Why Reading Skills Are the Most Important Skill Children Can Have

Reading is the one skill that makes every other subject easier. Maths word problems, science textbooks, history essays; they all require a child to read and understand before they can even begin to answer.

Yet, according to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS 2021), conducted by the University of Pretoria, 81% of South African Grade 4 learners are struggling to read for comprehension at age 10. That’s a striking number.

As a parent or educator, knowing where your child stands with their reading skills (and what you can do to support them) can make a world of difference.

This post breaks down why reading skills matter so much, what gets in the way of developing them, and practical steps you can take to help your child become a more confident reader.

Why Are Reading Skills the Most Important Skill Children Can Develop?

Strong reading skills don’t just help a child get through English class. The benefits stretch far wider than most people realise.

Here are five evidence-backed reasons why reading sits at the top of the list.

1. Reading Underpins Every Other Subject

A child who can read fluently and understand what they’ve read has a significant advantage across all school subjects. Science, history, maths, basically every subject relies on the ability to read instructions, absorb information, and extract meaning from text.

When reading skills are weak, learning across the board is held back because the barrier isn’t the subject matter itself. It’s the language around it.

2. Vocabulary Growth Compounds Over Time

The more a child reads, the more words they encounter. The more words they know, the easier it becomes to read new texts, and the cycle continues.

Researchers refer to this as the “Matthew effect”: children who read well tend to read more, which builds their vocabulary faster, which makes them better readers still. The reverse is equally true. Children who struggle early on tend to fall further behind as the gap between them and their peers widens with each school year.

3. Reading Builds Critical Thinking and Comprehension

Reading is not a passive activity. When a child follows a story or processes information from a text, they’re actively making inferences, connecting ideas, and evaluating what they’re reading.

The National Reading Panel (NICHD, 2000) found that comprehension is “the essence of reading” and is essential not only to academic learning but also to lifelong learning.

Children who read regularly develop stronger reasoning skills, better memory, and a greater ability to focus.

4. Books Develop Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

When a child steps into the shoes of a character who looks, thinks, or lives differently from them, something valuable happens.

They begin to understand perspectives outside their own. Books like Wonder by R.J. Palacio or Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White don’t just tell a story. They teach children about compassion, friendship, and courage in ways that feel real and meaningful.

Reading builds emotional intelligence quietly, one page at a time.

5. Literacy Is a Gateway to Life Opportunities

UNESCO describes literacy as “a fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning.”

The ability to read well doesn’t just help children pass exams; it shapes their ability to navigate the world. From filling in a form to understanding a contract, to pursuing a career, strong reading skills open doors.

Children who develop solid reading skills early are better positioned to thrive academically, socially, and professionally.

Why Do Some Children Struggle to Develop Reading Skills?

Reading difficulties are more common than many parents realise, and they rarely have a single cause.

Some of the most frequent reasons children struggle to read include:

• Weak phonemic awareness: difficulty identifying and working with the individual sounds in words
• Limited phonics knowledge: not understanding how letters and sounds connect
• Dyslexia or other learning differences: which affect how the brain processes written language
• Limited exposure to books and language at home: children who aren’t read to regularly often start school with a smaller vocabulary
• Socioeconomic factors: lack of access to books, libraries, or online reading resources
• Vision or hearing difficulties: undiagnosed problems that make it hard to see or hear clearly
• Lack of reading confidence: once a child decides they “can’t read,” avoidance becomes a barrier in itself

Ways to Improve Reading Skills in Children

The good news is that reading skills can always be built with the right support and the right approach.

Here are 4 practical ways to help your child grow as a reader.

1. Read Aloud Together Daily

Reading aloud to your child (even once they’re old enough to read on their own) has a powerful effect on their language development and comprehension.

It exposes them to new vocabulary, models good reading fluency, and connects reading to a shared, enjoyable experience. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is all it takes.

Let your child choose the book sometimes; their buy-in matters.

2. Use a Structured Phonics Approach

Research from the National Reading Panel (NICHD, 2000) consistently shows that systematic phonics instruction significantly improves children’s ability to decode words, spell, and understand text.

If your child is in the early stages of learning to read, make sure their instruction includes clear, structured phonics work. This means learning how letters map to sounds, and practising blending those sounds into words.

3. Make Reading Part of Everyday Life

Reading doesn’t have to mean sitting quietly with a chapter book.

Road signs, recipes, cereal boxes, and menus; everyday text is everywhere.

• Point it out.
• Ask your child to read it aloud.
• Visit the library regularly and let them pick out books freely.

The more a child sees reading as a normal part of daily life rather than a school task, the more naturally it develops.

4. Help Your Child Fall in Love With Books

This one matters more than it might seem.

A child who loves reading will read more. And the more they read, the better they get.

Find the genres, topics, or characters that excite your child and start there. For teens, classics like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee offer rich stories that resonate deeply. For younger children, books like The BFG by Roald Dahl or Wonder by R.J. Palacio spark imagination and empathy.

Reading for pleasure is one of the most effective tools for building reading skills over time.

What About Extra Support?

Sometimes, children need more targeted help than what’s possible at home or in a busy classroom. That’s where professional tutoring can make a real difference.

At Tutor Doctor South Africa, we specialise in building reading confidence through personalised, one-on-one support. Our English tutoring, Afrikaans tutoring, and language tutoring services help children to read, write, speak, and communicate with greater confidence.

Every child deserves to feel capable when they open a book. If your child is struggling, we’d love to help.

Schedule a free consultation today.

Reading Skills Set the Foundation for Everything That Follows

Strong reading skills aren’t just about doing well in English. They shape how children learn across every subject, how they think, how they relate to others, and how they navigate life beyond school.

The earlier those skills are built, the greater the advantage, but it’s never too late to start.

If you’d like some inspiration for getting more books into your child’s hands, browse our reading recommendations below:

5 Classic Books for Teens
Top 5 Children’s Books That Teach Kindness & Empathy
Local Language Books