{"id":1704,"date":"2026-08-14T08:41:07","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T08:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/?p=1704"},"modified":"2026-08-14T08:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T08:41:07","slug":"decoding-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/","title":{"rendered":"Decoding Words: How to Help Your Child Read a New Word"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\/* mxchat-css *\/\n\/* MxChat \u2014 Fullwidth Theme Reset *\/\r\n\/* Generic WordPress themes *\/\r\n.entry-content-wrap,\r\n.entry-content,\r\n.post-inner .entry-content,\r\n.container.site-content,\r\narticle .entry-content,\r\n.content-area .site-main,\r\n.single-content .entry-content,\r\n.type-post .entry-content,\r\n.type-page .entry-content,\r\n.page .entry-content,\r\n.single .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Outer wrappers that themes use to add spacing *\/\r\n.site-main > article,\r\n.content-area,\r\n.site-content,\r\n#content,\r\n#primary,\r\n.hentry,\r\n.post,\r\n.page .post,\r\n.single .post {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    margin-left: 0 !important;\r\n    margin-right: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Astra *\/\r\n.ast-container .entry-content,\r\n.site-content .ast-container,\r\n.ast-separate-container .ast-article-single,\r\n.ast-separate-container .ast-article-post,\r\n.ast-separate-container .ast-article-page {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    margin: 0 auto !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n    background: transparent !important;\r\n}\r\n.ast-separate-container .entry-content {\r\n    margin: 0 !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* GeneratePress *\/\r\n.inside-article .entry-content,\r\n.generate-columns-container,\r\n.inside-article {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Kadence *\/\r\n.kb-row-layout-wrap,\r\n.entry-content-wrap,\r\n.content-container.site-container {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n.content-style-unboxed .entry:not(.loop-entry),\r\n.content-style-boxed .entry:not(.loop-entry) {\r\n    box-shadow: none !important;\r\n    border-radius: 0 !important;\r\n    margin: 0 !important;\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* OceanWP *\/\r\n.ocean-content .entry,\r\n#content-wrap .container {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Neve *\/\r\n.nv-single-post-wrap .entry-content,\r\n.nv-content-wrap .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Hello Elementor \/ Elementor default theme *\/\r\n.site-main .elementor-section-wrap,\r\n.elementor-page .page-content .entry-content,\r\n.elementor-default .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Bricks Builder *\/\r\n.brxe-post-content .entry-content,\r\n.bricks-layout-wrapper .entry-content,\r\n.brxe-container .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Divi *\/\r\n.et_pb_post .entry-content,\r\n#main-content .container .entry-content,\r\n.et_full_width_page .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Beaver Builder *\/\r\n.fl-post-content .entry-content,\r\n.fl-content-full .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Blocksy *\/\r\n.entry-content[data-source],\r\n.site-main > article > .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* Spectra \/ starter templates *\/\r\n.uagb-body-wrapper .entry-content,\r\n.starter-template-content .entry-content {\r\n    padding: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* WordPress Block Themes (Twenty Twenty-Two \u2192 Twenty Twenty-Five)\r\n   These use theme.json layout constraints rather than classic .entry-content,\r\n   so the selectors above do not apply \u2014 neutralize them here. *\/\r\n.wp-site-blocks,\r\n.wp-block-post-content,\r\n.wp-block-group.has-global-padding,\r\n.has-global-padding {\r\n    padding-left: 0 !important;\r\n    padding-right: 0 !important;\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n}\r\n.is-layout-constrained > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)),\r\n.wp-block-post-content > :where(:not(.alignleft):not(.alignright):not(.alignfull)) {\r\n    max-width: 100% !important;\r\n    margin-left: 0 !important;\r\n    margin-right: 0 !important;\r\n}\r\n\/* MxChat \u2014 CSS Isolation & Responsive Overrides *\/\r\n.mxg-wrapper { box-sizing: border-box; }\r\n.mxg-wrapper *, .mxg-wrapper *::before, .mxg-wrapper *::after { box-sizing: inherit; }\r\n.mxg-wrapper img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; }\r\n.mxg-wrapper section { clear: both; }\r\n.mxg-row { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; }\r\n.mxg-col { min-width: 0; }\r\n.mxg-grid { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; }\r\n.mxg-container { box-sizing: border-box; width: 100%; }\r\n\r\n@media (max-width: 768px) {\r\n    .mxg-row { flex-direction: column !important; gap: 24px !important; }\r\n    .mxg-col { flex: 1 1 100% !important; width: 100% !important; max-width: 100% !important; }\r\n    .mxg-hero-heading { font-size: 2.2rem !important; }\r\n    .mxg-section-heading { font-size: 1.6rem !important; }\r\n    .mxg-container { padding-left: 20px !important; padding-right: 20px !important; }\r\n    .mxg-card { flex: 1 1 100% !important; }\r\n    .mxg-grid { gap: 16px !important; }\r\n}\r\n@media (max-width: 480px) {\r\n    .mxg-hero-heading { font-size: 1.75rem !important; }\r\n    .mxg-section-heading { font-size: 1.35rem !important; }\r\n    .mxg-container { padding-left: 16px !important; padding-right: 16px !important; }\r\n}\r\n\n\/* MxChat \u2014 AI Generated Styles *\/\n.mxg-container {\n    max-width: 800px;\n    margin: 0 auto;\n    padding: 2rem 1.5rem 3rem;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n  }\n  .mxg-hero-heading {\n    font-size: 2.5rem;\n    font-weight: 800;\n    line-height: 1.25;\n    margin: 0 0 0.75rem;\n    color: #1a1a1a;\n  }\n  .mxg-hero-subheading {\n    font-size: 1.2rem;\n    line-height: 1.7;\n    color: #4a4a4a;\n    margin: 0 0 1rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-meta {\n    font-size: 0.875rem;\n    color: #888;\n    margin: 0 0 2rem;\n    letter-spacing: 0.02em;\n  }\n  .mxg-img {\n    width: 100%;\n    height: auto;\n    border-radius: 12px;\n    display: block;\n    margin: 2rem 0;\n  }\n  .mxg-section-heading {\n    font-size: 1.75rem;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    line-height: 1.3;\n    margin: 2.5rem 0 1rem;\n    color: #1a1a1a;\n  }\n  .mxg-subheading {\n    font-size: 1.2rem;\n    font-weight: 600;\n    line-height: 1.4;\n    margin: 1.75rem 0 0.6rem;\n    color: #2a2a2a;\n  }\n  .mxg-body {\n    font-size: 1.1rem;\n    line-height: 1.8;\n    margin: 0 0 1.25rem;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n  }\n  .mxg-highlight {\n    color: #d4600a;\n    font-weight: 700;\n  }\n  .mxg-blockquote {\n    border-left: 4px solid #d4600a;\n    background: #fdf6f0;\n    margin: 2rem 0;\n    padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem;\n    border-radius: 0 8px 8px 0;\n  }\n  .mxg-blockquote p {\n    font-size: 1.1rem;\n    line-height: 1.75;\n    margin: 0;\n    color: #3a3a3a;\n    font-style: italic;\n  }\n  .mxg-takeaway {\n    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #fff8f2 0%, #fef0e3 100%);\n    border: 2px solid #e8a06a;\n    border-radius: 12px;\n    padding: 1.5rem 1.75rem;\n    margin: 2rem 0;\n  }\n  .mxg-takeaway-heading {\n    font-size: 1.05rem;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #b05010;\n    margin: 0 0 0.75rem;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    letter-spacing: 0.05em;\n  }\n  .mxg-takeaway ul {\n    margin: 0;\n    padding-left: 1.25rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-takeaway li {\n    font-size: 1rem;\n    line-height: 1.75;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n    margin-bottom: 0.4rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-list {\n    padding-left: 1.5rem;\n    margin: 0 0 1.25rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-list li {\n    font-size: 1.1rem;\n    line-height: 1.8;\n    color: #2d2d2d;\n    margin-bottom: 0.5rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-situation-block {\n    background: #f7f7f7;\n    border-radius: 10px;\n    padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem;\n    margin: 1.25rem 0;\n    border-left: 4px solid #b05010;\n  }\n  .mxg-situation-label {\n    font-size: 0.8rem;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    text-transform: uppercase;\n    letter-spacing: 0.07em;\n    color: #b05010;\n    margin: 0 0 0.4rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-situation-title {\n    font-size: 1.1rem;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #1a1a1a;\n    margin: 0 0 0.5rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-situation-body {\n    font-size: 1rem;\n    line-height: 1.75;\n    color: #3a3a3a;\n    margin: 0;\n  }\n  .mxg-faq-item {\n    border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e8e8;\n    padding: 1.25rem 0;\n  }\n  .mxg-faq-item:last-child {\n    border-bottom: none;\n  }\n  .mxg-faq-q {\n    font-size: 1.05rem;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    color: #1a1a1a;\n    margin: 0 0 0.5rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-faq-a {\n    font-size: 1rem;\n    line-height: 1.8;\n    color: #3a3a3a;\n    margin: 0;\n  }\n  .mxg-cta-box {\n    background: linear-gradient(135deg, #1a1a2e 0%, #2d2d5a 100%);\n    border-radius: 14px;\n    padding: 2.25rem 2rem;\n    margin: 3rem 0 1rem;\n    text-align: center;\n  }\n  .mxg-cta-heading {\n    font-size: 1.6rem;\n    font-weight: 800;\n    color: #ffffff;\n    margin: 0 0 0.75rem;\n    line-height: 1.3;\n  }\n  .mxg-cta-subheading {\n    font-size: 1.05rem;\n    color: #c8c8e8;\n    line-height: 1.7;\n    margin: 0 0 1.5rem;\n  }\n  .mxg-divider {\n    border: none;\n    border-top: 2px solid #f0f0f0;\n    margin: 2.5rem 0;\n  }\n  @media (max-width: 768px) {\n    .mxg-container {\n      padding: 1.5rem 1.25rem 2.5rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-hero-heading {\n      font-size: 2rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-section-heading {\n      font-size: 1.5rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-hero-subheading {\n      font-size: 1.1rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-body {\n      font-size: 1.05rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-list li {\n      font-size: 1.05rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-cta-box {\n      padding: 1.75rem 1.5rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-cta-heading {\n      font-size: 1.4rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-situation-block {\n      padding: 1rem 1.25rem;\n    }\n  }\n  @media (max-width: 480px) {\n    .mxg-container {\n      padding: 1rem 1rem 2rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-hero-heading {\n      font-size: 1.65rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-section-heading {\n      font-size: 1.3rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-hero-subheading {\n      font-size: 1rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-body {\n      font-size: 1rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-list li {\n      font-size: 1rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-blockquote {\n      padding: 1rem 1.1rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-takeaway {\n      padding: 1.1rem 1.25rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-cta-box {\n      padding: 1.5rem 1.1rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-cta-heading {\n      font-size: 1.25rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-cta-subheading {\n      font-size: 0.95rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-faq-q {\n      font-size: 1rem;\n    }\n    .mxg-faq-a {\n      font-size: 0.95rem;\n    }\n  }\n\/* MxChat \u2014 Hide Title *\/\r\n.entry-title,\r\n.page-title,\r\n.post-title,\r\n.wp-block-post-title,\r\n.ast-title-with-post-meta-wrapper,\r\n.ast-the-title,\r\n.generate-page-header .page-hero,\r\n.entry-header .entry-title,\r\n.entry-hero .entry-title,\r\n.kadence-page-title,\r\n.wp-site-blocks .entry-title,\r\n.ocean-single-post-header,\r\n.page-header,\r\n.nv-page-title-wrap,\r\n.nv-post-title,\r\n.elementor-page-title,\r\n.et_pb_title_container .entry-title,\r\n.brxe-post-title,\r\n[data-hero] .page-title,\r\n.hero-section .page-title,\r\n.entry-header {\r\n    display: none !important;\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\n\n\n<article class=\"mxg-container\">\n\n  <h1 class=\"mxg-hero-heading\">Your Child Just Stopped at a Word They've Never Seen. Here's What to Do.<\/h1>\n  <p class=\"mxg-hero-subheading\">A warm, practical guide for parents on decoding words \u2014 the skill that turns unfamiliar print into language a child can understand and use.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"mxg-meta\">Published August 2026 &nbsp;\u00b7&nbsp; 8 min read<\/p>\n\n  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mxg-img\" src=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png\" alt=\"A parent sitting close beside a young child, both looking at an open picture book together in a cozy living room\">\n\n  <h2 class=\"mxg-section-heading\">What Is Decoding in Reading, Exactly?<\/h2>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Picture this: your child is reading aloud, moving steadily through a page, and then \u2014 silence. They've hit a word they've never seen before. Their eyes go still. Maybe they look up at you. What happens next matters more than you might think.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\"><strong>Decoding words<\/strong> \u2014 in plain English, the ability to look at a printed word and figure out how to say it \u2014 is the engine underneath all early reading. When a child decodes, they are translating written symbols (letters) into sounds, and then blending those sounds into a word they can recognize and understand.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Decoding is different from memorising whole words by sight. It gives a child a <em>tool<\/em> they can use on any new word, not just the ones they have seen before. You might also hear teachers use the phrase <strong>word attack skills<\/strong> \u2014 this simply means the collection of strategies a child uses when they hit an unfamiliar word and need to work it out.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">The formal term \"decoding\" comes from the idea that written language is a code. Letters stand for sounds, and learning to read means learning to crack that code. Once a child has cracked it, they have access to every word they will ever encounter in print \u2014 not just the ones an adult has shown them.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Understanding <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/stages-of-reading-development\/\">the stages of reading development<\/a> can help you see where decoding fits into the bigger picture \u2014 it's one of the earliest and most foundational skills, and everything that comes after builds on it.<\/p>\n\n  <blockquote class=\"mxg-blockquote\">\n    <p>\"Decoding is not a reading strategy among many \u2014 it is the prerequisite for all the others. A child who can decode an unfamiliar word can, in principle, read anything.