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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not expect my almost 6 year old DD to read over summer hols

123 replies

Whisperingwinds · 05/08/2017 16:44

So DD is almost 6 - Sept child and will be moving into year 1. she finfished reception in tne top reading group and her teacher recommended that we ensure she reads atleast a bit everyday so she doesn't forget everything when school restarts.

DH and I both work full time so she is summer camps most week days from 9 to 6 - by the time she is home, she is shattered and just wants to watch TV and sleep. She is in bed by 7:30.

It has been a complete struggle getting her to read and has on,y lead to frustration. So AIBU to just let it go over summer and just let her be? We are off on hols for two weeks in a weeks time and am thinking of taking books and trying then when we are all relaxed and don't have any time constraints like we would on a working day. I want her to love reading and am worried me making a chore might push her the other way.

OP posts:
Mumof56 · 05/08/2017 16:47

You could try reading a bed time story with her. Even if you have to read it and she follows along the words and at one page a night. It would take 10 mins tops. Y ABU if you can't spend 10mins/night with your child.

DermotOLogical · 05/08/2017 16:48

Yes you should read to her instead.

NoCapes · 05/08/2017 16:48

Yep even reading to her is very beneficial
Do you not have a bedtime story?

Sirzy · 05/08/2017 16:49

Maybe not everyday but I would certainly aim for some form of reading even if just a couple of times a week.

Witsender · 05/08/2017 16:50

Reading is meant to be fun, especially at her age. Forcing her into it like a chore makes no sense at all. Read to her a lot (not just at bedtime), have audio books for the car, have lots of lovely books around, visit the library etc and encourage her to love books and stories. The rest will follow.

RedSandYellowSand · 05/08/2017 16:50

Im reading to my 6 and 8 year olds most nights.
They are reading load of stuff during the day (NT what can you see yesterday) but also from a book to me once a week. We are also trying to do writing 1-2 times a week.
BUT our school holiday is 13 weeks. It's a very long time for them to do nothing.

Original poster
Whisperingwinds · 05/08/2017 16:51

Oh we do read to her everyday and she loves being read to. It's the her reading independently that isn't happening

We have atleast two bedtime stories every night.

OP posts:
caffeinestream · 05/08/2017 16:52

Could she read some of her bedtime story? Or read for ten minutes at bed, then you or DH takes over?

Queenioqueenio · 05/08/2017 16:53

You should get her to do a tiny bit a few times a week, maybe just a couple of pages. I've seen it happen - children forgetting how to read over summer.

Sirzy · 05/08/2017 16:53

Maybe she can read some of her bedtime story to you?

Ds used to read to me then I would read to him. Now I read to him and then he sends me down and reads to himself.

Love51 · 05/08/2017 16:54

I think there is still an assumption that kids of that age will mainly be with a parent/ grandparent for much of the holidays. I'm a big reader, and wouldn't be doing 'homework' at that time in the holidays. I would do it at the weekends / days off. Mine wake at the crack of dawn, so my almost 6 year old reads to her wee brother while I'm still half asleep, whatever day it is. She reads picture books, not school reading books though.

TeenAndTween · 05/08/2017 16:55

I think if you can't fit it in in the day time during the week, then you can't, but you should definitely try to do it at weekends and when you are away.

We always did reading practice before school etc as DDs much more awake then. No chance you can find 10mins in your morning schedule?

imip · 05/08/2017 16:55

I do 10 min at bedtime - it is important to keep it up over summer

Lizibet · 05/08/2017 16:55

Would taking her to the library or the bookshop and letting her chose help?

Also she might be more willing to read comics? A lot of people dismiss them but at her age it's really good for them to read loads of different styles.

demurelyblue · 05/08/2017 16:56

Just try to enjoy books and stories with her. Go to rhe library and choose books. Model reading in front of her.

RoganJosh · 05/08/2017 16:57

We try and just do a bit of a page and then I do the rest of the book.

Trb17 · 05/08/2017 16:57

Comics, menus, signs on roads... all reading and can easily be encouraged. It doesn't have to be books.

grasspigeons · 05/08/2017 16:58

I'd let her have a break. If you are reading her two stories a night it's enough. Day camps are fun but children really need a rest too. On your holiday she might read some signs, a menu, a quiz or something enjoyable.

My son really struggled with reading and made loads of progress over the summer we did no reading to give him a break. I guess it gave time for all the prior learning to sink in.

BamburyFuriou3 · 05/08/2017 16:58

Just read to her. That's what I did last summer, and now I can barely get my 6yos head out of a book she reads so much! Grin

thepatchworkcat · 05/08/2017 16:58

My DS is younger so not speaking from experience or anything (but I am a teacher) but if the weekdays are that long and tiring I wouldn't be forcing it either. It'll just put her off and make you all miserable. Read to her as you say you are already, and then get her to do some at the weekends and while you're away.

Cakeorchocolate · 05/08/2017 17:00

No. If you're reading to her everyday anyway. It's great for them to read but if she's being forced and doesn't want to it won't really benefit her she'll probably just hate it more.

Would she want to read more if she picked out a couple of books she liked the look of? You could take her to a bookstore or charity shop and let her look through and pick some so she wants to read them.

eddiemairswife · 05/08/2017 17:00

Why don't you read her the bedtime story, and then let her have 15 mins in bed to look at her books until lights off. She is on holiday after all.

Original poster
Whisperingwinds · 05/08/2017 17:02

Some great ideas thanks - I am going to try and fit it some reading in the morning - maybe I shouldn't worry about the whole book and just go with a few pages everyday. I have been letting her have a lie in most mornings before camp but I could easily work up some reading g game on the bus ride to camp.

I was/am a complete bookworm so trying to find ways in which to install the joy of reading in her.

OP posts:
Misty9 · 05/08/2017 17:02

Ds is exactly the same age but not the top of the class by any stretch and still only on stage 2 I think. But he loves reading. Does she not love reading if she's top of the class? I would recommend the usbourne very first reading series as there's a page for adults and then a sentence or two for the child. And they're fun stories.

We went to the library today and the reading section was nearly empty! So most children must be being encouraged over the summer :)

Love51 · 05/08/2017 17:02

We do the reading together thing, where the text is too long for her to read it all, she will read the words spoken by a particular character or whatever, but once you've taught them the idea, it's better if it comes from the child. Try to get them to ask to be allowed to read like it's ice cream! Mine also reads to see what's on the telly...

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