When your child loses their place when reading
Your child skips words, reads the same line twice, or loses their place on the page. Tracking a line from left to right is a skill, and it gets easier with practice and the right support.
For: Parents, teachers and therapists of children aged 4 to 8
A cover page with the plan, then 7 worksheets in order (8 pages). Free, no sign-up.
Free, no sign-up. US Letter size. Download A4 instead · Open to print
Save to PinterestWhy it happens
- Young readers move their eyes slowly and lose the line easily, especially with small print.
- Pages with many lines close together are harder to track.
- Sometimes eyesight is the cause, so it is worth checking.
What helps
- Point under each word with a finger.
- Use a reading ruler or a strip of card under the line.
- Choose books with bigger print and fewer lines.
- Practise tracking with pictures and letters first.
- Have eyesight checked.
The planstep by step.
1Tracking
Left to right, line by line.
2Reading ruler
Print and cut a reading ruler.
3Phrases
Read short phrases, one line at a time.
When to ask for help
Have eyes checked by an optometrist or eye doctor if your child squints, rubs their eyes, covers one eye or complains of headaches when reading.
These worksheets are practice materials, not a diagnosis or a treatment. Every child develops at their own pace. If you are worried, talk to your child’s teacher, doctor or a specialist.
Do coloured overlays help?
Related packs
Sources
The LetterSchool app
Between worksheets: practise in the app
The same letter shapes as this sheet, with instant feedback on every line, animations and stars. Children play, and learn the right formation.