DD in Reception (5yo) is doing well, but she doesn't read fluently yet, blend/segments and knows most of the sight words. There are few kids in the class who are quite advanced and the mums are very smug and pushy and obviously want their kids to set the world on fire (don't we all want). One of them calls her daughter 'very academic' and is aiming for the top grammar school next to out primary.
I volunteered for the school once with 2 other mums and all they talked about was how advanced their kids are, how well they read and how early they started and how 'bright' they are. Fair enough, they might be.
I feel anxious every time I go to school, particularly at pick up. I'm trying to avoid some of the parents by either being the first one or the last one to collect. This is my first experience with this and I really can't stand the competition and the other nonsense that comes with it. Of course I want DD to do well. We read, we do 'homework' every day but I always stop if she's not ready for the next step.
Do kids who read early always make it to top schools? If your child is average in Reception is that a sign they are not academic? I feel ridiculous asking these questions btw.
(One of the mums told me once that she thinks her younger DD who is only 3 is not 'very academic' like the first one, just because she doesn't recognise all the letters yet and is not very fast with her answers when 'put on the spot' - whatever that means) 🙄