Reading Eggs & Reading Eggspress

Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress have generated substantial feedback from parents and educators worldwide. This popular online reading program has earned a reputation for making literacy learning engaging and effective, though experiences vary based on children's learning styles and needs.

What Parents Love

The program's ability to make reading practice feel like a game consistently earns praise from parents of reluctant readers:

"My daughter has replaced YouTube with Reading Eggs." Parent Review

"You have made what can be difficult to learn into fun and games. [My child] thinks it is a reward... whereas in fact it is education." Parent from Reading Eggs Testimonials

Many parents report noticeable reading progress after consistent use of the program:

"She is actually reading! Thank you so much for an amazing learning experience." Parent of 5-year-old

"My 5 yr old has progressed massively in just a few days." UK Parent Review

The self-paced, independent nature of the program is particularly valuable for busy families and homeschoolers:

"They can move at their own pace and work independently." TheHomeSchoolMom Review

"It allows me to supplement their homeschooling with computer/iPad work rather than book work only... and they love that!" Homeschool Mom

Parents appreciate the comprehensive nature of the program that grows with their children:

"It is wonderful for my 6-year-old. He loves the program and pushes to complete several levels a day... My 11-year-old does Reading Eggspress... I love it. He feels like he learns a lot from it as well." Former Reading Teacher

The detailed progress tracking gives parents valuable insight into their children's development:

"I get reports on how my child is doing, what are [his] weaknesses. Children get certificates as well." Parent Review

Many families find the program offers excellent value for money:

"Overall, we absolutely love Reading Eggs. It's affordable and well worth the cost. The app is intuitive and incredibly engaging for children." Katie J. Trent

Common Challenges

Despite its popularity, Reading Eggs doesn't work equally well for all learners. Some parents report that children with specific learning needs may struggle:

"The programme isn't really suitable for kids who are gifted or struggling with reading (ie dyslexia)." Educator and Parent

Some educators and parents express concerns about the program's approach to phonics instruction:

"Reading Eggs doesn't use a structured, phonics-based approach to reading... the program often encourages children to use picture clues to identify words." Education Blog Review

"Reading Eggs isn't phonics and wouldn't be recommended by any phonics teacher." UK Parent on Mumsnet

Technical issues have been noted by some families, particularly when using the tablet app:

"The animation was a bit clunky and the app for iPad was glitchy and crashed." Parent Review

Some parents find the interface navigation confusing initially:

"There are too many programs and they are not very well organized." Parent Review

Some parents note that the program can be too engaging, with children wanting excessive screen time:

"There is no end to it, no time limit... my 6-year-old son wouldn't stop so I had to set a timer and take the tablet off [him]." Father's Review

Who Benefits Most

Based on parent feedback, Reading Eggs works especially well for:

• Children who respond well to gamification and digital learning
• Families seeking an engaging supplement to reading instruction
• Busy parents needing an independent learning option
• Multiple-child households (one subscription covers up to four children)
• Beginning to intermediate readers following a typical learning progression

The program may require adaptation or alternatives for:

• Children with significant learning differences or dyslexia
• Advanced readers who may find the pacing too slow
• Families who prefer a strict synthetic phonics approach
• Children with limited screen time allowances
• Very young children who struggle with computer/tablet navigation

The Bottom Line

While experiences vary, the majority of parents find Reading Eggs to be a valuable tool in their children's literacy journey. Its game-based format successfully engages many reluctant readers, and the self-paced structure allows children to build confidence through independent practice. The comprehensive program grows with children from toddlerhood through elementary years, providing a consistent learning environment.

The most common reservations concern its suitability for children with specific learning needs and its approach to phonics. For most families, however, the engaging format, detailed progress tracking, and noticeable reading improvements make Reading Eggs a worthwhile investment, particularly when used as part of a balanced approach to literacy that includes physical books and parent-led reading time.