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Original poster

To think kids learn to read at home

193 replies

homhumherewego · 19/10/2017 12:43

A friend with kids was saying in her daughters class there are quite a few kids learning to read.

WTH?

Isnt teaching reading a parent's job?

OP posts:
Hermagsjesty · 19/10/2017 13:15

Nike - I think you would find it interesting and useful to read up on child development before dismissing others’ parenting

Leomonnaise · 19/10/2017 13:15

Absolutely not. I have a few teachers among my family/friends and they would always advise leaving it to the school to teach reading. They say some kids who start school and can already read may struggle with the phonics system and or may feel bored if they have been taught by phonics and they already know it.

HumphreyCobblers · 19/10/2017 13:16

some children DO learn to read at home before school, I have taught a few of them. Doesn't mean most children will.

CrackedEgg · 19/10/2017 13:16

I had to laugh...

kaytee87 · 19/10/2017 13:18

It’s a bit like expecting babies / toddlers to walk at the same age and admonishing their parents for not encouraging them enough Grin
Eg my nephew walked at 10 months and my son at 14 months. My nephew was running by 15 months and my son is still wobbly at 15 months. However, my son says some words and my nephew didn’t so they were concentrating on different things.

user789653241 · 19/10/2017 13:18

If the child wants to learn to read, nothing wrong in parents teaching them to read.
If you force your reluctant child to learn to read because you want them to be ahead, no, I don't think it's a good idea.

CrackedEgg · 19/10/2017 13:19

You are kidding aren't you?! I could read fluently at 4.5 and I wasn't a child prodigy.

Sorry, but this is still making me laugh

BakedBeans47 · 19/10/2017 13:19

I really don’t get the “WTH” in the OP. Surely the concept of a school teaching reading isn’t that unusual?

Mine didn’t learn to read til school except for very odd words. I didn’t want to risk teaching them a different method and confusing them. I don’t get why it’s something that parents get worked up about tbh

Leomonnaise · 19/10/2017 13:20

You are kidding aren't you?! I could read fluently at 4.5 and I wasn't a child prodigy

eye roll.

Collienova · 19/10/2017 13:21

I'm with previous posters on this. I was not familiar with phonics and teaching my DD my way would've only confused her when she started school. A bit of perspective, in Germany, for example, children don't start school until they're 6/7. Some may already be able to read a bit, but that's when formal reading and writing teaching starts. There's an argument that this age is more appropriate to start formal education and is more successful in terms of educational outcomes and emotional development. I'm an avid reader and I'd love for my DD to become one, too. My job is to encourage her by reading to her )and with her when she's ready). I'm definitely not applying any pressure regardless of what this country's educational system expects or peer pressure by boasty mums.

OohMavis · 19/10/2017 13:22

Actually, unless you know and are familiar with the way reception children start to learn to read, you shouldn't be doing it.

My friend is a primary school teacher and tells me that it's a complete pain in the arse when kids arrive already knowing 'how to read' when their parents have taught them the old way, because they basically have to deprogramme them and start over, or if they can't, spend time they don't have helping these children read the 'wrong' way.

Frustratedboarder · 19/10/2017 13:22

DD's preschool advised parents Not to try to teach children to read/write (beyond their own names) as it was quite likely that the child would end up being confused - even set back - when they then went to school and had to learn the specific reading techniques being taught at her school (unless of course the parent in question was a primary teacher at the child's future school and therefore privy to the techniques taught... Ie unlikely!).

Leomonnaise · 19/10/2017 13:23

My daughter is going to be the youngest when she starts school next year and I doubt she’ll be able to read when she starts school

My DD was the youngest in her class when she started school and she couldn't read, don't worry. She got it very quick and was in the top reading table within a few months.

Anon8604 · 19/10/2017 13:24

Why are people being so dismissive of a poster saying she was able to read at 4.5? I remember starting reception class and being able to read stuff like Alfie and Mog books myself. I don't think that was particularly unusual? I certainly wasn't a child prodigy, or if I was I grew out of it pretty fast! ;-)

Frustratedboarder · 19/10/2017 13:24

X-post with Mavis! Grin

TheSconeOfStone · 19/10/2017 13:24

My laziness paid off. My two didn't get reading until year 2. One is year 5 now the other year 3. They are both fantastic readers now with excellent comprehension, vocabularies and creative writing, including my autistic child. They love reading because they came to it when they were ready rapidly overtaking their peers who had a head start.

LexieLulu · 19/10/2017 13:25

My sons nursery has recommended not teaching him to read before school as your methods can be conflicting to teachers.

Jackiebrambles · 19/10/2017 13:25

Like other posters have said, I suppose I could have 'taught' my son to read at home but I didn't want to confuse him with my not understanding how they teach phonics etc in reception. So instead we did a bit of letter recognition, recognition of his name and just kept playing/us reading loads to him (a teacher friend said the best thing to do is read a lot, and read widely - to foster a love of stories and books).

He's being taught to read now in reception and it's amazing how quickly he's picking everything up. I'm really glad I didn't stress myself about teaching him before he started!

Frustratedboarder · 19/10/2017 13:26

And a million other pp's.... HmmGrin

LagunaBubbles · 19/10/2017 13:26

You are kidding aren't you?! I could read fluently at 4.5 and I wasn't a child prodigy

Well I would suggest you take some of your marvellous reading skills and read a book on basic child development.

Holdbacktheriver · 19/10/2017 13:27

Strange op has disappeared... wasn’t expecting that at all Hmm

lavenderlily · 19/10/2017 13:28

I am with the PP people are mocking. I was certainly reading fluently by 4. I was bright, but far from a genius!

sinceyouask · 19/10/2017 13:28

All children are different. I could read before I went to school.

I am genuinely laughing at people saying parents shouldn't teach their children to read because they won't use the same techniques schools do... That's pathetic, especially if some of the people saying it are teachers.

Ceto · 19/10/2017 13:28

My son wasn't the youngest in his class and couldn't read before he started. He got A*s in English GCSE and A level, and went on to to an English and Drama degree. So clearly it didn't hold him back.

Fattymcfaterson · 19/10/2017 13:29

Reading is sooooo last term.
Are your 4 year old not fluent in Latin yet?!