\"<\/p>\n  <\/blockquote>\n\n  <h2 class=\"mxg-section-heading\">What Sounding Out Words Actually Involves<\/h2>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Sounding out words \u2014 the most basic decoding strategy \u2014 means saying the sound each letter (or group of letters) represents, then running those sounds together to form the word. Children typically learn letter sounds before letter names, because sounds are what they need for decoding. The alphabet song is charming, but knowing that \"b says \/b\/\" is what does the actual work.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">The part that often trips children up is <strong>blending<\/strong> \u2014 holding sounds in memory long enough to merge them. Turning \/k\/ \/a\/ \/t\/ into \"cat\" takes real mental effort, and it improves with practice. It is also the step that most parents skip too quickly, moving on before the child has had a genuine chance to run the sounds together into a recognisable word.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Children reach the point where sounding out feels automatic across a wide age range. Arriving there earlier or later than another child means nothing on its own. The goal of practising sounding out words is not to sound out every word forever \u2014 it is to do it enough times that the brain eventually recognizes the word instantly, without effort. That instant recognition is called <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/reading-fluency\/\">reading fluency<\/a>, and it is what makes reading feel effortless rather than laborious.<\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-takeaway\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-takeaway-heading\">Quick reminder<\/p>\n    <ul>\n      <li>Letters represent sounds \u2014 not letter names \u2014 so \"b says \/b\/\" is more useful than \"b is called bee.\"<\/li>\n      <li>Blending is the hard part: give your child a beat of patience before jumping in.<\/li>\n      <li>Sounding out is a means to an end \u2014 the end is automatic word recognition.<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <h2 class=\"mxg-section-heading\">Three Situations, and What Actually Helps in Each One<\/h2>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Not every stuck word calls for the same response. Here are the three situations you will encounter most often, and what the evidence of classroom practice suggests actually works in each one.<\/p>\n\n  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mxg-img\" src=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696520-zU1FlK.png\" alt=\"A child&apos;s finger pointing at letters in an open book, with a parent&apos;s hand nearby, conveying patience and collaboration\">\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-situation-block\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-label\">Situation One<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-title\">The word follows regular letter-sound patterns \u2014 words like \"cat,\" \"stop,\" or \"drum\"<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-body\">This is exactly the right moment to say \"sound it out.\" Point under each letter in turn and let your child say each sound slowly. Then ask them to say the whole word fast. That blending step \u2014 running the sounds together \u2014 is where the magic happens, so give it a beat of patience before you step in. If they blend correctly and land on a real word, celebrate the process: \"You looked at every single letter \u2014 that's exactly what readers do.\"<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-situation-block\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-label\">Situation Two<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-title\">The word is irregular and cannot be fully sounded out \u2014 words like \"said,\" \"was,\" \"of,\" \"one,\" or \"come\"<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-body\">Do not ask your child to sound it out. These words break the rules, and asking a child to apply <strong>phonics<\/strong> \u2014 the system of letter-sound relationships \u2014 to a word that ignores phonics teaches them, at a deep level, that the system cannot be trusted. Instead, say the word for them, then name the odd part out loud: <em>\"This one is tricky \u2014 the A-I in 'said' sounds like E.\"<\/em> That small explanation keeps the code intact and gives your child something to hold onto the next time they meet the same word. You might find the guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/sight-words-for-kindergarten\/\">sight words for kindergarten<\/a> useful here \u2014 it explains which words children are typically expected to recognise by memory and why.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-situation-block\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-label\">Situation Three<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-title\">The child is stuck and starts guessing from the picture or the first letter<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-situation-body\">Cover the picture and go back to the letters. Guessing from context feels clever in the moment, but it stops working the instant the pictures disappear \u2014 which is exactly what happens in chapter books and beyond. The letters are the reliable information; pictures are decoration. A gentle \"let's look at the word\" is enough to redirect without making the moment feel like a correction.