Children Learning Reading is a digital phonics program by Jim Yang that gives parents 32 scripted lessons (Phonics Foundations) to teach a child to read at home in about 10 minutes a day. It is worth buying if your child is between roughly 2 and 7, does not yet read fluently, and you can sit with them for 10 to 15 minutes most days.
It is not the right fit if your child already reads chapter books, if you want a game-style app your child uses alone, or if you will not print materials and teach the lessons yourself.
- Price: $39 on the official page (listed as 70% off a $129 price). One-time payment, instant download.
- Refund: 60 days, no questions asked. That removes most of the buying risk.
- Method: Synthetic phonics plus phonemic awareness, the approach with the strongest research backing for early readers.
- Biggest weakness: It needs a parent in the chair every time. No app, no automatic progress tracking.
- My rating: 4.5 out of 5.
👉 Try Children Learning Reading Risk-Free for 60 Days
Affiliate disclosure: I earn a commission if you buy through my links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what I wrote below, including the criticism.
Children Learning Reading at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Product | Children Learning Reading, Phonics Foundations Program |
| Creator | Jim Yang (reading teacher and father of four, site established 2009) |
| Format | Digital download: 32 lessons, lesson videos, printable flashcards, storybooks, 26 letter sound audio files |
| Price | $39 one-time (official page, October 2026) |
| Refund | 60 days, full refund |
| Best for | Ages 2 to 7, beginners and early struggling readers |
| Time per day | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Rating | Goodreads community score about 4.3 out of 5. Official site claims 300+ five-star reviews. My score: 4.5 out of 5 |
Table of Contents
- What is Children Learning Reading?
- Who it is for and who should skip it
- How the program works, lesson by lesson
- Does the science back it up?
- Sales page claims, fact-checked
- The 5-minute readiness check (do this before you buy)
- What parents genuinely like
- Complaints and weaknesses
- Price map: which version costs what
- Refund policy and how to claim it
- Children Learning Reading vs Hooked on Phonics, Reading Eggs and others
- What phonics alone will not fix
- Is it legit or a scam?
- FAQ
- Final verdict
What Is Children Learning Reading?
Children Learning Reading is a downloadable home-teaching program that uses synthetic phonics and phonemic awareness to teach children to read, written and demonstrated by Jim Yang.
You do not hand it to your child. You teach it. Each lesson is a short script that you follow, with flashcards, a game or activity, and a small story the child reads at the end.
Jim Yang says he used the method to teach his own four children before age three, then spent more than 15 years helping other families. The official page claims over 238,000 parents have used the lessons. Treat that as the vendor’s number, not an audited one.
The program you land on from the official link is Phonics Foundations. It is stage one of a two-stage system. Stage two is called Advanced Phonics and is sold separately.
Who Children Learning Reading Is For (and Who Should Skip It)
It fits well if:
- Your child is 2 to 5 years old and knows few or no letter sounds yet.
- Your child is 5 to 8 and stuck at a beginner level, guessing words from pictures or memorizing instead of sounding out.
- You want a structured plan so you are not inventing lessons every night.
- You are homeschooling, or you want to back up school reading at home.
- You want a one-time cost instead of a monthly subscription.
Skip it if:
- Your child already reads fluently. Independent reviewers note it adds little for strong readers.
- You want an app with games your child plays alone while you cook dinner.
- You cannot commit to a few short sessions each week.
- Your child has a suspected learning difficulty and you are hoping this replaces a proper evaluation. It can support a struggling reader. It does not replace a specialist.
How Children Learning Reading Works
Here is what the experience looks like from checkout to finish.
- You buy and download. Everything is digital. Nothing ships.
- You watch the lesson videos. These document a 12-week stretch where Jim taught his son Ethan. You see how he says the sounds, holds the flashcards and keeps a toddler engaged.
- You print the flashcards and lesson pages. The prep is done for you. Hit print and teach.
- You teach one lesson at a time. About 10 minutes. Letter sounds first, then blending sounds into words, then short sentences and stories.
