Why Reading Is So Hard for Some Kids (And What We Can Do About It)

Working memory is a skill that can be taught

Ever feel like reading time turns into meltdown time? You’re not alone. When a child struggles with cognitive and executive function skills, even a simple storybook can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops.

Think of the brain like an air traffic control tower. Cognitive skills are the radar, picking up information. Executive function is the controller, organising planes, deciding what lands and what waits. If either system is shaky, reading—where decoding, memory, attention, and comprehension must work together—can quickly spiral into frustration.

In this post, we’ll unpack why reading feels so hard for kids with weak cognitive and executive function skills, what’s really going on behind the scenes, and—most importantly—what you can actually do to help.

1. When Words Won’t Stick: The Working Memory Bottleneck

Ever watched your child sound out a word perfectly… and then forget it two seconds later? 

It’s maddening—and heartbreaking.

Working memory is the brain’s sticky note. It holds information just long enough to use it. During reading, a child must remember the beginning of a sentence while decoding the end. If working memory is weak, comprehension collapses.

Research from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development shows that working memory plays a critical role in reading comprehension, particularly in early readers.

Dr. Adele Diamond, a leading expert in executive function, explains:

“Executive functions are critical for school readiness and academic success.”

Why this matters: Your child may know how to read—but can’t hold enough information in mind to understand what they’ve read.

Practical tip: Break text into bite-sized chunks. After one sentence or short paragraph, pause and ask: “What just happened?” Keep it light and conversational.

2. The Focus Factor: When Attention Drifts Mid-Page

Does your child start reading… and suddenly they’re staring at the ceiling? 

Welcome to the attention rollercoaster.

Sustained attention allows children to stay with a task even when it’s not instantly rewarding. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, attention difficulties significantly impact academic performance, especially reading fluency.

Author and psychiatrist Edward Hallowell says:

“Attention is the gateway to learning.”

If attention falters, reading becomes fragmented. The child may miss key details, skip lines, or give up entirely.

Practical tip: Use a simple bookmark or index card to cover the lines below the one being read. It reduces visual overwhelm and keeps focus anchored.

Reading is not just practice

3. Slow Processing Speed: When Reading Feels Like Running in Mud

Ever noticed how long it takes your child to finish even a short passage? 

That’s not laziness—it could be processing speed.

Processing speed affects how quickly a child can recognise letters, retrieve sounds, and blend words. A 2018 study in Child Neuropsychology found strong links between slower processing speed and reading difficulties in children with executive function challenges.

As educational psychologist Peg Dawson notes:

“Kids with executive skill weaknesses often need more time, not more pressure.”

Why this matters: Timed reading tests can crush confidence. When speed is slow, comprehension may still be solid—but anxiety gets in the way.

Practical tip: Remove time pressure. Let your child read at their pace, and celebrate accuracy and effort—not speed.

4. Emotional Overload: The Confidence Crash

Does reading trigger tears, anger, or total shutdown? 

That emotional storm isn’t drama—it’s overload.

Children with executive function challenges often experience repeated academic setbacks. According to research published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities, children with reading difficulties are at higher risk for anxiety and low self-esteem.

Even Temple Grandin has spoken openly about her struggles with traditional learning systems, emphasising the need for alternative approaches that honor different cognitive strengths.

“The world needs all kinds of minds.”

Why this matters: Emotional regulation is part of executive function. When frustration spikes, the brain’s learning centers go offline.

Practical tip: Separate reading skill from identity. Instead of “You’re not trying,” try “This is tricky—but your brain is growing.”

A teacher supports a young girl in a reading exercise, emphasizing the importance of attention and working memory for effective literacy skills.

5. Organisation Chaos: When Stories Don’t Make Sense

Ever ask what the story was about and get a blank stare? 

That’s often a sequencing issue.

Executive function helps children organise information logically—beginning, middle, end. Without this skill, stories feel jumbled.

The Harvard Center on the Developing Child emphasises that executive skills like planning and organisation are foundational for academic tasks, including reading comprehension.

When a child can’t mentally “file” events in order, they struggle to retell or summarise.

Practical tip: Use simple story maps. Draw three boxes labeled Start, Middle, and End. Have your child fill them in with words or pictures.

6. Motivation Matters: When the Brain Avoids What Feels Hard

If something feels impossible, would you rush toward it? Probably not—and neither will your child.

Children with executive function weaknesses often avoid tasks that tax their cognitive system. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S. have learning and attention issues.

Motivational expert Carol Dweck reminds us:

“Becoming is better than being.”

A growth mindset can help children see reading as a skill they can improve—not a fixed trait.

Practical tip: Let your child choose reading material—even if it’s comics, manuals, or joke books. Engagement fuels persistence.

Conclusion: Progress Over Perfection

Reading challenges tied to cognitive and executive function skills can feel overwhelming—for you and your child. But here’s the truth: this isn’t about intelligence. It’s about how the brain processes and organises information.

We explored how working memory, attention, processing speed, emotional regulation, organisation, and motivation all play a role. When we adjust expectations, reduce pressure, and teach strategically, reading becomes less of a battlefield and more of a bridge.

Progress may be slow. There may be setbacks. But every small win counts.

And remember—your child isn’t broken. Their brain just takes a different route. With patience, support, and the right tools, that winding path can still lead somewhere extraordinary.