Reading Comprehension Strategies for Kids

Reading isn't just about saying the words; it's about understanding them. Some children read fluently but struggle to explain what happened in a story. The good news is that comprehension can be taught. These strategies help children think about what they read, before, during and after reading.

What is reading comprehension?

Comprehension means understanding and thinking about a text: who the characters are, what happened, why it happened, how characters felt and what it all means. It depends on vocabulary, background knowledge, attention and active thinking.

Before reading

1. Look at the cover and title. "What do you think this story will be about?"
2. Picture walk. Flip through the pictures and talk about what might happen.
3. Connect to experience. "Have you ever been to the beach? What was it like?"
4. Set a purpose. "Let's find out why the dog ran away."

During reading

1. Pause and predict. "What do you think will happen next?"
2. Ask questions. "Why do you think she did that?"
3. Visualise. "Close your eyes and imagine the castle. What do you see?"
4. Check understanding. "What just happened?"
5. Talk about new words. Use the pictures and the sentence to guess the meaning.
6. Make connections. "This reminds me of when…"

After reading

1. Retell. Tell the story in order: beginning, middle and end. Puppets make this fun; see puppet making.
2. Summarise. "Tell me the story in three sentences."
3. Talk about characters. "How did he feel at the start? At the end? Why did he change?"
4. Give opinions. "What was your favorite part? Why?"
5. Draw it. Draw a favorite scene or a comic strip of the story.

Question types

Mix these up:

• Right there: answers are in the text. "What color was the bike?"
• Think and search: answers need putting together from different parts.
• Author and me: combine the text with your own ideas. "Why do you think he was nervous?"
• On my own: use your own experience. "What would you have done?"

Practice resources

• Reading comprehension worksheets: our reading comprehension sheets have short original passages with questions, organised by grade.
• Sequencing: cut up pictures from a story and put them in order.
• Story maps: draw the setting, characters, problem and solution.

Building vocabulary

Children understand more when they know more words:

• Read aloud books above their reading level.
• Talk about interesting words.
• Use new words in conversation.
• Play word games and describe things in detail. Our adjectives worksheets are good for describing words.

Building background knowledge

Children understand texts better when they know about the topic. Visits, documentaries, nonfiction books and conversations all build knowledge that helps reading.

Comprehension by age

Ages 4–5: talk about pictures, predict and retell simple stories.

Ages 6–7: retell in order, answer who/what/where questions and talk about characters' feelings.

Ages 8–9: summarise, infer, compare characters and discuss themes.

Ages 10+: analyse author's purpose, compare books and support opinions with evidence from the text.

Signs a child is struggling

• They can read the words but can't say what happened.
• They read very slowly and lose track of meaning.
• They avoid reading or get frustrated.

If you're concerned, speak to your child's teacher.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Turning every story into a quiz. Keep conversations natural.
• Only asking "right there" questions. Ask "why" and "how" questions too.
• Stopping read-alouds when children can read alone. Reading aloud builds vocabulary and comprehension.

Frequently asked questions

How can I help my child understand what they read?

Talk before, during and after reading: predict, ask questions and retell.

My child reads well but doesn't understand. Why?

They may be focusing on decoding. Read aloud together, slow down, and stop to talk about what's happening.

How do I build vocabulary?

Read widely, talk about new words and use them in conversation.

See also: how to teach reading at home.

Question starters to use at home

Print or write these on cards and pull one out during story time:

• What happened at the beginning?
• Who is your favorite character? Why?
• How do you think they feel right now?
• What do you think will happen next?
• Why did that character make that choice?
• What would you have done?
• What was the problem in the story? How was it solved?
• Does this remind you of anything?
• What new word did you learn?
• What was the most important part?

How often should we talk about books?

Every day if you can, but keep it natural. One or two questions is plenty. Reading should stay enjoyable.

Are nonfiction books good for comprehension?

Yes. Nonfiction builds knowledge and teaches children to find information, use headings and understand diagrams.

How can I help a child who reads too fast?

Encourage them to pause at the end of each page and tell you what happened. Slowing down usually improves understanding.