Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you do have to do more than read with your child?

227 replies

areyousurre · 01/02/2026 07:44

I’ve read a lot on here and other resources that all you should do with primary aged children is read to them / with them, and I suppose I’m questioning that a bit.

I’ve always read widely with my children but I’m not sure it’s made any real discernible difference in terms of language development or progress academically. And I now feel guilty that I haven’t done more!

I’d be interested in hearing what people honestly think. I don’t mean I’m going to stop reading to them but I do think I should be maybe doing more.

OP posts:
PicaK · 01/02/2026 07:53

Reading is the best thing. But you have to check their understanding, their ability to anticipate the story, understanding who is telling the story etc etc. Far too many parents let their kids sound the words and are then furious they haven't moved onto the next book when the kid can't understand it or relay the story at all.

Mindyourfunkybusiness · 01/02/2026 07:49

We do worksheets, either bought or created. There is math daily for the girls and an extra task be it reading/spelling worksheet just whatever is printed and ready. They don't seem too fussed about it. I mark and repeat/move up etc but I don't tell them scores as that's not important just tool where I need to work on with them and with math they can repeat as math is just repetitive and memory.