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Across all three situations, your tone is the thing your child will remember most. A calm <em>\"let's look at the letters together\"<\/em> keeps the moment feeling like a puzzle, not a test. If none of the above is working and your child is consistently distressed by unfamiliar words, the most useful step is a conversation with their classroom teacher, who can see the full picture of how their reading is developing.<\/p>\n\n  <h2 class=\"mxg-section-heading\">Decoding Strategies Worth Keeping in Your Back Pocket<\/h2>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Beyond the three core situations above, there are a handful of practical techniques that work well at home. None of them require any specialist knowledge \u2014 just a finger, some patience, and the willingness to make it feel low-stakes.<\/p>\n\n  <div style=\"overflow-x:auto;margin:24px 0;\"><table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:15px;line-height:1.5;\"><thead><tr style=\"background:#f4f1ea;\"><th style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;text-align:left;\">Technique<\/th><th style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;text-align:left;\">What you say<\/th><th style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;text-align:left;\">When it helps most<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\"><strong>Chunk it<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">&quot;Can you see a word hiding inside?&quot;<\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">Longer words with familiar endings like -ing, -ed or -er<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\"><strong>Cover and reveal<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">&quot;Let&#039;s do the first bit first.&quot;<\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">Words long enough that the whole thing looks overwhelming<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\"><strong>Say it slow, say it fast<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">&quot;Now say it fast, like a real word.&quot;<\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">Whenever the sounds come out but the word does not<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\"><strong>Check it makes sense<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">&quot;Did that sound right to you?&quot;<\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">The word was read but the sentence came out odd<\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\"><strong>Praise the attempt<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">&quot;I love how you looked at every letter.&quot;<\/td><td style=\"padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e0dbd0;\">Every time, and especially when the word came out wrong<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n\n  <h3 class=\"mxg-subheading\">Chunk it<\/h3>\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">For longer words, encourage your child to look for smaller pieces they already know. \"Can you see a word hiding inside?\" works well for compound words and words with familiar endings like <em>-ing<\/em>, <em>-ed<\/em>, or <em>-er<\/em>. Breaking a word like \"jumping\" into \"jump\" and \"ing\" is far less daunting than attacking all seven letters at once.<\/p>\n\n  <h3 class=\"mxg-subheading\">Cover and reveal<\/h3>\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Use your finger to cover the end of a long word and decode just the first chunk, then slide your finger along to reveal the next part. This stops children from being overwhelmed by the whole word at once and teaches them that longer words have a logical structure \u2014 they are just shorter words joined together or stretched with prefixes and suffixes.<\/p>\n\n  <h3 class=\"mxg-subheading\">Say it slow, say it fast<\/h3>\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">After sounding out each part, always follow up with <em>\"now say it fast like a real word.\"<\/em> This is the blending step, and skipping it leaves children with a string of sounds rather than a word. The slow-to-fast movement is what converts decoding into recognition, and it is the step most often rushed.<\/p>\n\n  <h3 class=\"mxg-subheading\">Check it makes sense<\/h3>\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Once a child has decoded a word, ask: <em>\"Does that sound like a word you know?\"<\/em> This connects decoding to meaning and catches errors where a child has blended correctly but landed on a non-word. It also teaches children to monitor their own reading \u2014 a habit that pays off enormously as texts get harder. This is closely related to <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/how-to-improve-reading-comprehension\/\">reading comprehension<\/a>: decoding gets you to the word; checking it makes sense connects the word to meaning.