If you’ve noticed your child struggling to keep up with their peers in reading, you’re not alone. Many parents recognize the frustration and disappointment that comes with watching their child face challenges in this critical skill. But what if the traditional approach to reading instruction is only part of the solution? Research reveals that every child’s brain is wired to learn and adapt, given the right environment and support.
Did you know that reading skills can be developed and improved? Neuroplasticity offers hope for struggling readers. Learn how you can support your child's reading journey.
The Role of Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the key to understanding how reading skills can be developed and improved. Through targeted practice, repetition, and the right instructional strategies, the brain can rewire and strengthen the connections necessary for proficient reading. This concept challenges traditional views that reading abilities are fixed or determined by innate intelligence.
Moreover, neuroplasticity highlights the importance of early intervention and support. The earlier the intervention, the more malleable the brain is, and the easier it is to make significant improvements in reading skills.
The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections is the basis for learning and memory – Dr. Carla Shatz, Neuroscientist
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Empowering Parents and Children
Parents are not just observers in their child’s educational journey; they are active participants and the most significant influencers. By understanding the principles of neuroplasticity and the developable nature of reading skills, parents can provide the necessary support and environment for their child to thrive.
This includes creating a nurturing and encouraging atmosphere, engaging in reading activities together, and advocating for appropriate instructional strategies and support in educational settings. Empowered parents can make a profound difference in their child’s reading development and overall academic success.
Key takeaways
- Reading Skills: Developable through targeted practice
- Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to rewire and adapt
- Parent Empowerment: You are your child's most powerful teacher
Looking Ahead: Actionable Steps
For parents seeking to support their child’s reading development, several actionable steps can be taken. Firstly, embracing the concept of neuroplasticity and the potential for change is crucial. Secondly, working closely with educators to ensure the child receives tailored support and instruction is vital. Lastly, maintaining open communication and a collaborative approach between home and school fosters a consistent and supportive learning environment.
Additionally, parents can explore various resources and programs designed to enhance reading skills, keeping in mind the importance of a multi-system approach that addresses the child’s unique needs and learning style.
Parents are the child’s first and most influential teachers, and their role in supporting reading development cannot be overstated – Laura Lurns, Learning Success
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
The journey to unlocking reading potential is not just about the child; it’s about the collective effort of parents, educators, and the child themselves. By recognizing the developable nature of reading skills, embracing neuroplasticity, and taking proactive steps, we can empower the next generation of readers and learners. The Learning Success All Access Program offers a comprehensive approach to supporting reading development, with a free trial that includes a personalized Action Plan, which you keep even if you decide it’s not the right fit for your family.
See what All Access gives your child
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You describe what you see at home. We turn it into a plan you start this week.
- Answer 5 short questionnaires about what you already notice, 30–45 minutes at your own kitchen table
- Your child sits no test and gets no score: nothing to schedule, nothing for them to dread
- You do the answering, the AI does the writing, and a person reviews it before it reaches you
- Access all 40+ courses instantly: reading, math, focus, processing and more, with new ones added regularly
Why we use AI, plainly: it writes from a knowledge base our team maintains and audits. We work through it line by line and pull anything the evidence stops supporting. The roadmap you get on Tuesday reflects what we corrected on Monday, and a human still reads it before you do.
Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.
Your answers stay yours. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not hand identifiable assessment data to outside AI companies to train their models.
A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.
References
- Shatz, C. J. (1992). The developing brain. Scientific American, 267(3), 60-67.
- Lurns, L. (2023). The Learning Success Approach. Learning Success Publications.
