Replace "you're not good at reading" with sentences linking difficulty to a temporary stage, not a fixed identity.

Don't ask "do we need another hire?" — ask "if we started today with nobody, who'd we hire first?".

Read aloud to your child 15 min daily — even after he reads independently.

Praise your child's effort and strategy, not his intelligence or talent — Carol Dweck's classic.

Every sound/gesture from your child = a "serve"; respond promptly = a "return." This game builds his brain.

Aim for 21,000 words a day with your child — guarding against the "30-million-word gap."