What age do kids start to get the idea of reading and write name?

[1fish2fish]

Just curious, I have just turned 4 year old boy who knows about 90% of lower case letters by sight, there's only really Q and N he doesn't know. He is pretty good with numbers too. But shows absolutely no interest in learning to write letters he seems a long way off being able to write his name and won't even really draw a recognisable picture, just mark making squiggles. Am starting to think he may be just getting the idea of 'reading' three and four letter words like cat, dog etc, he seems to be figuring out how to put the three sounds together c-a-t. Does all of this sound age appropriate? I know all kids develop differently but wondering if he is slightly behind average with the mark marking?

You could have written this about my DS1 turns four in four months. Others seem to draw beautifully but he's all about the scribbles. Can write his name but no concept of putting the letters in a line and can't blend sounds. Fab at shapes though. I just think they are all different and am not worrying about it. hes great at other things, may be writings just not his thing at the mo. We do it when he wants and only when he wants. Just hoping that's ok. I don't want to turn him off it completely by pushing it. They are only 3/4 after all. plenty of time for them to gain interest. Enjoys story's but writing can't compete with playing trains :)
Be interested to know if he is behind, but unless feed back is it's a real issue think I'm going to let him go at his own pace.

I wouldn't worry. I have four children, DD1, now 19, wrote her name by 4, but scribbled. DD2 (18) could draw and write by four, but she's super clever. DS (now 16) couldn't draw without scribbling or write his name until he was 5 and had been a reception for half a term. DD3 is almost 4.6, her drawing has been quite good for maybe six months now, and she can write her name and a few little words, but she is obsessed with writing lists and has therefore put lots of time into it.

Honestly they all 'get it' eventually and, while some of their peers may seem to be 'advanced', by the end of Reception they'll all be pretty similar in abilities, with the odd exception..

He won't even attempt to draw say a person or a car tho, he can just about draw a circle but left to his own devices its just scribble. He's also not good at other fine motor stuff and struggles to dress and undress. Wonder if its fine motor skills are lacking, it's one thing I have to admit I have never focused on. Should I be pushing it now? He seems on track in every other way....

Our nursery gave us ideas to encourage fine motor skills - playdoh, drawing with chalks on the floor, using spray bottles (strengthen fingers). Ds also uses Lego which helps too (he's 3.10 and doesn't write but can draw very basic stuff).

um, just turned 4 & you're worried about him reading? He hasn't even started school yet. I'd understand if you said just turned 5.

Don't worry. I am sure that he will be able to write his name by Christmas. Children are all different and summer born boys often don't have these skills on starting reception. Infact plenty of autumn born children cannot write their name.

If your son cannot write his name or draw this time next year then

write from the start

can help. However it is too soon to think about such interventions for such a young child.

Depends on the child and whether they see it as interesting and a worthwhile thing to do.
Dd1 was reading early, but didn't start writing until she saw older ones doing it at preschool. Then she learnt pretty quickly.
Dd2 was determined to do what her big sister was doing, so was doing both at 2yo.
Ds loved reading, so was reading fairly early. However as his teacher said this year (year 1) "I expect his writing would be good if he wanted to do above the bare minimum". He's just turned 6yo and still wouldn't write (he'll type a bit) if he never was made too. He would tell you writing is boring and pointless as he can always type and there's also a spell check if he types, so what's the point in learning spellings.

If you have iPad or iPhone the app Hairy Letters is brilliant for learning how to write the letters. We love Alphablocks on Cbeebies or iplayer for early blending of letters. Don't worry though, lots of kids start school unable to write their name, recognise letters, or as I found to my horror even realise that text conveys meaning (sad for the kids who were never read a story)

I'm not worried about ds2(4.9), who can write his name, numeracy is very good, but scribbles and shows no interest in reading or writing letters.
Nursery said fine motor games, but not to force him to sit down and do this summer, because he would be fine.
Was told to focus on the letters 's-a-t-p-i -n' , so will try and fine words in supermarket, satsuma a , apples etc, and leave it at that.
You worry with dc1. With dc2 you are far less bothered!

I would work on developing his motor skills in his arms, chest and hands - small fine things like creature suggested are great - also gross ones like monkey bars, climbing trees, climbing up the slide! Where he is weight bearing on his arms rather than legs are all great.

He certainly seems interested so I wouldn't be concerned that he is in any way behind.

My son started writing his name around 3ish and was reading around 28 months.

My DD is 29 months and can write a few letters but mainly just scribbles and draws flowers... kinda. She can point out words on cards to read but nowhere near where my son was.

Every child develops differently, maybe like others suggested work on his gross and motor skills. He's interested so that's good news :)

Just so you know where another similar child is, DS is 3.11 and knows all his letters very thoroughly (hothouse nursery!) and is starting to sound out words so is reading Cat on the mat type sentences (painstakingly). But has absolutely no interest in anything other than scribbling. He could write his name at 3 but can still do no more than write his name (and it's barely legible). He has never really drawn anything - ever. Just has no interest. I'm not sure if it's a fine motor skills thing as he's fine at getting dressed and highly adept at eating! I think he's just not interested.

He does show very slightly more interest in the whiteboard/chalkboard we have at home than in pen and paper so that might be something to explore.

It sounds as though our boys are in very similar places. Overall, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

The key to a child's success in school (and life!) is social skills, listening skills and concentration.

I think that when you have two children it makes you realise how much is down to pure nature rather than nuture. If my daughter has been born first I would had been unbarably smug. She has been developmentally advanced and hit all the baby milestones early.

My son's development was unusual. He was late walking, learning to talk, potty training and had no pen control at the start of reception. He was under the local child development centre from the age of 20 months until the end of year 1.

However my son has achieved good level 5s across the board in year 6. He over took many of these precocious girls tots in year 2. Some of these "gifted" toddlers were decidely average by year 6. In particular boys do take longer to mature developmentally than little girls.