifically written to help beginning readers practice phonics skills. To find decodable books, look for published series designed for early readers, like Bob Books, Heggerty Decodable Books, or My Decodable Readers. Select a book that aligns with the phonics patterns and sounds the child is currently learning in their reading instruction.
- Play phonics games like Word Family Bingo or Phonics Go Fish. The explanations for these games can be looked up online.
- Practice blending sounds to form words and break words into individual sounds. To blend sounds, instead of saying the /b/ sound and /l/ sound separately in the word blue when sounding out the word, run the sounds together – /bl/. To break words into individual sounds for the word cat, for instance, you would say the /c/ sound – pause – say the /a/ sound – pause – say the /t/ sound. Then, blend the sounds to say the whole word.
Why It Works:
Phonics helps children develop a systematic approach to reading, making it easier to decode new words and build fluency over time.
7. Make Reading Interactive and Engaging
Reading doesn’t have to be a passive activity. Making reading interactive helps keep children with ADHD focused and interested in the text.
Interactive Reading Ideas:
- Ask open-ended questions while reading: “Was there a time when you felt the same way as this character?”
- Use graphic organizers like story maps to help kids organize their thoughts. You can simply do an internet search for “story map template” and find one that works for your child.
- Encourage retelling: Have your child retell the story (or parts of the story) in their own words to reinforce comprehension. If your child finds a starting point helpful, you can start retelling the story and pause for them to finish or take turns.
Why It Works:
Interactive reading keeps kids actively engaged and improves comprehension by encouraging critical thinking.
8. Incorporate Technology and Reading Apps
Technology can be a powerful tool for helping kids with ADHD improve their reading skills. Many apps and programs are designed to make reading more interactive.
Recommended Reading Apps:
- Epic! – A digital library with thousands of books to choose from and interactive features.
- Learning Ally – An app that provides audiobooks with text-to-speech functionality.
- Reading Eggs – A phonics-based reading program with games and activities.
Why It Works:
Technology offers gamified learning experiences that offer an alternative way to read while helping kids with ADHD stay motivated.
9. Consider Online Reading Tutoring for Personalized Support
If your child is struggling despite your best efforts, online reading tutoring can provide personalized support tailored to their specific needs. Tutors trained in ADHD strategies can help your child improve their reading skills while keeping them engaged.
Benefits of Online Reading Tutoring:
- Personalized instruction based on your child’s unique learning style.
- Flexible scheduling that fits into your daily routine.
- Progress tracking to monitor improvements, keep you in the loop and celebrate milestones.
Why It Works:
One-on-one tutoring provides targeted support, helping kids build essential reading skills in a supportive, structured environment.
Conclusion
Helping a child with ADHD learn to read may require extra patience and creativity, but with the right strategies, progress is absolutely possible. By breaking reading into manageable chunks, incorporating movement, using positive reinforcement, and leveraging technology, you can create a supportive learning environment that sets your child up for reading success.
Remember, every child learns at their own pace. Celebrate your child’s progress, keep reading fun, and focus on building their confidence. With your support, your child will become a confident, capable reader who can thrive both in academics and beyond!
FAQs: Helping Kids with ADHD Learn to Read
Q: Can kids with ADHD learn to read as well as other children?
Absolutely! While children with ADHD may face unique challenges when learning to read, they are fully capable of becoming confident, skilled readers with the right strategies and support. It’s important to focus on their individual strengths, provide targeted reading instruction, and create an engaging learning environment that suits their needs.
Q: How can I help my child with ADHD stay focused during reading time?
Breaking reading sessions into short, manageable chunks is key. Use a timer to set a clear endpoint, and give your child frequent movement breaks. Create a distraction-free reading environment by minimizing background noise and visual clutter. Incorporating multisensory activities, such as tracing letters or using magnetic letters, can also help keep your child engaged and focused.
Q: Are there specific books that are better for kids with ADHD?
Yes! Choose books that align with your child’s reading level and interests to keep them engaged. Look for high-interest, low-difficulty books (often referred to as “hi-lo books”) that have simple language but exciting storylines. Additionally, decodable books (books that are written to help beginning readers) are great for building foundational skills. Graphic novels and interactive eBooks can also be great choices since they incorporate visuals to support the text.
Q: What if my child gets frustrated while reading?
Frustration is common, but it’s important to approach it with patience and positivity. Break tasks into smaller steps to make them more manageable and keep directions short and sweet. Celebrate small successes along the way. Use positive words to encourage effort rather than perfection, and if necessary, take a break and revisit the activity later. Helping your child view mistakes as opportunities to learn is also crucial.
Q: How can I tell if my child with ADHD might need a reading tutor?
If your child is consistently struggling with decoding, fluency, or comprehension despite your efforts, it may be time to consider additional support. Signs your child might benefit from a tutor include persistent frustration during reading, minimal progress, or difficulty applying phonics and comprehension skills. A trained tutor can provide one-on-one, personalized instruction tailored to your child’s unique needs.