- The child reads a lesson story. Stories are matched to the sounds learned so far, so the child can actually read them.
- You repeat when needed. Not every child moves one lesson per day. The program tells you to slow down on tired days instead of pushing.
The 32 lessons cover letters, sounds, blending and early reading. Jim says parents do not need to know phonics themselves. The 26 audio clips show how to say each sound correctly, which matters more than most parents expect. Saying “buh” instead of “b” makes blending harder for a child.
Realistic timeline: if you teach a lesson most days, expect roughly 5 to 6 weeks of lessons. Most families stretch that to 8 to 12 weeks with repeats and rest days. That matches the 12-week arc shown in the videos.
👉 Get Phonics Foundations for $39 (70% Off)
Does the Science Back Up Phonics Programs Like This?
Yes, with an honest asterisk. Systematic phonics has the strongest research support of any early reading approach. But the size of the advantage depends on who you ask.
- The National Reading Panel meta-analysis (Ehri and colleagues, 2001) found systematic phonics beat unsystematic or no phonics, with an overall effect of d = 0.41.
- The benefit was bigger when phonics started early: d = 0.55 when started by first grade, versus d = 0.27 after.
- The panel found the effect was significant in kindergarten and first grade, which contradicts the old idea that young children are not ready for phonics.
- Re-analyses found smaller effects. One reanalysis put the figure near d = 0.24. A 2020 review argued the edge over programs that also teach some phonics is small.
- The panel also found phonics did not clearly help older, low-achieving readers (d = 0.15, not significant).
What that means for you: teaching sound-to-letter links in a clear order, early, works better than leaving a child to guess words. That is exactly what this program does. But phonics is the foundation, not the whole house. More on that below.
The need is real. In 2024, only 31% of US fourth graders scored at or above NAEP Proficient in reading, and 40% scored below NAEP Basic. NAEP Proficient is a tough bar, higher than most state “grade level” tests, so do not read 31% as “69% can’t read.” But 40% below Basic is a real warning sign.
Sales Page Claims, Fact-Checked
Most reviews repeat the sales page. Here is what each big claim looks like once you separate fact from marketing.
| Claim | Status | My note |
|---|---|---|
| Phonics and phonemic awareness work best for all ages | Mostly supported | Strongest for ages 4 to 7. Weaker evidence for older struggling readers. |
| Over 238,000 parents have used it | Vendor claim | Not independently audited. Plausible given 15+ years online. |
| Struggling readers can catch up in 8 to 10 weeks | Vendor claim | Possible for some. Not a promise. Results depend on the child and consistency. |
| Reading can raise IQ by over 6 points | Treat as marketing | I found no clear source on the page. Education and reading are linked to cognitive gains, but do not buy for this number. |
| Sight words cause reading problems | Overstated | Relying on guessing hurts. Some sight words (like “the” or “said”) still need to be learned. The program itself includes sight words. |
| 10 minutes a day is enough | Reasonable | Short and frequent suits young children. Expect 10 to 15 with setup. |
The 5-Minute Readiness Check (Do This Before You Buy)
This is my own quick test, not part of the program. It tells you where your child sits so you know what to expect.
- Letter sounds. Point at “m”, “s”, “a”, “t”. Does your child say the sound (not the letter name)?
- Rhyme. Ask “Does cat rhyme with hat?” Can they answer and offer another rhyme?
- Blending. Say “c… a… t” slowly. Can they tell you the word?
- Attention. Can they sit with you for 5 minutes on something you pick?
| Your result | What it means | Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 or 1 yes | True beginner | Great fit. Start at lesson 1 and go slowly. |
| 2 to 3 yes | Early learner | Good fit. Move quickly through the first lessons. |
| 4 yes plus reading short books | Already reading | You may only need Stage 2 or a different tool. |
What Parents Genuinely Like
- Scripted lessons. You do not need teaching experience. You read, show, repeat.
- Lesson videos with a real child. Watching Jim teach Ethan removes the “am I doing this right?” worry.