<\/p>\n\n  <h3 class=\"mxg-subheading\">Praise the attempt, not just the answer<\/h3>\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">\"I love how you looked at every letter\" reinforces the behavior you want, regardless of whether the word came out right. Children who feel safe making attempts \u2014 and who know that effort is what gets praised \u2014 are far more likely to keep trying when things get hard.<\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-takeaway\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-takeaway-heading\">Five strategies to remember<\/p>\n    <ul>\n      <li><strong>Chunk it<\/strong> \u2014 find the smaller pieces hiding inside a longer word.<\/li>\n      <li><strong>Cover and reveal<\/strong> \u2014 tackle a long word one section at a time.<\/li>\n      <li><strong>Say it slow, say it fast<\/strong> \u2014 always finish with the blending step.<\/li>\n      <li><strong>Check it makes sense<\/strong> \u2014 connect the decoded word back to meaning.<\/li>\n      <li><strong>Praise the attempt<\/strong> \u2014 effort is the behaviour you want to grow.<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <h2 class=\"mxg-section-heading\">The Honest Truth About Reading at Home<\/h2>\n\n  <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mxg-img\" src=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696523-srdfwA.png\" alt=\"A young child sitting cross-legged on a bed, reading a colorful book independently with a happy, engaged expression\">\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Reading with your child at home is reading practice \u2014 and practice genuinely matters \u2014 but it is <em>not<\/em> the same as reading instruction, and it does not replace the phonics teaching happening at school. That distinction is worth holding onto, because it takes pressure off both of you.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Your child's teacher is working through a structured sequence of letter-sound patterns in a deliberate order. At home, you are helping your child apply what they are learning \u2014 not design the curriculum. You don't need to know what comes next in the sequence. You just need to be there, calm, and pointing at the letters.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">The most powerful thing home reading does is build <strong>volume<\/strong> \u2014 the sheer number of words a child encounters and decodes over time. Volume is how decoding becomes automatic. It is less about any single session and more about the accumulation of many small sessions across months and years.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Rereading is underrated. A child who reads the same book three times is getting three times the decoding practice on those exact words, and rereading a favorite builds fluency faster than always reaching for something new. <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/personalized-gifts\">Personalized stories from LoveToRead<\/a> \u2014 stories a child chooses to reread because their own name and world are in them \u2014 are a practical way to build that rereading volume at home without any negotiation about whether to read tonight.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">If you feel something is genuinely wrong with how your child is progressing, talk to their teacher. A teacher who sees your child reading every day is the right first conversation \u2014 they can assess what is happening in context and point you toward the right next step.<\/p>\n\n  <blockquote class=\"mxg-blockquote\">\n    <p>The goal at home is not to teach reading from scratch. It is to be a warm, patient presence while your child practises the skills their teacher is building \u2014 one page at a time.<\/p>\n  <\/blockquote>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">If you're wondering whether your child is on track for reading at all, the guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/reading-readiness\/\">reading readiness<\/a> explains what to look for and, importantly, why the range of normal is much wider than most parents expect.<\/p>\n\n  <hr class=\"mxg-divider\">\n\n  <h2 class=\"mxg-section-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-faq-item\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-q\">My child skips words they don't know and keeps reading. Should I stop them?<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-a\">Yes, gently. Skipping unfamiliar words is a habit that gets harder to break over time. Pause, point to the word, and work through it together \u2014 even if it interrupts the story's flow. The short interruption is worth it.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-faq-item\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-q\">How long should we spend on one stuck word before I just tell them?<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-a\">About ten seconds of genuine effort is enough. If they are not getting there, give them the word, name any tricky part, and move on. Prolonged struggling without success is discouraging, not instructive. The goal is to keep reading feeling manageable.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-faq-item\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-q\">My child can sound out words in isolation but falls apart in a real sentence. Is that normal?