Skip the tutor and do this first.

Before You Hire a Tutor: 3 Simple Changes That Could Transform Your Child’s Reading

It’s conference week around here and I’ve heard more than one friend bring up the possible need to find a tutor for their 5-10 year old kiddo.

As a teacher, I’ve seen countless parents rush to hire tutors the moment their elementary school student starts struggling with reading. I get it—when you see your child falling behind, every instinct tells you to act fast. BUT before you invest in expensive tutoring sessions, I want you to consider some things that might surprise you and the BEST part is that the the solution is already within your reach.

IF your child has previously been reading at or close to grade level, there’s a good chance their current struggles aren’t about needing more academic instruction. What they typically need is simpler and doesn’t require outside help.

After years in the classroom and raising my own kids I’ve realized that when a previously successful reader starts struggling (my own kids included), it’s often not about phonics gaps or comprehension strategies. It boils down to three fundamental factors that directly impact a child’s ability to focus, learn, and retain information. Before you pick up the phone to call a tutor, I invite you to make these three changes for just two months. Just TWO MONTHS. You will be amazed at what happens, not to mention the money and time you will save…. and I you can’t give me two months, I’ll settle for two weeks, because I’m that sure these three changes will create a noticeable difference at home.

1. Make Sleep Your Non-Negotiable Priority

Let’s start with the foundation of all learning: sleep. Any teacher can spot a tired student from across the classroom—they’re the ones struggling to focus during story time, forgetting sight words they knew yesterday, and feeling overwhelmed by tasks that should feel manageable.

Elementary-aged children need 9-12 hours of sleep per night. Not 8 hours. Not “they’ll be fine with 7.” Nine to twelve hours of quality sleep…and to further complicate things, it depends on the kid. I have none kid who needs substantially more sleep than the other two. Neither of us love this fact, but when we accept it, behavior improves, attendance improves and life is just smoother sailing.

When children are sleep-deprived, their brains literally can’t consolidate the information they learned during the day. Reading becomes harder because their working memory, attention span, and emotional regulation are all compromised.

Start tonight: work backward from when your child needs to wake up and establish a bedtime that allows for adequate sleep. Yes, this might mean saying no to some evening activities or adjusting family schedules. But think of sleep as the most important “academic intervention” you can provide.

2. Hit the Reset Button on Screen Time

I know this one might sting a little, but hear me out. I’m not anti-technology, and I’m not suggesting your family throw all devices in a drawer forever. What I am suggesting is a temporary reset to help your child’s brain remember what it feels like to be bored, to seek out books for entertainment, and to engage with the world without constant digital stimulation.

Consider pausing weekday screen time for video games and individual iPad use for the next one to two months. Instead, try gathering for a family show after dinner—something you all enjoy together. This isn’t punishment; it’s a reset. Frame it positively: “We’re going to try something different for a while to see how it feels.”

Why does this matter for reading? Constant screen exposure can make the slower pace of reading feel frustrating by comparison. Books can’t compete with the instant gratification and rapid stimulation of digital entertainment. By creating some space away from screens, you’re helping your child’s brain readjust to finding joy in quieter, slower activities—like getting lost in a good book. I cannot tell you how many times I've weathered the looong “I’ bored and there’s NOTHING to do!” tantrum only to find them soon after playing with the next door neighbor for the next four hours or creating a fort out of a box from our last Amazon splurge.

3. Make Reading Enjoyable (Not Another Chore)

Here’s the truth every parent needs to hear: to get better at reading, your child needs to read more. Just like soccer, piano, or any other skill, improvement comes through practice. But here’s the key—it needs to be enjoyable practice, not forced drudgery.  The research on starting new habits focuses on making them sustainable and ENJOYABLE.

If reading feels like punishment or pressure, your child’s brain will resist it. Instead, make it the highlight of their day.

Here’s how:

Start where your child is: If they’re reluctant readers, begin by reading TO them. Snuggle up in your bed, their bed, or on the couch—whatever feels special and cozy. Let them experience the joy of stories without the pressure of decoding every word.  To your child, the act of reading will shift from something they struggle with to quality time with a person they love most… Want to sweeten the deal? Go spend $20 on the softest blanket you can find at Target and call it the reading blanket. Kids love this kind of thing.

Get creative with timing: Time is often our biggest constraint, but reading opportunities are everywhere. Bring books in the car on the way to baseball practice and read together while parked. Pack a book when you’re sitting at a sibling’s practice or waiting at the dentist office. Turning waiting time into reading time has been a game changer for us.

Follow their interests: Let them choose books about dinosaurs, princesses, superheroes—whatever captures their imagination. A child reading “easy” books about topics they love will improve faster than a child struggling through “grade-appropriate” books they find boring.

Make it routine, not rushed:  Aim for daily reading time, ideally 30 minutes….but even 15 minutes will make a difference. Consistency matters more than duration. For my youngest, reading before bed is the sweet spot. He’s not sacrificing time with family, play time with friends or the countless other things he’d rather do. But when the house quiets down and teeth are brushed and the next activity is bed, he’s motivated to read with me and truly enjoys it. Now that he’s more independent, I’ll often grab my own book (not my phone) and read next to him.

Here’s Why Tutors Can Wait (for now)….

These three changes address the root causes of many reading struggles: exhausted brains, overstimulated attention systems, and negative associations with reading. When you prioritize sleep, reduce digital competition, and make reading genuinely enjoyable, you’re creating optimal conditions for learning.

A tutor can’t fix a sleep-deprived child’s attention problems. A tutor can’t compete with the instant gratification your child’s brain has become accustomed to from screens. And a tutor definitely can’t force your child to love reading.

But YOU can address all of these things, starting today.

Your HOMEWORK:

You don’t have to believe me, but I’m asking you to TRUST me. Go out on a limb and make these three things your most important priorities for the next 4-8 weeks. Prioritize sleep, reset screen habits and making reading a favorite part of your child’s day. If you don’t see improvement in your child’s reading confidence, focus, and enjoyment after a month or two, then absolutely explore your tutoring options.

Rest assured that a tutor will still be there in two months if you need them. But first, give your child’s natural capacity to learn and grow the support it needs to shine.