My Child Knows ABC but Can't Read: Next Steps

Find out which skill is familiar

Singing the alphabet, recognising a letter and reading a word are different activities. Knowing letter names does not by itself show how to blend sounds. Try one letter your child knows and ask about its sound, without turning the moment into a test.

If they only know the name, model the sound in a word. Say the first sound in “sun”, then the whole word. First Sounds and Letter Sounds offer starting points.

Practise joining sounds aloud

Begin without printed words if that helps. Say the sounds in “map” close together, then say “map”. Let your child listen or join in. Choose a familiar word with sounds you can model clearly.

Avoid adding an extra “uh” after each consonant. Keep a sound such as p short. Stretch a sound such as m gently into the next sound. Try only a few examples before returning to conversation or play.

Add the letters your child knows

Write a short word such as “sat” using familiar letter sounds. Point to each letter, say its sound and slide your finger beneath the whole word as you blend. Say the word normally afterwards and talk about its meaning.

If your child cannot join the sounds yet, do it together. Repeating the same helpful example is fine. Blending Sounds into Words provides more practice. Choose easier words before adding unfamiliar spellings.

Keep reading enjoyable

Continue reading stories aloud while your child learns to read words. Let them talk about pictures and choose favourites. Independent decoding does not need to carry the whole story-time experience.

Notice a small change, such as hearing the first sound or blending with less help. Avoid comparisons with siblings or classmates, and do not set a deadline for finishing a stage.

If you remain concerned, share specific examples with your child's teacher or another suitable education professional. A conversation about what your child can do and where they need support is more useful than a label based on one difficult afternoon.