Expert tips and guides to help you teach your child to read
Most reading apps for 2nd graders are dressed-up guessing games. I tested 6 of the most popular ones against actual reading science — here's what I found, what I'd skip, and what I'm using with my own kids.
Read More →
Both apps promise to teach your kid to read, but one leans harder on phonics science and the other leans on flashy gamification. Here's my unfiltered breakdown of Teach Your Monster to Read vs Reading Eggs — what works, what doesn't, and what's still missing from both.
Read More →
If your 5-year-old can't read yet, you're not a failure — but you don't have time to waste. Here's the exact step-by-step plan I use with my own kids, grounded in reading science and zero guessing.
Read More →
Most reading apps for kindergartners are glorified guessing games. Here's how to tell the difference, what the science actually says about screen-based phonics instruction, and the one app I trust with my own kids in 2026.
Read More →
Both ABCmouse and Reading Eggs claim to teach your preschooler to read. But do they actually deliver systematic phonics — or just colorful distractions? Here's my honest breakdown after testing both with my own kids.
Read More →
Most phonics apps for toddlers are glorified cartoons with a letter slapped on top. I tested 5 of the most popular ones with my own kids and ranked them by what actually matters: systematic phonics instruction, not flashy animations. Here's what I found.
Read More →
Reading Eggs is fine for typical readers, but if your kid has dyslexia, it's the wrong tool. Here are 7 reading eggs alternatives that use structured, Orton-Gillingham-based phonics — the only approach proven to work for struggling readers.
Read More →
Is your 4-year-old ready to start reading? This free reading readiness checklist covers every pre-reading skill that matters — phonological awareness, letter knowledge, print concepts, and more — with clear action steps if your child isn't there yet.
Read More →
Your kindergartner isn't reading and you're panicking. Good — that urgency is the right instinct. Here's the exact 6-week catch-up plan I've used with my own kids, broken into daily 15-minute sessions that actually move the needle.
Read More →
If your kindergartner isn't reading yet, you're probably hearing 'don't worry, they'll catch up.' Here's what the research actually says — and the exact steps you should take right now before the window closes.
Read More →
Most 4-year-olds shouldn't be reading yet — but they absolutely should be building specific pre-reading skills. Here's how to tell if your child is on track, what the real warning signs look like, and what to do right now if they're not.
Read More →
Both HOMER and ABCmouse promise to teach your kid to read. One leans toward personalized phonics pathways, the other is a massive content buffet. But here's what neither app tells you — and what actually matters for early reading.
Read More →