“They Can Read… They Just Don’t Want To”: What To Do When Reading Is Still a Struggle This Late in the School Year
Spring Break has come and gone.
The school year is starting to wind down. There are about two months left, and for many families, this is when things start to feel a little more urgent.
Progress reports are still coming home, and reading is still a concern.
And parents often say some version of the same thing:
“They can read… they just don’t like to.”
“It doesn’t come naturally to them.”
“They read the words, but I don’t think they understand it.”
“They’ve lost confidence.”
If that’s where you are, you’re not alone.
And more importantly, these are all valid concerns.
What’s Actually Going On?
When a child “can read” but still struggles, it’s usually not just one issue.
Reading is more complex than it seems. It involves:
Decoding (reading the words)
Fluency (reading smoothly)
Comprehension (understanding what was read)
Confidence (believing they can do it)
A child may be able to do one or two of these well, but still struggle overall.
For example, a child might:
Read words accurately but not understand the meaning
Read slowly and become frustrated
Avoid reading because it feels hard
Compare themselves to peers and lose confidence
By this point in the school year, what you’re often seeing is not just a skill gap… but a confidence gap.
“Do We Just Push Through Until Summer?”
This is the question a lot of parents are quietly asking.
The answer is: you don’t have to wait.
These last two months are actually a great time to:
Figure out what’s really going on
Put small supports in place
Plan intentionally for summer
Because summer can either:
Help close the gap
orMake the gap wider
What Are Your Options Right Now?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer, but here are the most common paths families consider.
1. Extra Support at Home
This can be helpful, especially if the struggle is mild.
Things like:
Reading together daily
Letting your child choose high-interest books
Keeping reading sessions short and positive
The goal here is reducing pressure and rebuilding confidence, not forcing long reading sessions.
2. Tutoring
Tutoring can be effective if:
It’s consistent
It’s targeted to your child’s specific needs
But not all tutoring is the same.
If a child has underlying reading difficulties (like dyslexia or comprehension challenges), general homework help may not be enough. They often need structured, evidence-based reading support.
3. Programs (like Sylvan Learning Center and others)
These can be a good fit for some families.
They often provide:
Structured learning environments
Regular sessions
Progress monitoring
However, it’s important to ask:
Is this individualized to my child?
Is it targeting the specific area of difficulty?
Does my child feel successful there?
4. Summer Reading Camps
This is where many families start to feel hopeful.
A strong reading camp can:
Build skills in a focused, short-term format
Rebuild confidence
Provide a more engaging, less pressured environment than school
For kids who are discouraged or avoiding reading, this can be a turning point.
When Should You Be More Concerned?
If you’re noticing:
Ongoing difficulty despite effort
Avoidance or frustration around reading
Trouble understanding what they read
A gap between your child and their peers
…it may be worth looking a little deeper.
Sometimes reading struggles are connected to:
Dyslexia
Language processing differences
Attention or executive functioning challenges
Getting clarity can make a big difference in choosing the right support.
It’s Not Too Late
This is the part parents need to hear most.
Even though the school year is almost over, it is not too late to make meaningful progress.
In fact, this is one of the best times to:
Step back and reassess
Take pressure off grades
Focus on skill-building and confidence
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
At Grounded Roots Family Development Center, we work with families who are in this exact spot.
We help identify what’s behind reading challenges and guide families toward the right supports—whether that’s targeted intervention, skill-building, or planning for summer.
Final Thought
If your child can read but avoids it, struggles with it, or doesn’t feel confident… that’s worth paying attention to.
Not because something is “wrong,” but because they may need support in a different way.
And the earlier that support is matched to their needs, the easier reading can become.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re trying to decide between tutoring, summer programs, or evaluation:
