The Reading Plateau: What to Do When Your Child Stops Making Progress

There's nothing more exciting than watching your child learn how to read. Readers know that books are the ultimate escape, full of adventures beyond any movie or TV show. Literacy isn't just a tool, but it's also a way of fostering imagination, which is why raising young readers is wonderful.

As with anything, though, too much of a good thing can sometimes inhibit progress. If it seems like your child has hit a wall when it comes to literacy, you're not alone. It's called a learning plateau, and it's all too common among children as they grow into new phases of reading comprehension.

The good news? There are ways to navigate this and get your child interested in reading again. We speak with Haley DeSousa, M.Ed., head of curriculum and instruction at The Haven Collection, to learn how.

What Is the Reading Plateau, and Why Does it Happen?

The technical term for a reading stalemate is a “phonics plateau.” It typically happens after a long mental sprint, which includes an advancement to higher reading levels. This slowdown can also occur when hitting one level of reading, only to be unable to cross the threshold to the next.

What's happening is more complex than simply being unable to progress to the next reading comprehension. Oftentimes, it's a matter of a shaky phonetic foundation. Other times, they may be strengthening what they've already learned and need time to apply their new skills.

“Children often demonstrate growth, followed by quieter periods. During a plateau, they may be practicing and strengthening skills they’ve already learned rather than picking up new ones,” says DeSousa.

“Young children are developing in several areas at once, including language, attention, social skills, and emotional regulation. Reading is just one piece of that puzzle. When a child’s energy is focused elsewhere, reading progress may appear to slow. This is especially common in the early elementary years, when expectations around reading shift.”

Red Flags During a Reading Plateau

While it's not typically cause for concern, there are some red flags parents should be aware of. If your child shows signs beyond general disinterest, there might be underlying issues. Some of these include:

• Frustration or Anxiety: If reading causes distress, it suggests that something about the reading is triggering their nervous system to react negatively. This might come down to a lack of a basic skill, a shaky foundation, or a developmental or behavioral issue.
• Memory Struggles: Failing to remember sentences they've read or details about a story can indicate a larger issue. This could also indicate a problem with the connection between deciphering words and understanding their meaning.
• Difficulty Spelling or Reading Aloud: This also underscores reading comprehension and the struggle to understand the material. Spelling issues indicate a phonetic issue, possibly rooted in core literacy skills that don't exist or need improvement.

It's essential to note that a true reading plateau is different from a child's inability to learn due to a learning disorder. If a child has ADHD, autism, or another disorder that affects how they understand the written word, a specialist is often required. Curricula intended for neurodivergent children are also helpful, along with reading exercises that cater to their skills, rather than forcing atypical learning.

How to Help Your Child Climb Over the Plateau

Many children have recovered from, and even outperformed, their halted progress once they hit a plateau. Remember: Reading plateaus indicate which skills require improvement. It's not a ceiling and is not where your child's progress will ultimately end. Effective reading requires building multiple layers of skill and goes hand in hand with writing, speaking, and phonetics. This is what makes it so challenging, but also rewarding.

If it helps, think of it this way: Reading comprehension begins with learning the alphabet. Then, you'll learn how to sound out certain syllables. After that, you'll learn to read words based on the letters and sounds you've memorized. By putting all of this together, you can read whole sentences, all of which are used to teach basic writing. However, to become proficient in all of it, you need a strong foundation on which to root the basics of reading.

Knowing this, it's understandable that parents want to know what they can do to nudge their children along. “The goal is to rebuild joy, not push progress. Parents can return to shared reading, follow the child’s interests, and shorten reading time so it feels manageable,” DeSousa explains.

“Sometimes stepping back without worry or pressure is exactly what allows children’s interest and confidence to return naturally. Remember that growth is not linear and progress will come with time. First and foremost, learning should be enjoyed!”

Simultaneously, working with your child's educator to pinpoint the most significant issues is also helpful. This might look like re-assessing your child's reading comprehension, determining which reading level they're struggling with, or going over the basics again.

How Can Parents Be Proactive About the Plateau?

When it comes to preventing the reading plateau before it begins, anticipation is key. If your child has a solid foundation, consider incorporating some creative ways to read. “Parents can help by keeping reading low-pressure and enjoyable. Letting children choose their own books, reread favorites, or engage with different kinds of print, such as picture books, signs, menus, or simple nonfiction, can make a big difference. Reading aloud together, even after a child can read independently, also helps maintain a positive connection to books,” says DeSousa.

Sometimes, a plateau can be born out of boredom. If your child shows disinterest in their current reading material, helping them explore other genres and types of reading material can help. It's best to avoid restricting them to one kind of reading, especially when they can build skills just as easily reading a graphic novel as an actual novel.

At its core, reading is a skill, which means it must be practiced. Regular comprehension practice and a little patience go a long way in encouragement.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Przemek Klos/Shutterstock.com