<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-a\">Very common. Reading in a sentence adds the job of holding meaning in memory at the same time as decoding \u2014 it is genuinely harder. It gets easier with practice. Keep reading together regularly, and celebrate the moments when it clicks.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-faq-item\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-q\">Should I correct every mistake, or let some go?<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-a\">Correct mistakes that change the meaning of the sentence, because those affect comprehension. If your child reads \"home\" for \"house,\" that is worth a gentle correction. If they add a small word like \"the\" where it isn't written, it usually does not need flagging. Save your corrections for the ones that matter.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-faq-item\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-q\">My child is 7 and still struggles with very simple words. When should I worry?<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-a\">Children reach reading milestones across a wide range of ages, and being at the slower end on its own is not a cause for alarm. If you are concerned, the right step is a conversation with their teacher, who can assess what is happening in context. They are the right first call \u2014 not the internet.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-faq-item\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-q\">Are there ways to make decoding practice feel less like work?<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-faq-a\">Absolutely. Choosing books that genuinely interest your child makes a significant difference \u2014 a child who wants to know what happens next has a reason to push through a hard word. The guides to <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/how-to-make-reading-fun\/\">making reading fun<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/books-for-reluctant-readers\/\">books for reluctant readers<\/a> are good places to start if motivation is the sticking point.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <hr class=\"mxg-divider\">\n\n  <h2 class=\"mxg-section-heading\">Keep the Momentum Going, One Page at a Time<\/h2>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">Every word your child works through today is one they will read without thinking tomorrow. That is not a metaphor \u2014 it is literally how the brain builds reading skill. Each time a child decodes a word successfully, the neural pathway for that word gets a little stronger. Do it enough times, and the word becomes instant. Do it across hundreds of words, and reading becomes fluent.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">You don't need to be a reading expert to help. You need to know which three situations call for different responses, keep a handful of simple strategies in your back pocket, and \u2014 most importantly \u2014 stay calm when the moment arrives. A child who feels safe getting stuck is a child who will keep trying.<\/p>\n\n  <p class=\"mxg-body\">The letters are always there on the page. Your job is simply to help your child trust them.<\/p>\n\n  <div class=\"mxg-cta-box\">\n    <p class=\"mxg-cta-heading\">Keep the Momentum Going, One Page at a Time<\/p>\n    <p class=\"mxg-cta-subheading\">Every word your child works through today is one they will read without thinking tomorrow. You don't need to be a reading expert \u2014 you just need to be there, patient, and pointing at the letters.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/article>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to help your child read a word they have never seen. What to say when they get stuck, when to say the word for them, and what not to prompt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1701,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"fullwidth","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"unboxed","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Decoding Words: What to Say When Your Child Is Stuck<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to help your child read a word they have never seen. What to say when they get stuck, when to say the word for them, and what not to prompt.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Decoding Words: What to Say When Your Child Is Stuck\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How to help your child read a word they have never seen. What to say when they get stuck, when to say the word for them, and what not to prompt.