To be worried about the number of 6 year olds reading Harry Potter?

[mydogeatsnutstoo]

My dd is 6, nearly 7. I think she is quite a bright child, she is creative and outgoing and quite athletic. Her school reports always suggest she is doing well.

However, I have been worried that she has not taken to reading as I thought she would - I was one of these precocious and avid readers as a child and she is just not! ( and not for want of opportunity, loads of books in house, taken to library a lit etc). She is on level 2b reading book which I think is about right for year 2 but definitely not Harry Potter level! Getting her to read in itself can be a trial, although she has spurts of interest and improvement though would not sit down and read a book herself very often.

I am trying not to push her but will be v disappointed if she doesn't like reading! Please tell me that there are other bright 6 year olds at this stage not reading The Hobbit (as my friend's daughter apparently has!) and that they can suddenly just 'get it' a bit later!

Meh, I remember my friend telling me her 7 year old had read The Hobbit. I had a bit of a chat with him about it and it was perfectly clear he hadn't absorbed a word.

However, I do share the frustration of others here that people assume NO children of a particular age can read and understand complicated books. Some kids can. Some kids can't. Some kids can but later. Some kids never like reading. They are all different, it's not about boasting. If they can do it they can do it.

I have always had to push for my kids to be moved up reading levels the whole time because they let them stay on a particular level for too long, the books are way too easy and I don't want them getting bored. And they always always say they want to make sure they are using expression and checking comprehension before they move them on. But they are already comprehending and using expression.

DD2 learnt to read by herself and of her own accord, and could already read to ORT level 5 when she started Reception. But despite her nursery manager confirming in writing to the school that she could both read and understand at this level, they still started her in Reception on the books with no words to "check her storytelling comprehension". Luckily, they moved her up pretty quickly once they realised she really could read.

I don't understand how people who say their child who is a level 2 reader can then say they have read the Hobbit, or Harry Potter, or anything similar. A child who is working at level 2 for comprehension and reading would not be able to fully comprehend the Hobbit. My dd is working at a good level 5 and is finding her current book of choice, Tarka the Otter a challenge. She was asked to read The Hobbit for 11 plus studies and this. I really think that a 6 year old reading at a level 2 is not comprehending the Hobbit or Harry Potter in the way it was intended.

Bragging rights" and "preening"? Really - why do people view early readers with such suspicion?

I don't view any children with suspicion.

I view parents (who are liable to exaggerate their little darlings skills and talents) with a high degree of it though. A 6 year old with the reading age of 12 that is necessary to competently read and understand HP is rare. RARE. Not impossible, and I've no doubt it does sometimes happen, but certainly not commonplace. And I question the truthfulness of anyone who claims to have a dc in a class full of 6 year olds all reading HP FGS . And that as well as their own dc reading HP at 6, they were also themselves reading Dickens and Dahl and bla bla at age 3 (and this thread is full of those types of post). My arse you were, I say.

I don't believe quite a few posts on here. For good reasons too mind - there is actually one poster who 2 months ago posted on an education thread about her dc aged 6 struggling with reading. On this thread, two months later, the same dc is apparently ploughing through HP I don't name and shame but - do you know who you are?

I find that parents sometimes confuse decoding with understanding Fresta - so their L2 child can 'sound out' the words and get the broad gist of a book but won't really be getting the most from it. A more stage-appropriate book might be more enjoyable but less braggy for mum and dad for the child and would most certainly be more helpful with their inference and language development.

I often get students in secondary school whose skills across 'reading' are mismatched because their parents pushed books on them oh yes, they always 'chose them' ... I forget. Funny how they never choose Tracy Beaker or Captain Underpants in these situations eh? and they learned to associate high level decoding with reading, not immersion.

There will always be younger children who enjoy novels and series at a young age, but they won't be the majority.

