Common Reading Struggles in Early Primary: How Phonics Can Help

The early primary years (Primary 1 to 3) are when children are expected to make the leap from learning to read to reading to learn. 

But for many parents, this is also when they start noticing their child struggling. They may hesitate over simple words, spell words inconsistently, or even try to avoid reading altogether.

These challenges are common. Often, the issue lies in missing building blocks: phonics, or the essential sound–letter connections that form the foundation of reading.

Phonics is a proven, structured approach that helps children “decode” words by recognising patterns between sounds and letters. For children in primary school who have issues with reading, learning or relearning phonics can help rebuild their confidence, improve fluency, and spark a renewed enjoyment of reading.

Common Reading Struggles in Early Primary

Parents may notice that your child can speak fluently and recognise familiar words, yet still struggles when it comes to independent reading.

Some common signs of possible reading struggles may include:

• Difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words. Instead of decoding words letter by letter, your child may try guessing the pronunciation based on pictures or context.
  
  
• Poor spelling. English spelling rules can be tricky and inconsistent. Without a clear understanding of how sounds connect to letters, your child may easily mix up words like ship and sheep.
  
  
• Low reading fluency. When your child reads aloud, they may sound slow and lack confidence. You probably hear them hesitating over words or stopping and starting frequently. This difficulty with reading can make it harder for the child to focus on the meaning of what they’re reading.
  
  
• Skipping or misreading words. When a child struggles to decode words accurately, they may misread certain words or choose to skip words they don’t know out of fear of making mistakes.
  
  
• Lack of confidence. Children who find reading difficult often avoid reading aloud, especially in front of others, which can further slow their progress.

Often, reading struggles like these stem from gaps or limited exposure to phonics in English. That's how phonics-based literacy classes can help. In these classes, trained educators teach children how to decode and blend sounds systematically. With consistent support and practice, even children who’ve fallen behind can catch up and become more confident, independent readers.

How Phonics Can Help Your Child Become a Confident Reader

Phonics goes beyond just memorising letter sounds. It also lets children understand how those sounds come together to form words. 

In phonics, sounds (phonemes) in the English language are linked with letters or groups of letters, which are known as graphemes.

For instance, the /f/ or “fuh” sound in English can be spelt in various ways, such as “f” in fish, “ff” in coffee, “ph” in phone, or “gh” in laugh. When children understand these letter-sound relationships, they can apply this knowledge to unfamiliar words, allowing them to read more fluently and confidently.

A well-structured phonics education gives children the practical skills they need to decode unfamiliar words, recognise spelling patterns, and read with confidence:

1. Builds Word Decoding Skills

Phonics teaches children to break words into smaller sound chunks. For instance, children will be encouraged to sound out the word sh–ee–p instead of trying to guess how it would be pronounced. 

This step-by-step process enables them to read unfamiliar words independently. Over time, decoding becomes automatic for a child, freeing up brainpower for understanding the text.

2. Strengthens Spelling Abilities 

When children understand sound–letter relationships through phonics, they can apply that knowledge to written English. 

For example, knowing that “ph” makes an /f/ sound helps them spell words like phone or elephant correctly. Through consistent practice, spelling becomes less about memorisation and more about logic.

3. Boosts Comprehension

Once children no longer struggle to decode every word, they can focus on the meaning of the text. Rather than getting stuck on pronunciation and flow, they can pay attention to the story. This shift transforms reading from a burdensome task into a source of enjoyment and understanding.

4. Improves Fluency

A strong phonics foundation helps children recognise word patterns quickly, such as light, night, sight. As these patterns become familiar, children learn to decode unfamiliar words faster, and their reading speeds up naturally.

5. Builds Confidence

Every time a child decodes a new word successfully, it reinforces a sense of accomplishment. Over time, you may see even reluctant readers starting to pick up books on their own. 

The best phonics classes in Singapore nurture this self-belief through fun, interactive learning methods and celebrating small wins that motivate children to keep improving.

What Parents Can Do at Home: Supporting Confident Reading Through a Phonics Approach

Children learn best when learning feels natural and fun. By turning everyday moments into fun literacy activities, parents can effectively weave phonics principles into their child’s routine. 

1. Read Aloud Together

Even after your child learns to read independently, shared reading time helps reinforce phonics naturally. 

When you come across unfamiliar words, give your child examples of how to sound them out loud. For example, teach them how to break sunset into sun + set, with emphasis on the first syllable. You can also take this time to talk about sounds, patterns, and meanings of different words. Reading together makes learning feel warm and connected, and not like homework.

2. Play Phonics-Based Games

Phonics doesn’t have to be technical and formulaic. Make learning fun with rhyming games (“What rhymes with shoe?”), sound blending challenges (“Can you guess the word when I say /d/–/o/–/g/?”).

You can also play “word detective” hunts around the house. Do this by having your child find objects that start or end with the same sound, not the same first letter. with certain sounds. These playful activities build decoding and listening skills without the need for worksheets or screens.

3. Encourage Your Child to Sound Out Tricky Words

When your child gets stuck in their reading, resist the urge to jump in with the answer. 

Instead, guide them towards finding the right solution, step by step. Ask questions like “What sound does this letter make?” or “Can you blend those sounds together?” By figuring out the answer themselves, children are more likely to absorb and retain the lesson. Over time, they’ll gain the confidence to decode new words on their own. 

4. Praise Progress, Not Perfection

For a child who struggles to read, improvement takes patience. Celebrate small wins,  like when your child recognises a new pattern or tries to sound out a tough word. 

Positive reinforcement in learning is known to boost children’s self-esteem, memory,  and help children stay motivated. With the right support, you can help your child see reading as something they can confidently do, and not something to fear.

How I Can Read (ICR) Supports English Literacy Through Enrichment Classes

At ICR, we recognise the importance of phonics as one of the most effective ways to build reading confidence in Singaporean children. 

While phonics forms the foundation of early reading instruction, ICR’s comprehensive reading programmes for primary school children also go beyond phonics to nurture well-rounded, confident readers. 

Our curriculum also focuses on reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills, all of which are essential to mould children into confident readers and communicators.

ICR’s reading programme: 

• Created by educational psychologists with 15 years of research and fieldwork experience.
• Certified by the Education Alliance Finland for its pedagogically sound and high standards of curriculum and methodology.
• Recognised in the US, I Can Read has received the prestigious American-based Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Tier 4 accreditation. 
• Successfully taught more than 300,000 students over 20 years. 
• Small class sizes to ensure every student receives personalised guidance and attention.

Every Child Deserves to Read with Confidence

Early reading struggles are common but they don't have to define your child's future. With the right support, encouragement, and exposure to proven phonics methods, children can build confidence, catch up quickly, and discover the joy of reading.

If you’ve noticed your primary school child finding reading challenging, don’t wait. Getting early help from structured, engaging phonics classes in Singapore can make all the difference for their confidence.

Book a free reading assessment today and find out how our phonics-based approach can help your child thrive.