Are lots of pre-reception 4 year olds reading ?

I have no idea why there is such a rush to try and get children to do these things BEFORE starting school...that is what school is there for! I'd also take a huge pinch of salt from people suggesting they had fluently reading pre school children. Extremely rare.

DS6 did zero school work before starting school, he enjoyed being a toddler. Couldn't read or write a single word. We have always read to him though, every night since he was born. He's now in Year 1, goes into Year 3 for reading and is reading Harry Potter.

Not at all. My kids couldn’t read at all when they started reception, and they didn’t attend the school nursery so were a bit behind those that did as they’d already started phonics. DS left school with mainly 9’s at GCSE and 3 x A* at A level and DD is on track for the same path (just done GCSE). They didn’t talk until 2.5yrs plus, behind a lot of their peers. Take the pressure off, don’t compare to other kids as they are all different and there’s no expectation kids will read already when they start reception. I guess some parents might push that kind of thing a little more but I’ve never done any extras with my kids at home beyond the normal homework when necessary. I saw some parents really push extra work and I don’t see it had a huge amount of benefit

Just jumping on with a question about hyperlexia as it seems a few posters have it and know about it - is it always an autistic trait, or can you be hyperlexic but not autistic?

The OP was clearly referring to early reader books like Biff Chip and Kipper scheme books not stories.

I assume the OP is talking about buying some basic early reader books, like Biff chip and Kipper, or Songbirds.

I highly doubt the OP has zero books in the house, or has never read a book to her children.

I’m more concerned that your DD is 4, and only now are you considering getting her some basic reading books!
The best way of introducing children to reading, is by reading to them from a very young age, and giving them their own books from about a year old.
Yes, they’ll chew them and not really understand at first - but baby’s books are made for this - ours had bath books from birth.
Interactive books like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and the That’s Not My… series are good hands-on books to start with, then move onto more complex ones as she gets the idea that books are fun.
Good Luck!

Both my children could read fully before starting school. One started recognising words by 2. Both could recite and write up to the 13 times tables by reception. It’s not a brag - both are autistic and didn’t have most of the skills that were appropriate for starting school. I was in tears the year of my eldest’s starting, his teacher constantly pulling me aside to say ‘he’s so beyond what I’m meant to help him learn but so behind socially’. And despite being able to read and far beyond his age in numeracy, my other son is globally delayed and looking at being diagnosed with a learning disability. He’s brilliant at absorbing and processing what interests him, but still can’t get himself dressed or make conversation.

Obviously our situation is not typical, but I’d certainly not expect most 4 year olds to be able to read with full correct comprehension and tone. Thats perfectly typical, it’s part of what their early years education is about. It’s so much harder for child and teacher when children have learned ‘back to front’ (academically over socially).

My DS is just finishing reception. He was 5 a week into September and was reading NOTHING! He was not interested at all, although he was so bored at nursery and definitely ready for school.

he is writing sentences now and constructing words using phonics…. It’s honestly amazing how much they learn when they start reception.

I really wouldn’t worry

Our daughter read a bit at four years old but as this caused two different people to scold me and my husband for being evil academics who paced our child to fulfill our neurotic ambitions on their behalf, I am guessing it is not that normal.

What were we supposed to do? Her brother is three years older and she found it to be very unfair that he was "allowed to do homework" and she wasn't.

Also not really that surprising that a child of two people who love to read also likes books.

There is a good guide here on what kids should be able to do when they start school. Reading isn't one.

https://www.betterliveshealthyfuturesbw.nhs.uk/learning_resource/school-readiness/

to follow my last post though I agree with this sentiment too.

while I see nothing wrong with exposing your child to reading it shouldn’t be to the detriment of getting her ready to actually be ok at school to learn. The basics like this poster has mentioned are very important too and seemingly quite commonly are not getting taught by parents at home so children start school with no skills to look after themselves which takes the opportunity to learn away from them in those early years as teachers are having to teach toileting and dressing etc

Both of mine were fluent readers by the time they started school. BUT…

• one was extremely shy and took a long time to make friends. For him being ‘ahead’ academically helped him to focus entirely on his social goals.
• one had/has a physical disability so things like getting dressed etc took much longer to master. For him being able to read and do quite a lot of maths gave him confidence when his peers could do many other things far more easily (run/jump/climb).

