Leyla Isn’t Reading Yet- and That’s Okay!
Leyla just turned 4, and while we’re excited about all the new things she’s learning, there’s one thing she hasn’t quite picked up yet: reading. Her older brother, Ibrahim, was reading fluently by the time he was 2, and naturally, as parents, we hoped Leyla would follow the same path. But we’ve come to realise that every child learns at their own pace; and that’s okay.
Ibrahim’s early reading ability was an exception, not the standard. He was advanced for his age, and while we tried to offer Leyla the same level of support and encouragement, she is on her own journey. And guess what? She’s doing just fine.
In fact, she’s well above the standard for her age in the UK when it comes to certain skills. While she isn’t reading fully yet, she’s definitely getting there. And that’s something we are proud of.
When we look back, we also realise that the early years were tough for Leyla. During the time when she was learning the most, she was also suffering with severe eczema. Sleepless nights, constant inflammation, and discomfort from different triggers took a toll on her. As a result, we had to focus more on helping her feel better, and I was often too exhausted to give her learning the attention I would have liked.
Despite the challenges, we still tried to give her the support she needed, but it was hard. And you know what? That’s okay. Parenting isn’t about perfect outcomes; it’s about doing the best we can with the circumstances we have.
It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison game; especially when we see how quickly Ibrahim learned to read. And we’ve definitely had questions from others about why Leyla isn’t reading yet. But it’s important to remind ourselves that every child is different, and Leyla is advanced in so many other ways. She’s creative, emotionally aware, and has an imagination that takes her to beautiful places. She makes up her own stories, plays wonderful role-play games, and is incredibly loving and nurturing.
Yes, sometimes the comparison happens, and it’s hard not to. But we’ve learned that as long as our children don’t feel that comparison, we’re doing fine. Leyla is exactly where she needs to be, and there’s no rush. Learning should be fun, not a race.
She will get there when she’s ready, and in the meantime, we’ll continue to support her in every way we can. The most important thing is that she feels safe, loved, and confident in her own abilities.
We trust her journey, and we know she’ll keep growing in her own time.
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