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LoveToRead\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-14T08:41:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1344\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"768\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"LoveToRead\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"LoveToRead\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"LoveToRead\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1bc9cd0e675b06acea849c2a22afa2bd\"},\"headline\":\"Decoding Words: How to Help Your Child Read a New Word\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-14T08:41:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":2476,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/\",\"name\":\"Decoding Words: What to Say When Your Child Is Stuck\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-14T08:41:07+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1bc9cd0e675b06acea849c2a22afa2bd\"},\"description\":\"How to help your child read a word they have never seen. What to say when they get stuck, when to say the word for them, and what not to prompt.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png\",\"width\":1344,\"height\":768,\"caption\":\"A parent sitting close beside a young child, both looking at an open picture book together in a cozy living room\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/decoding-words\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Decoding Words: How to Help Your Child Read a New Word\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"LoveToRead\",\"description\":\"AI-Powered Personalized Children&#039;s Books\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/1bc9cd0e675b06acea849c2a22afa2bd\",\"name\":\"LoveToRead\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/78c8deaa73daf274d3617438f96699cf72984451f4fefaa8ec4326d3076f6684?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/78c8deaa73daf274d3617438f96699cf72984451f4fefaa8ec4326d3076f6684?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/78c8deaa73daf274d3617438f96699cf72984451f4fefaa8ec4326d3076f6684?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"LoveToRead\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/lovetoread.ai\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/runion-maxwell\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Decoding Words: What to Say When Your Child Is Stuck","description":"How to help your child read a word they have never seen. What to say when they get stuck, when to say the word for them, and what not to prompt.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Decoding Words: What to Say When Your Child Is Stuck","og_description":"How to help your child read a word they have never seen. What to say when they get stuck, when to say the word for them, and what not to prompt.","og_url":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/","og_site_name":"LoveToRead","article_published_time":"2026-08-14T08:41:07+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1344,"height":768,"url":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"LoveToRead","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"LoveToRead","Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/"},"author":{"name":"LoveToRead","@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1bc9cd0e675b06acea849c2a22afa2bd"},"headline":"Decoding Words: How to Help Your Child Read a New Word","datePublished":"2026-08-14T08:41:07+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/"},"wordCount":2476,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/","url":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/","name":"Decoding Words: What to Say When Your Child Is Stuck","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png","datePublished":"2026-08-14T08:41:07+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1bc9cd0e675b06acea849c2a22afa2bd"},"description":"How to help your child read a word they have never seen. What to say when they get stuck, when to say the word for them, and what not to prompt.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png","width":1344,"height":768,"caption":"A parent sitting close beside a young child, both looking at an open picture book together in a cozy living room"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/decoding-words\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Decoding Words: How to Help Your Child Read a New Word"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/","name":"LoveToRead","description":"AI-Powered Personalized Children&#039;s Books","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1bc9cd0e675b06acea849c2a22afa2bd","name":"LoveToRead","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/78c8deaa73daf274d3617438f96699cf72984451f4fefaa8ec4326d3076f6684?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/78c8deaa73daf274d3617438f96699cf72984451f4fefaa8ec4326d3076f6684?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/78c8deaa73daf274d3617438f96699cf72984451f4fefaa8ec4326d3076f6684?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"LoveToRead"},"url":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/author\/runion-maxwell\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mxchat-content-1786696518-44ycIC.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1704","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1704"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1705,"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1704\/revisions\/1705"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lovetoread.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}