DS2 doesnt want me to read to him - he wants to 'read' to me - he is 3!

[ceebeegeebies]

I am aware that I need to read regularly to DS2 to help his reading skills when he starts school etc but he is just not interested. However, he loves picking up books and 'reading' them to me by looking at the pictures - and at bedtimes, we seem to have reversed the bedtime story by him reading to me.

I know his way is important for development aswell but not sure how I can encourage him to let me read to him aswell. I don't want to force him to listen

Lots of 3yos don't much like sitting still while you read to them. Just let him turn the pages and tell you the story - that at least shows that he understands the concept of books and reading. Time enough to worry about specifics once he gets to school. "Reading to" them is just a shorthand for "getting them used to books" and you're doing that in a way he likes, which will do the trick.

Thank you for the reassurance He so loves reading to himself/me I don't want to discourage his way of reading so I am glad that that may not be the case.

He is just so different to DS1 who would have me reading books to him for hours on end and wouldn't even consider sitting there reading it himself

Just go with it, the novelty might wear off after a while. Or if he has some new/library books he might let you read them. As long as he's enjoying books that's what matters the most.

He is still learning the first reading skills which are knowing that there is a narrative, understanding that it progresses as the pages turn and which way to turn them and recognising that text and pictures exist.

When he goes to school his first reading books will probably have no text and you'll be asked to help him tell a story from the pictures just like he is doing now.

The next step would be to recognise that, in English, text reads from left to right and you can help him to become aware of this by following any text you do read to him with your finger.

You don't need to get him to link letters to sounds at this stage and the one most important thing he needs to know is that books are fun. Everything else will follow naturally, especially as he is enjoying them so much.

blimey he's only 2! plenty of time to develop his reading skills, and sounds like he's developing his own imaginative skills, even better ! just go with the flow, once he's read a few stories himself maybe he'll want you to read to him again