Finding the right books for your child

A handy trick for figuring out if a book is too hard for your child.

by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team

This video explains a handy way parents can match their child with age-appropriate books by introducing the “five-finger rule.” Kids who are learning to read lift a finger every time they don’t understand a word. If a child raises five fingers on one page, the book is too hard. The video is appropriate for parents of children in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade, or other beginning readers.

About the author

The GreatSchools Editorial Team

GreatSchools.org is a national nonprofit with a mission to help every child obtain a high-quality education that values their unique abilities, identities, and aspirations. We believe in the power of research-backed, actionable information to empower parents, family members, and educators to help make this happen. For 25 years, the GreatSchools Editorial Team has been working to make the latest, most important, and most actionable research in education, learning, and child development accessible and actionable for parents through articles, videos, podcasts, hands-on learning resources, email and text messaging programs, and more. Our team consists of journalists, researchers, academics, former teachers and education leaders — most of whom are also dedicated parents and family members — who not only research, fact check, and write or produce this information, but who use it in our daily lives as well. We welcome your feedback at editorial@greatschools.org.