The reading homework is not challenging for my child. Advice?


It sounds like your child is ready to engage in more independent reading to maintain a good level of challenge. Not surprisingly, research shows that the more children read the better readers they become, with a broader vocabulary and deeper knowledge about people and the world. Studies indicate that, on average, children who read more than twenty minutes per day scored above the 90th percentile on standardized reading tests, while children who read fewer than ten minutes per day scored below the 75th percentile. To encourage more independent reading, build on your child’s passions and preferences. Studies show that when children are excited about a topic, they will keep reading. To find reading material that matches your child’s interests, children’s librarians and bookstore owners are precious allies, but there are online resources as well, including the Children’s Choice Booklists published each year by the International Reading Association. 

Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.