What age do most children learn to read? Like many developmental milestones there are key stages, but children will vary in age when they learn to independently read. Some children learn to read at 4 or 5 years of age. But most will get the hang of it by age 6 or 7.

To start reading silently: Find a quiet, comfortable environment free from distractions. This will allow you to focus solely on the text. Hold the book or reading material at a comfortable distance from your eyes, typically about 12-14 inches away. This helps reduce eye strain.

Sometimes when reading through a text for the first time a reader can miss details that would help form deeper understanding. Rereading a text a second time for the purpose of looking very closely for important details is a strategy called close reading. The name, close reading, describes the strategy perfectly!