A Parent’s Guide to Building Strong Early Reading Skills
- Amy French
- Nov 17
- 3 min read
Reading is one of the most important skills your child will ever learn and the foundation begins much earlier than many parents realise. Long before children tackle storybooks or chapter books, they need strong phonics skills, sound awareness, and confidence. The good news? You can help build these skills at home with simple, engaging activities that support what your child learns in school.
In this guide, we’ll break down how reading develops in the Early Years, why CVC words are the perfect starting point, and how Angel Tutors can support your child’s progress with structured, personalised tutoring.
Why Early Reading Starts at Home
The Early Years are a crucial period for developing pre-reading and early reading skills. When children regularly see and hear words in their home environment, reading becomes familiar rather than intimidating.
At home, children benefit from:
A relaxed, comfortable learning environment
Time to practise at their own pace
More one-to-one attention
Repetition, which helps build memory and fluency
Consistent exposure, even just 10 minutes a day, can make a dramatic difference in confidence and understanding.
Understanding CVC Words: The Foundation of Early Reading
CVC words (consonant–vowel–consonant), such as cat, pen, sun, and dog, are the building blocks of phonics. They help children practise two essential decoding skills:
✔️ Blending
This is when children push sounds together:/d/ – /o/ – /g/ → dog
✔️ Segmenting
This is when children break a word into sounds to spell:cap → /c/ – /a/ – /p/
These skills are vital for all future reading and writing. Once children master CVC words, they are ready to decode longer and more complex words with greater ease.
Fun Ways to Build Reading Skills at Home
Young children learn best through play. Making reading hands-on and interactive boosts engagement and deepens understanding. Here are some simple activities that parents can do at home:
1. Use Objects for Real-Life Reading
Gather small items like a cup, pen, map, or hat. Ask your child to sound out each word and match it to the object.
2. Count Sounds with Cubes or Bears
Give your child three cubes or bears. Say a CVC word (e.g., sun) and let them push a cube forward for each sound. This helps with segmenting and phonemic awareness.
3. Magnetic Letter Word Building
Let your child build CVC words on the fridge or a metal tray. Swap one letter to form new words (dog → dig → big).
4. CVC Word Games
Play “I spy a CVC word…” around the house or create flashcards for quick daily practice.
5. Rhyme and Sound Play
Read nursery rhymes, point out beginning sounds, and let your child guess what sound a new word starts with.
These activities keep learning fun and help children form strong literacy foundations.
How Angel Tutors Supports Early Reading
At Angel Tutors, we specialise in helping children build confident early reading skills through tailored, engaging lessons delivered by British-trained tutors.
Our sessions include:
Letter sound recognition
CVC blending and segmenting
Reading simple sentences
High-frequency word practice
Phonics games and hands-on activities
Confidence-building praise and encouragement
Every session is personalised to your child’s level, learning style, and curriculum needs. We bring all resources, track progress, and ensure each lesson feels positive and enjoyable. When early reading is taught well, children feel proud, capable, and excited to learn, setting the tone for years of academic success.
Ready to Build Your Child’s Reading Confidence?
If you'd like expert Early Years reading support, our dedicated tutors in Dubai are here to help. We provide high-quality 1:1 phonics and early reading tuition that helps children gain:
✔️ Stronger decoding skills
✔️ Better concentration
✔️ Improved reading fluency
✔️ Increased confidence
✔️ A genuine love of learning
Get in touch today to book a session with Angel Tutors. Your child’s reading journey starts with the right support.
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