...and I was a reading prodigy with a reading age of 14 at 7 years old. Shit at maths though.
...but I still liked 7 year olds' books because I enjoyed the CONTENT. I didn't want icky boy-snogging Judy Bloom and Point Horror would have terrified me! (Clues to my age.) The Hobbit was so confusing with tactics, battles and hundreds of beardy dwarves...
It was actually very hard for me to find an enjoyable book until I got a bit older. I tended to go for non-fiction!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Ottoline by crhis riddle are the books that got my dd into reading,

www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoline-Yellow-Cat-Chris-Riddell/dp/033045028X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449070412&sr=8-1&keywords=ottoline

Op my DD is brilliant reader but Harry Potter - or the one we have is a teeny bit too much for her to read too, because of the long chapters. she has read many books and had perfect understanding of them - think a series of unfortunate events, but it is the longevity and small print of the harry potter that is a teeny bit too un appealing for her.

her pals are also great readers but even then in different ways.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand.

dont worry op, just try and find books that appeal to her!

Oh yes, my dd loved Ottoline too! These are perfect for younger readers! My dd was about 7 when she liked these.

some dc are very swictehd on and can understand at early age, mine is! it really annoys me when people insist they cant possibly understand

People aren't saying that.
They're saying it's above average behaviour i.e. not every child will understand. Not huge swathes of 6 year olds. And if they can, they're not NC L2.
Ironic we are talking about reading vs detailed comprehension.

My eldest was above his expected level ( was a while ago as he's 24) and reading very little at home. On a meeting with his teacher he told me this, he may be able to read at this level however his understanding of what he is reading is not anywhere near. My other two girls were the opposite they were both below their expected reading level throughout junior school, one loves reading and the other one just couldn't take to reading books and she still cannot read a whole book and she is 23 ( can read though). I shouldn't worry about reading levels as long as the teachers are not concerned

Being a good early reader & a child that enoys reading are 2 totally different things. My eldest 2 dc (12 & 14) both adore reading and their idea of a perfect shopping trip is one that ends with a visit to Waterstones, however, at the age of 6 neither was at HP level! The way to encourage enjoyment is keeping lots of books around & not pressurising. I suspect that being from Europe where formal education doesn't start till 6yo, was a help in my more relaxed attitude. Most people at home would consider my 6yo dd2 a genius for being able to read early readers at all!

Exactly Belgina. "Worthy" books can put a keen reader off, or give the message that their personal tastes/passions are not 'good enough'.
I sometimes get children asking in the school library, when they have 'free choice', which books are 'best'. It's sad when they are confused about reading a book they enjoy.

Studies prove all reading of books and magazines to be beneficial. 20 mins per day tends to increase GCSE results by 1 grade across the curriculum. Therefore, a child who enjoys 6 year old books at 6 and a child who enjoys 10 year old books at 6 will both benefit most from the attitude that reading regularly, for pleasure, about things that interest them, is the best thing to do.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying HP at age 6, if it is genuine.
But there is nothing wrong with reading L2 books either.

...and if they're not up to HP and are forced by default strongly encouraged to read it, it could knock their confidence or turn them off reading... or make them into the kind of kid who insists they can handle 2A Tale Of Two Cities" when they're NC L3 and sadly indoctrinated into thinking decoding is reading. Their book review was random to say the least! Turned out mum had told them to get their mitts on some Dickens. After 3 years steady work I put them on to some of his ghost stories, and they were able to access and enjoy those, less famous, books aged 14.

My DS1 has sats level 6 in English in year 6 and didn't touch Harry potter. He read extensively. He read what ever took his fancy.

DS2 aged 7.5 is average according to his teachers and free reading. Able class. He only started to be interested in reading this year. He's presently reading horrible histories, which is the hardest book he's read to date.

Humour really inspires my DS to read.

It's not just about reading the book, it's understanding it. It's like us being able to read the medical dictionary fluently but we wouldn't understand a word of what we'd just read. Horrid Henry and the like are brilliant because younger children can read and understand them.