How to help a struggling reader who refuses homework

You've set the table, opened the book, and encouraged your child to start their reading homework, but almost immediately, the tears, sighs, or frustration begin. If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many parents of struggling readers face nightly homework battles. What looks like avoidance or defiance is often rooted in deeper frustration and fear of failure.

The good news? With understanding, structure, and a few practical strategies, you can transform reading time into something calmer, more productive, and eventually even enjoyable.

Why your child may refuse reading homework

Before jumping to solutions, it helps to understand what's really happening. When reading feels too hard, children often avoid tasks that make them feel "less smart." They fear making mistakes or being corrected, feel overwhelmed by text-heavy pages, and sometimes believe they can't succeed, so they stop trying altogether.

This isn't laziness. It's self-protection. When a child's confidence dips, they'll do anything to escape that uncomfortable feeling.

Step 1: Lower the emotional temperature

Before you focus on progress, focus on peace.

Take the pressure off by reframing your approach. Instead of saying "You have to read this," try inviting them with "Let's read together for just five minutes." Validate their feelings with simple acknowledgments such as, "I know reading feels hard right now". This helps your child feel seen and safe.

Most importantly, end on a success. Stop reading before frustration builds, even if it's just after a few sentences. The goal is creating positive associations, not achieving perfection.

Step 2: Make reading feel achievable

Sometimes children resist homework simply because it's too difficult.

Choose "just-right" books by using materials slightly below their independent reading level to build fluency and confidence. Break tasks into small chunks with a "read one page, then switch" approach, where you read one page and then they read the next. Try multi-sensory techniques like tracing words in sand or using magnetic letters to spell out tricky patterns.

These small wins add up over time, gradually rebuilding trust in their own ability.

Step 3: Shift from "homework time" to "connection time"

When reading is framed as a chore, resistance naturally grows. Transform it into a shared experience instead.

Read together by alternating pages or taking turns reading aloud. Talk about the story in ways that show genuine interest rather than testing comprehension. Let them choose what to read - graphic novels, sports magazines, or silly stories all count as reading.

Connection is often the key that unlocks cooperation.

Step 4: Recognize when it's more than homework

If reading consistently causes tears, frustration, or avoidance, it's a sign of underlying difficulty, not a bad attitude.

Ask yourself whether your child guesses at words instead of sounding them out, struggles to remember sight words, or avoids reading altogether. These are common signs of dyslexia or other reading differences. No amount of extra homework will fix the underlying problem, but specialized, evidence-based intervention can make a real difference.

Step 5: Get professional support

At Ravinia Reading Center, we help families break the cycle of frustration. Our speech-language pathologists use proven, evidence-based methods to identify what's holding your child back and teach reading skills step by step in a way that restores confidence rather than adding stress.

Many parents tell us that after just a few sessions, reading time at home feels noticeably lighter. That's the power of the right approach.

Take the next step

If homework battles have become the norm, it's time for a fresh start. You don't have to fight this alone. Book time with us and learn how personalized reading intervention can help your child and your family rediscover calm and confidence around reading.