My kids are much older now and while they both read fluently many of their peers have caught up. Cultivating a love of reading and books is harder and more important than just the physical act of reading at a certain level by X age. And reading is one of many skills they need to learn in these early years- listening, following instructions, making and keeping friends, learning to be resilient, these are all as important.

I don’t think it’s common nor do I think it’s anything to worry about but there’s no harm in having books around and show your child them as well as reading together rather than to her.

I could read well by the time I started school but I grew up in a house of readers and there was always books in the house and It was normal for me to be given books (proper books and not just young child’s picture type books) as presents by relatives rather than toys. So it was like osmosis.

By 8 I had the reading age of a 15/16 year old so the local librarian had given me permission to choose adult books as the children’s section was far too young for me.

my experience I don’t think is typical though. From my memory there were a few kids in early primary years who could read a bit but certainly not all
Two of my siblings were also good readers but another hated it!
my siblings children were all decent readers too.

i wasn’t advanced or more intelligent than my peers I was just good with reading and like (and still like)language and words. Some kids just take to things and others take to other things like maths or some kids are sporty.

the pay off for me personally which might be entirely coincidental is I am absolutely terrible with numbers. I have always found maths hard I get by but honestly even the countdown maths sections are not a done deal for me 😂

DD 4 can read but this is prob more due to the fact that DH and I are both teachers and very avid readers, so she's been read to from day one and SIL also works for read write inc.
Its def not the norm and I'd not be at all worried if she couldn't. I actually bloody hate phonics.

Makes no odds. My youngest loved books but couldn't read, had a speech delay, refused to mark make at all. He's currently in year three, and one of the top in his class. He got free reader before anyone else in his class, was the second to get his pen licence. Still can't tie his laces though!

My eldest could write her name but otherwise wasn't a reader, she was one of the highest in secondary school for exam results.

Mine certainly wasn’t reading before reception. He’s reading at an above average level now for his age. I wouldn’t worry OP

In all my dc's classes there were children who started reception able to read. This varied between knowing a few words, beginning to work out simple words with phonics, to reading small chapter books independently (like Rainbow Fairies).

Now on the whole those dc kept towards the top of the class in reading at primary, however there were ones who were non-readers when they started who not only caught up, but overtook them.

It doesn't matter long term, so if he wants to learn, then fine, help him. If he doesn't, then leave it.

Nah school teach that, and once they start you can follow their methods at home. More important to learn self care like toileting, changing clothes, putting coat on etc

So is phonics little letters as I call them and not big letters.

So cat would be c-a-t and not see- ay- Tee.

I always teach DD little letters and my 92 year old grand mother told me off telling me I should teach DD properly 😳

I haven't read the rest of the thread but this says it all.

Very few 4 year olds can read before they start school, in real life anyway. Of course a few will be able to but it is absolutely not the norm.

Christ I hope not, my DS (just turned 4) is nowhere near reading. Can’t yet recognise all the letters in the alphabet or even all the numbers 1-10. His brain just doesn’t seem to work that way yet. But he can get himself dressed, use a toilet, share, and is confident with asking grown ups for help / answering questions etc so I’m hoping that I’ve done my bit and the teachers will do their bit. Obviously read to him loads and he loves stories but he’s far more interested in playing outdoors than sitting learning phonics and I have no interest in teach phonics so we are where we are.

I can stil recite " monkey puzzle", " peepo" and snail and the whale now 17 years later.

It was Each Peach Pear Plum here.... I think 30 years later,we are all word-perfect still!

This is where tablets and devices are a real issue because they have replaced that 'sit and engage with your child so they learn to sit still and engage'.

DSs class were a nightmare because of the lack of this. Other year groups haven't had the same level of issue (apart from perhaps this class).

It's dead interesting to see.

I could read and write at 4, including spelling seven letter words at 3.

So it does happen, but without trying to sound like a twat I was always an outlier academically, especially in English. I took the level 6-8 SATS paper in year 6, and I got the highest scores for my exam board at A Level.