What can your preschool write/read?

[username19442]

I know you should not compare but I'm beginning to worry I'm not doing enough for my DD. She has just turned 4 and will start school in September. She currently attends nursery 3 days a week. I know they do letters occasionally and I often read with her and try to get her to copy her name. She is great at writing the first letter of her name and often just keeps writing that.
A friend of mine has just posted about how great her DD (similar age) reading and writing is. She has written her full first name and a few 3 letter words and can apparently read those words and many letters.
Is my DD behind?

No. That is what school for. Unless your mate is a teacher she may be teaching her ‘wrongly’ and school will have to help relearn stuff.
My daughter is half way through reception. She can read and write (most letters backwards). She could just about recognise her name and write the first letter when she started.

They could recognise their names and read Tesco! Don't worry OP. Play games, jigsaws etc. Have fun!

Nope, nothing to worry about. There are such wild variances at this age. My soon to be 4 year old can’t read at all, or write. She’s great at drawing though, and that’s what she focuses on.

At the same age our eldest could read and write his own name, do simple sums, recite the alphabet backwards, point out most countries on a map etc. but showed zero interest in anything arty. He couldn’t even hold a pencil properly when he started school

I had, and still have, no concerns with either of them. My youngest will, no doubt, catch up on academic skills when she starts school. My son is no longer particularly academically advanced for his age, and he is now fully adept at pencil control

It’s really too early to worry about such things.

My children could read and 'write ' their names. That was it. Some children started reception way ahead and had obviously been taught at home by their parents. By the end of reception/start of Y1, none of it mattered and mine were exactly where they needed to be. They're both in high school now and are in top set for every subject. Try not to worry.

Thank you everyone that's reassuring

Dd is 3 and starts school in September ( turns 4 in August) and can kind of write the first letter of her name. Recognises letters, sounds ( most of the time), is ok with numbers to 10. Your dd sounds fine. They go to school to learn this stuff. I have dd2 currently in reception and ds1 in year one. They all had different capabilities and things they could do on starting. Ds1 refused to pick up a pencil until weeks into school and couldn’t write a letter or count/recognise numbers. Dd1 could write her name perfectly and is ahead of her older brother in reading already. There is a year between them. Children are all very different so don’t compare to others and take any posts from social media showing other kids abilities with a pinch of salt.

My DS could not read or write before he started school. That's what school is for. Home was for playing at that age!

No my dd couldn’t read or write when she started school. She could, however, dress herself, do up her own coat and shoes, wipe her own bum, wash her hands, listen to instructions and share. Teachers will thank you for this

My DC1 was reading before he started school, so I was a bit worried that DC2 was behind when she couldn't read anything at the same age. Now they're teens and both doing well at school.

My now 5 year old could recognise her name, possibly some letter sounds (satpin) but still defaulted to pistol grip. She got it when she was ready.

My 2 year old can count to 5 (from the 1000s of times he's heard us count before trouble arrives for his sister) can recognise some letters (s and o) and occasionally gets "taught" some sounds by big sis.

I'd also assume that preschool kids with older siblings might well have sat in on/been partially involved in older sibs' basic literacy lessons during homeschooling - but being "ahead" now academically is less important than being able to recognise name and deal with uniform and shoes effectively.

My sister and I could read and write before we started school. My own children could not though. I don’t think it matters much.

I'm a nursery TA, we have children mark making to those that can write full names and cvc words and everything in between.

DD1 started school barely able to count to 10, knew no letters, let alone reading and writing.

DD2 learnt lots of phonics at preschool, could sort of write her name, would try to write other stuff, could read basic words.

There's a massive range. DD1 was 'behind', but in most ways typical of a summer born. Born a few weeks later and in the year below, she would have been average (she didn't 'get' reading until Yr1). DD2 was a bit ahead on starting.

Dd1 is 3 (4 in August), she can sing the alphabet, read the letters, numbers 1 - 20 (read one to 10), recognises her name written. She recites her fave books/ songs...she can't write or draw for toffee though, just loves going mental with scribbles! There was a recent wall/black eyeliner incident.....I think I could make out some sort of tree.....??

I agree with the pps about teaching before school and them having to relearn - I'm really happy she knows what she knows (and that I now know to hide all make up from sight!)

I don't think it matters. DS couldn't read before he went to school. He is now reading English at Cambridge

Honestly please don't panic. She isn't behind. Just stick to reading with her every day and count things out loud, but please don't worry about teaching her letters or to read. That's what school is for. She can practice her pencil grip through colouring in. I remember when my eldest daughter started school and my heart sank at the stay and play session they had in the June before she started - there were children confidentiality writing their names on their artwork and I said to the teacher oh crikey DD can't write her name or anything and she totally reassured me and said that's what school is for.

@elastamum

I don't think it matters. DS couldn't read before he went to school. He is now reading English at Cambridge

That's great! you must be really proud! I love hearing things like this, I think this milestone target puts us under so much stress and worry!

My DC just turned 4 and absolutely hates colouring in of holding a pencil or crayon in any way, hates it so writing is a no go at the moment, they're just not interested. They do however know all their letters and can read simple, phonetically sensible words. I think there's such a range at this age but I know it's hard not to compare, I definitely worry about the lack of interest in writing or drawing so some answers above have been reassuring.