Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can your 4 year old read?

65 replies

Dinoswearunderpants · 15/10/2025 13:52

My DS started school in September and I've got communications saying at age 4, he should be to read simple books.

We read to him every night before bed and have recently started reading a simple book where we breakdown the words and try to get him to read along.

Invariably he's tired so just before bed isn't the best time to try and get him to read but straight after school I want hm to have some downtime.

Just curious if my DS is behind or not?

OP posts:
Autisticburnouthell · 15/10/2025 13:55

Do they mean read to the book or just sit and enjoy turning the pages and looking at pictures?

At this age my oldest could read level one RWI book with things like “dad had a hat” but she was above average in an above average area. Most children will be reading these books by Christmas.

tinyshoulders · 15/10/2025 13:55

Are you sure it’s a real school?

FloweringDaisy · 15/10/2025 13:55

In reception they will be learning phonics and systematically building up his library of sounds. Surely you know what phonics he’s learning and he brings home reading books? If not you need to speak to his teacher not ask mumsnet! No, not behind to not be reading by age 4, as most kids start school at 4 not able to read.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

4 year olds Children's books Families
Alasar · 15/10/2025 13:55

Gosh at 4 he should be learning phonetic sounds and recognising letters!

My daughter is 5 and she started school in September (we are in Ireland). She's starting to recognise letters in our names and when reading in bed.

I'm also a primary teacher and wouldn't have such expectations of a 4 year old.

Chipsahoy · 15/10/2025 13:56

My youngest didn’t even start school until 5.5 as we are in Scotland. He was reading well by the end of primary one but certainly not before. 4 is not behind. Your child is very little.

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 15/10/2025 13:59

I think that would be unusual.

I have one exceptional child who was properly reading by four - the head teacher was called in to listen to her read to the class in the second week of Reception as it was that odd. She'd often be reading the teachers' emails as they popped up.

My younger two (just four) can read sentences like "I have a carrot" and "The doctor said quack" but I am a very pushy mum and actively teach ahead of the phonics programme - again, that is unusual afaik. I think most kids will be at the CVC word, own name stage at this age.

peakedat40 · 15/10/2025 14:00

No, although I know some who can. I’d clarify what they mean. We have boring books sent home with pictures and no words and I’m not totally sure what the point of them is 😂

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 15/10/2025 14:02

FloweringDaisy · 15/10/2025 13:55

In reception they will be learning phonics and systematically building up his library of sounds. Surely you know what phonics he’s learning and he brings home reading books? If not you need to speak to his teacher not ask mumsnet! No, not behind to not be reading by age 4, as most kids start school at 4 not able to read.

Edited

Yes he's bringing these simple books back in his reading bag but they are saying he should be able to unaided.

We go through the phonics he's learning and play games where we spell out words etc.

OP posts:
curious79 · 15/10/2025 14:03

She couldn’t - definitely don’t worry!

Edenmum2 · 15/10/2025 14:04

I have a 3.5 year old and can’t imagine her being close to reading by 4. And we read dozens of books before bed (🙄)

il pretty sure I asked a teacher and they said most can’t read when they start school

Keroppi · 15/10/2025 14:04

Yes, simple words like dog, cat etc with a few sight memorisation of favourite words like dinosaur or for one dc, snail!

Some kids enjoy phonics and letters and some don't. 2 of my DC hated writing and drawing but were reading and doing maths at 4.5

FloweringDaisy · 15/10/2025 14:05

Dinoswearunderpants · 15/10/2025 14:02

Yes he's bringing these simple books back in his reading bag but they are saying he should be able to unaided.

We go through the phonics he's learning and play games where we spell out words etc.

Show quote history

Ignore them. I have a son also in Reception and he’s at the stage of sounding out sounds and just about blending them into simple words. This is absolutely where they should be right now. Ignore anyone trying to compete or put you down.

RedRobyn24 · 15/10/2025 14:06

She’s just started this week reading a book with the words pit, pat, tip tap, sip, nap and it. If that counts then yes, but I think the long answer is she’s learning

UnbeatenMum · 15/10/2025 14:06

I think DS was sounding out and blending simple 3 letter words at this point in year R. But I'm not sure they all were. He was already 5 too.

