I talked to Dana, mother of six year old Ella, who is learning to read. She gave me a lot of insight into what kind of hardships, challenges and joys her daughter is facing.
How old is Ella and in what kind of phase of learning to read would you place her right now?
Ella is six years old and attends the first grade of a primary school. She knows the individual letters and can write down words if you spell them individually for her. She can also sound out shorter words. Longer, more complicated words and full sentences are still too challenging.
What motivates Ella to read?
She loves books with a lot of pictures. When she can kind of see where the story is going, she is a lot more confident to try sounding out the words. Especially if the story is fun. She loves the Amelia Bedelia books and is obsessed with everything about animals right now.
What are the biggest challenges you are facing with a beginner learner right now?
Well, obviously it is patience. She gets frustrated easily if she cannot figure out a word immediately. She switches around letters like “b” and “d” a lot. It really depends on the way the book is designed.
How important are illustrations in the books Ella reads?
Oh very important! The pictures help immensely with comprehension even if she doesn’t understand all the words. Sometimes she “reads” the picture and can guess the word.
Do you look for specific design parameters when buying new books?
Honestly no. I don´t specifically look for something but I can definitely see that some books are easier for her than others. Really small letters are challenging or pages where the text disappears into an illustration.
Do you as a parent have any wishes for designers that work on children’s books?
Yes, I want to invest more in books that truly support her progress. Filled with fun adventures and illustrations that support what we are reading without overpowering it.
What does your child learning to read mean to you personally?
It is a big step toward her independence. I still get surprised when she suddenly starts reading random word on our walks like for example the STOP sign. I just want to keep encouraging her this way and I think reading is so important for her future so I am happy that she makes it easy for me.