- Letter sound audio. Correct pronunciation is built in for parents who are unsure.
- Print-and-go flashcards. No hours of prep.
- Stories that match the lessons. The child reads real sentences early, which builds confidence fast.
- It teaches sounding out. Parents who tried sight-word methods often say this is the shift that finally worked.
- Tiny sessions. Several parents of children with autism or attention difficulties say they use 1 to 3 minute bursts and it still works, slowly.
- One-time price. $39 versus $70 to $130 a year for many subscription apps.
- Works for siblings. One purchase, several children.
- The refund window. 60 days is long enough to finish most of the program before deciding.
👉 Start Lesson 1 Today with the 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Complaints and Weaknesses (The Honest Part)
No program is perfect. These are the real downsides I found across reviews and my own read of the page.
- It is not hands-off. You must teach every lesson. If you skip weeks, progress stalls. This is the main reason a few parents feel it “did not work.”
- No app or interactivity. It is PDFs, videos and printouts. A Goodreads reviewer said extra interactive tools would help in a tech-heavy world. Kids raised on tablets may find it plain.
- Textbook-style scripts. Some reviewers found the lesson text dry and a little repetitive. Jim even admits he leans heavily on phonics in the material.
- Confusing versions and prices. Different pages show different bundles (Phonics Foundations alone, Stage 1 plus 2, Premium). I untangle that in the price section.
- Little value for fluent readers. An independent UK parenting review noted it seems less useful for children who already read well.
The “regression” worry also comes up. A parent on the official review site described days where her son seemed to forget everything. It turned out he was tired. Tired days are normal. Do not read them as failure.
Price Map: Which Children Learning Reading Version Costs What?
This is a gap in most reviews. The program is sold on several pages, and I saw different prices depending on the funnel. Here is what I found.
| Version | What you get | Price seen |
|---|---|---|
| Phonics Foundations (official link page) | 32 lessons, lesson videos, printouts, stories, 26 audio files | $39 (crossed out $129) |
| Stage 1 + Stage 2 bundle | 65 lessons, both stages, upgrades | About $69 on one funnel |
| Premium Package | Both stages plus extra books such as Stage 2 rhymes | About $79 to $89 on older pages |
Prices change and older review sites quote older numbers. Trust the checkout page you see on the day. If you are a true beginner, start with Phonics Foundations. You can add Advanced Phonics later if your child finishes and wants more.
Cost over a year: $39 once. Compare that with Hooked on Phonics at $129.99 for 12 months, or All About Reading at $119.95 to $159.95 per level.
Refund Policy and How to Claim It
Children Learning Reading offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. Vendor policy says if you are not satisfied within 60 days of receipt, you can request a full refund.
- Refund requests go by email to the address given inside the product. The official site also has a contact page at childrenlearningreading.com/contact-us-clr.php.
- ClickBank, the payment processor, also offers a standard 60-day refund route on its marketplace products.
- Buying through an affiliate link does not change your refund rights. The sale is processed by the vendor’s checkout.
- Keep your receipt email and your order ID.
My advice: decide by week 4 to 6. If your child is not blending sounds by then, ask for the refund. Do not wait until day 59.
I could not verify a third-party Gmail address that appears on an unofficial landing page, so I am not listing it here. Use the email inside your download.
Children Learning Reading vs Other Reading Programs
| Program | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Children Learning Reading | Parent-taught scripted lessons, printables | $39 one-time |
| Hooked on Phonics | App plus physical kit | $14.99/mo, $129.99/yr |
| Reading Eggs | Child-led app and games | About $70 to $100/yr, 30-day free trial |
| All About Reading | Parent-taught, physical materials | $119.95 to $159.95 per level |
| Teach Your Monster to Read | Free game for ages 3 to 6 | Free on web, $8.99 app |
The simple rule: if you want your child to play independently, pick an app like Reading Eggs or Teach Your Monster to Read. If you want the child to learn to decode with a parent guiding, Children Learning Reading is the cheapest structured option here.