NuffSaidSam · 15/10/2025 14:07

Yes, but:

She's one of the oldest in the year, so nearly 5.

She went to nursery at the same school (pre-prep) and they did phonics etc there so they've already had a year of being taught to read.

She very bright. I think most of the kids in her class can read simple CVC words, but only a small number can read fairly fluently.

I wouldn't expect most children in a state primary to be reading fluently six weeks into reception.

VikaOlson · 15/10/2025 14:10

One of my children is an August birthday and by June of Reception (when they do the final report) they was reading simple books.
One of my children is a September birthday and by the June of Reception they were reading simple books too.

So in my experience is more to do with how long they've been learning rather than age.

User415373 · 15/10/2025 14:11

My DD was 4 in may, just started reception and cannot 'read' fluently.
She can recognise the alphabet and knows some phonics sounds. She recognises her own name and some other words but she can't sound out and then blend (decode) words. Which is totally normal. I used to be a teacher as well, specialising in phonics so I have more awareness of what's normal.
My DDs school send books home - I model sounding out, ask her 'what's this sound' etc. The school have said to do this and I totally support their approach.
We read loads of books but I don't push 'learning to read' at home too much in my decades experience, it makes very little difference in the long run as long as you're talking about books lots and practising when you can.

Bitzee · 15/10/2025 14:11

Sort of… he can recognise a few common exception words and sound out cvc words so he can just about manage a stage 1 reading book, which we do maybe twice a week together because he’s often too tired after school and mornings are too busy. School are yet to send home books, they’ll start after the HT so I don’t think there’s any great expectation yet.

ShesTheAlbatross · 15/10/2025 14:12

My 4 year old could read, but she’s young in the year so she could read by the end of reception while she was still 4.
But 6 weeks into reception, I’m very surprised they’re expecting this from every child.

MoreThanRubies · 15/10/2025 14:13

No. DD is 4.5, articulate and clever, but she can’t read as such. School is teaching her one letter a day, which she is picking up, recognising then in other contexts. Still not full words or books. School sends home a worksheet with each letter, no books yet. My mum is a former primary school teacher and has no concerns.

I would be baffled to be told she should be able to read already.

Overthebow · 15/10/2025 14:17

Dinoswearunderpants · 15/10/2025 14:02

Yes he's bringing these simple books back in his reading bag but they are saying he should be able to unaided.

We go through the phonics he's learning and play games where we spell out words etc.

Show quote history

Can he read the books being sent home? Can he sound the letters out then blend them to form the words?

My dd was in reception last year, she was one of the youngest so at this stage in the year she was 4 years and 3 months old. She had just begun to bring simple books with words home and could blend the words in them and therefore read them to me unaided, but they were very simple with around 3 words on each page to begin with and 3 letter words. I would think as long as your ds can recognise the letters and start blending simple words and therefore read these very simple books then he is on track.

Humball · 15/10/2025 14:17

Surely they mean that children are expected to be able to read simple books by the end of reception?

My som was 4 in May and just started reception. He can read because he was taught at preschool and it clicked for him. Other children in his class can’t read as well yet but can do other things that my son is still just learning. It will all level out quickly. Don’t worry!

ErrolTheDragon · 15/10/2025 14:18

What a strange idea - there’s no ‘should’ about being able to read this young. I could; I was a bit surprised when my DD couldn’t but DH was (uncharacteristically) relaxed - he’d been a ‘late developer’ re reading. Both of them, once they belatedly got going, outstripped their classmates. Of course that doesn’t always happen but he reckons it’s like there’s some sort of circuit which doesn’t get switched on as soon for some kids.
Of course many countries avoid this angst by not starting formal education so very early.

Stade197 · 15/10/2025 14:20

My 4 year old has just started reception and cannot read and isnt expected to

We read books with him every night and some afternoons if he asks to do extra reading, they also send books home from school to read with him but he wouldn't be able to read them himself just yet

VikaOlson · 15/10/2025 14:21

Dinoswearunderpants · 15/10/2025 14:02

Yes he's bringing these simple books back in his reading bag but they are saying he should be able to unaided.

We go through the phonics he's learning and play games where we spell out words etc.

Show quote history

Is he practising sounding out the words in his reading book? You can help if he gets stuck.

Swipe left for the next trending thread