School, Work, Everyday Life – Without Reading Comprehension, Things Get Complicated! Here’s How You Can Help

(picture is AI generated)

Do you know the feeling? You write an email, but the recipient doesn’t read it properly – and suddenly, everything is in chaos! You have to follow up, make corrections, and end up frustrated. No surprise there: if you don’t understand what you’re reading, everyday life, school, and work become much harder. And this problem often starts in childhood…

Reading comprehension – truly understanding what you read – is something we often associate only with language classes. But it’s about so much more. Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill we use every day, often without realizing it. Since we started communicating via text messages, WhatsApp, and emails, it has become an essential part of our daily lives.

The older students get, the more important their reading comprehension becomes. Knowledge is mainly transmitted through books, worksheets, and texts – and these materials also serve as study aids for exams. YouTube is no substitute. Watching videos takes longer, and you still have to take notes. So videos are a helpful addition, but not a replacement for the written word.

In primary and secondary school, reading comprehension isn’t taught just to get another grade. We know it’s fundamental – not just for academic success, but for life in general.

How can you support your child?

Since reading comprehension is so important, the question is: How can you support your child in developing this skill? You might think it’s very time-consuming. It can be – but it doesn’t have to be.

There are simple questions you can ask your child – without having read the book yourself. The easiest approach is to use the seven “W questions”:

• Who? Who is doing something? Who is involved?

• What? What is happening?

• When? When is it happening?

• Where? Where is it happening?

• Why? Why is it happening?

• How? How is it happening?

• What for? What is the purpose?

Just by looking at the book cover and reading the blurb, you’ll probably come up with even more questions. You can also ask your child whether they like the book or not. Let them tell you about it and ask follow-up questions. This shows your interest in the book and your child’s reading experience. I also like to ask: Would you recommend this book to me?

If you’re reading together, ask questions about the story: What did “Eva” just do? What happened? What might happen next?

By regularly asking questions and encouraging your child to talk about what they’ve read, you strengthen not only their reading comprehension but also their enjoyment of reading. Your child learns how to extract information from a text, connect ideas, and form their own opinion – skills they will need throughout their life.

Reading comprehension is a superpower your child will need in school, at work, and in everyday life. And with just a few simple questions, you can actively support this – without adding extra stress. Why not start today? Ask your child a “W question” and be surprised by what they have to say!