Can reception children read?

[ReadingGeniuses]

I went to DS' nativity this morning (he's in reception). There were 2 girls narrating the play, they were reading it off a script. I was quite confused. Can some children already read this fluently at that age? They hadn't memorised it, they were just reading. Are they geniuses? Or is this way more common than I realise?

I have 4 children 2 could read before they started school 2 could not read. All have had the same upbringing with me reading to them from babies some children just pick it up quickly. It starts with familiar words and then progresses from there ! It sounds like your child is doing well and is exactly where they should be. Beginning to recognise familiar words and able to read CVC words. Don't panic and just enjoy their childhood.

I was a precocious reader myself. I just was keen and picked it up really easily.

I wouldn't say it's typical though and i'm not interested in pushing them towards books that are aimed at older children though.

My DD couldn’t and my DS (in R now) can’t. Both young in the year.

I feel like I haven't done enough teaching with DS in this case!!! I thought he was doing quite well deciphering 4 letter words, I know some in his class still struggle with 3 letter words.

Don't worry, my DD couldn't read when she started reception but was quickly one of the best readers. I felt out of touch with teaching methods didn't want to interfere or confuse things for her. As with everything, children develop at their own rate. I was also an early reader and sadly not a genius.

To agree with other posters, I taught myself to read in a house where my parents were not bookworms at all and never encouraged me particularly. It doesn't simply follow that a child will or won't be a reader just because of parents.

DD (8) could read when she started Reception but she's a beginning of Sept born; & had attended a pre-prep nursery who focused a lot on academics.
DS (4) couldn't read at all but knew a few phonic sounds when he started in September. He went to a different nursery that was more play-based & he had no interest in reading/writing. He's a June baby, & youngest in Reception. He can now read some words & decode & blend others.
So yes it can happen, but it's not usual & will vary greatly from child to child based on all sorts of circumstances.

Honestly early reading isn’t an indicator of future academic success so try not to fret (easier said than done)

It’s a shame this has turned into a slightly shitty, braggy thread.

For balance, if it helps, DH and I are both Oxbridge graduates and our house contains an unreasonable volume of books. I am an English and literacy specialist and read Jane Eyre at the age of eight, blah blah blah.

August-born DD could not read on starting reception although she had decent phonic awareness due to her excellent nursery and CBeebies’ excellent Alphablocks. She was still a bit behind in R and W when lockdown hit in year 2 and I was tearing my hair out that she would never catch up but she now reads voraciously and writes beautifully (in fountain pen, by choice) in upper KS2.

In contravention of a PP’s nonsense ‘theory’ reception-age DS walked late and will read late and that is fine. He is developing phonic awareness but he has a speech and language delay and is a ‘gestalt’ language learner, memorising whole phrases and stories and applying them to real life, and I suspect he will learn to read in a similar way as his memory is ferocious. He has no formal dx but is certainly ND.

Children catch up and EYFS/KS1 teachers are truly magical in what they can do. It is very important to note that decoding is only part of reading, and some children can put on a very impressive sight-reading display without understanding a word of what they have decoded, which is why reading assessment is a complex, skilled task. Your child will be fine, OP.

On the first day of reception, when some of her classmates still didn’t know which way up to hold a pencil, my daughter promptly picked up a book from the bookshelf and read it through cover to cover. She was able to write more than her own name too.

It didn’t mean she was exceptionally bright or genius. She’s an adult now but over the next few years at primary school she levelled out and although she’s always been one of the top in her class, she knows she’s not unique and that she’s clever, but not extra-special.

Except to us, of course.

Mine read fluently at the age of 5. In fact when the reception teacher had lost her voice and couldn't read to them at the end of the day, she asked my daughter to do it for her.
She had an amazing memory for words as well so that probably helped. Ended up taking a degree in English and becoming a teacher herself.

It varies a lot. My daughter didn't go to nursery, and was reading fluently by the time she started school. Most of the children in her class could read to an extent, and a couple of others were also fluent and reading chapter books when they started. I used to volunteer to read with the children a couple of times each week and there were only a few children who did not know the alphabet and basic phonics when they started Reception.

My son can read some words but he turned four in august so is one of the baby's if the class. However, he a very very good speaker and uses a wide range of vocabulary and was chosen to be a narrator. I read something before about reading, something like it cannot be 'taught' as such it's more about exposure and age etc .. development

I could read really well at that age! I am certainly not a genius, though It's just that some tame a different pace, but it mostly evens out in the end.

Some definitely can, my niece and nephew did readings at my wedding Mass in front of the church, they were in reception and year 1 at the time! It was very cute and impressive.

But ..I have a feeling their classmates of the time can probably also read just as well as them now twelve years on.

When my DC started school in 2001 they were taught to read from day one in reception, there was no pre school and no phonics, I don't think they do that now. DC1 could read a bit before he started school and could read fluently by the end of term one, before he was 5.
DC2 was much slower to learn.
Long term it's made no difference to academic achievements.
Children learn differently and the current teaching methods are very different to when I was at school and when my DC were at school

Huge variation but mostly no, not really. They're still on very early phonics for the most part.

Yes, I was one of these. It helped that my mum was a primary school teacher and books were a major feature in the house. I was mad about animals and reading James Herriot at reception age. Awkward moment when I asked my teacher what piss holes were when reading out loud as a hungover Tristan was being told off for having "eyes like piss holes in the snow".

My children could read pretty fluently when they started reception. As someone said above, I was bored being at home with children and thought I’d teach the oldest one to read. It’s not that hard, read plenty of books to them, sound out letters etc. Each child picked it up effortlessly and enjoyed learning something new. Children that age are happy to learn anything new, the parents just direct what that new thing is. I chose reading because I love to read.

I could read fluently at age 3. Early reading is called Hyperlexia and for me it was the first obvious sign of autism. So it’s not necessarily good to be able to read early.

Hah! Just to provide the exception, my dd didn't really learn to read in English until she was around 8, despite my best efforts, and she only started reading proper novels a year ago (she's nearly 12)

Ally 3 could read fluently before they started school because I taught them.

One of mine could read at 3 and half. The other by around 5. The one that was later reading was very bright, the earlier reader not so much, both children neurotypical
My DGS is neuro diverse and could read by just after 3, I'd guess he's quite a bit above average intelligence
Every child in my huge family was reading by school age, they all grew up surrounded by books so I see no reason why they wouldn't be, it clearly has nothing to do with intellect

Children are all so different my nephew was reading by age three my son only started speaking aged four.

Wonderful post! Completely agree.

Although mine could read in the womb, obviously 😉

My DC1 could read the gruffalo before she started school, DC2 could read simple books by the end of reception. According to my DCs reception teacher there’s one or two each year which can just read.