2yo is starting to read... how to support? She's the keen one, honest!

[IKIMAK]

My DD has just turned 2 and for the last few months has been starting to read simple words around her.

Initially, I noticed that she could read her own name. Then, she started pointing out familiar words in books (like 'mummy' and 'daddy'). I made her some flash cards and so far she can sight read about 20 words. She seems to have a very good memory and learns new things quickly; her vocabulary is well over 500 / 600 words and she talks in 7 or 8 word sentences as standard.

I'm aware that sight reading isn't the done thing, and although I am able to teach her phonics (I'm a primary school teacher) I'm not sure this is the right approach with her as I don't think she has an understanding of letters as individual components of words. It seems like playing to her strong visual memory, ie sight words, would work better.

I don't want to hot-house her, and I don't really think there's much advantage to her learning to read so young, but she is keen to learn and an inquisitive little thing, so I don't want to ignore her interests either!

Has anyone got any suggestions of reading schemes to investigate? Or free apps that would be appropriate? We already read together loads; she has started requesting trips to the library and has to be dragged away.

Thanks.

[hotshipmate]

To be honest, if you already know how to teach phonics I'd introduce it gently (ie. show her letters & numbers if she is interested). It can't do any harm and it might do lots of good. That said, my brother and I both learned to read before school and I don't think my mum ever quite knew how we did it. In fact I was a shifty little thing who concealed my reading ability because I liked being read to. Some children just seem to work it out for themselves. I'd say if you're enjoying words, individual letters, phonics, flash cards, whatever, it's all to the good.