Many families combine them. Use the lessons for the core teaching and a free game for fun practice. For another take on a children’s reading program, see my Reading Head Start review, which covers a different approach to the same problem.
What Phonics Alone Will Not Fix
Another gap competitors skip. Decoding gets a child to the words. Understanding needs more.
- Read aloud daily. Fifteen minutes of picture books builds vocabulary no phonics lesson covers.
- Talk about the story. Ask “why do you think she did that?”
- Use decodable books early so success stays high.
- Check vision and hearing if progress is unusually slow.
- Get a proper assessment if you see persistent letter reversals or sound confusion past age 7. Dyslexia support needs a specialist.
Is Children Learning Reading Legit or a Scam?
It is legit. It has been online since 2009, sells through ClickBank with a 60-day refund, and delivers a real, usable curriculum. You get what is advertised.
Negative “scam” talk usually comes from three places: parents who expected the child to learn alone, buyers confused by multiple price pages, and copycat sites that reuse Jim Yang’s name. Buy only through the official link.
The fair criticism is not fraud. It is that the marketing is bold, and a few claims (like the IQ number) are stronger than the evidence.
👉 Check the Official Offer: $39 and a 60-Day Refund
Children Learning Reading FAQ
Does Children Learning Reading really work?
For most beginners who follow the lessons consistently, yes. It uses synthetic phonics, which has solid research support. Results depend on regular practice and the child’s starting point.
What age is Children Learning Reading for?
The creator says it works from about age 2. Most parents find ages 3 to 6 the sweet spot. Older children (6 to 9) who struggle can use it too.
How long does it take to teach a child to read with it?
Plan for 8 to 12 weeks for Phonics Foundations. Some children move faster. Others need repeats. Do not compare with a stranger’s video.
How much does Children Learning Reading cost?
The official page lists Phonics Foundations at $39 one-time, down from $129. Bundles with Stage 2 have appeared at about $69 to $89 on other pages.
Is there a money-back guarantee?
Yes. 60 days, full refund, no questions asked.
Can I get a refund if I buy through an affiliate link?
Yes. The purchase is handled by the vendor’s checkout, so the same 60-day guarantee applies.
Is it physical or digital?
Digital only. You download it and print the flashcards and lesson pages yourself.
Do I need to know phonics to teach it?
No. The videos show how to teach each lesson and the audio clips model every sound.
Does it work for a child with dyslexia or autism?
Some parents report progress, mostly slowly. The structure and short sessions help. It is not a medical treatment, so work with your child’s specialists too.
Is there an app?
No. It is a parent-led download, not an app.
Are there upsells?
Stage 2 (Advanced Phonics) and bundles are offered separately. You can buy only Phonics Foundations and finish happily.
Does it work outside the US?
Yes. It is a download, so there is no shipping. Reviewers from the UK, Canada and other countries use it. Letter sounds follow standard English phonics.
How do I contact support?
Use the contact page on the official website or the support email inside your download.
Is it better than Hooked on Phonics?
Different tools. Hooked on Phonics is a subscription with an app and kit. Children Learning Reading is cheaper and parent-taught. Pick by how your family likes to learn.
What if my child is already reading a little?
Run the readiness check above. If your child blends sounds already, skip to later lessons or look at Stage 2.
Final Verdict: Is Children Learning Reading Worth It in 2026?
Yes, for the right family. At $39 with a 60-day refund, it is the lowest-risk way to try a structured, research-aligned phonics program at home. You trade money for your own time, and that is the honest deal.
If you will sit down for 10 minutes most days, a beginner reader can make real progress. If you want a screen to do the teaching, look elsewhere.
👉 Try Children Learning Reading Risk-Free Today
Disclaimer: This review is for information only and is not educational, medical or professional advice. Results vary by child and consistency. Prices, bonuses and offers change, so confirm details on the official website. If you are concerned about your child’s development or suspect a learning difficulty, consult a qualified professional. This page contains affiliate links, and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.