Can 2 year olds read?

[spritesoright]

A friend told me today that her DD, age 2.3, is beginning to recognise letters and read. Apparently she managed to read "pasta dishes" from a menu.
My DD is the same age but doesn't recognise any letters, let alone read words! Is this normal? Can other 2 year olds read?

Yes it's possible, DH was reading at 3 and so did his sister, but MIL had those flashcards and trained them to recognise the words. She bought me the book when DS was 1. It went streight in the recycling. Having said that, DS2 read his first word at 2, it was 'koko', as in the train in chuggington. He said 'look, K-O-K-O' that makes KOKO. So yes, it's possible, but in my humble opinion, not worth the trouble. I much prefer the idea of playing in puddles and kissing frogs.

I could. My DD is about the same age and recognises some letters (maybe 8-10). She has an astonishing memory - she looks at pages in books and 'reads' them. But it's not reading...

To get a dx of ASD you must fit the criteria for that dx.

I know. I've been through a detailed diagnostic process with both of my children

ASD is a collection of difficulties which are identified by particular traits and characteristics via observations and developmental history as part of the diagnostic process. My DD's hyperlexia was put forward by her psychologist as one of many pieces of evidence of her ASD.

I was simply commenting that someone can have a trait which is recognised as being more common in people ASD in isolation without have ASD which, I think, is exactly what you are saying .

Goldmandra I'm glad you cleared that up as I was starting to be a bit at the suggestion that people only read early if they were ASD, as opposed to that they were just interested in reading.

DS can also 'read' whole books in that he has memorised the text that goes with a particular page. You can even pick a page at random and he will 'read' it. But that ISN'T reading and I know it isn't.

And why would you teach a child to read? Because they want to learn! Because they constantly ask you what combinations of letters say, mix up their own words with their toy alphabet and ask you to read them, because they pick words out of their favourite story and ask if that says 'snake'. You just build on their interest as you would with anything. And if they're not interested, you don't do it. You don't have to be some hot-housing tiger mother.

Gold I was trying to answer your post not rile you.

OK. I misunderstood

I don't think hyperlexia is more common in people with ASD than in the general population

It is. It is included in the red flags for Early Years practitioners to be aware of.

And why would you teach a child to read? Because they want to learn! Because they constantly ask you what combinations of letters say, mix up their own words with their toy alphabet and ask you to read them, because they pick words out of their favourite story and ask if that says 'snake'. You just build on their interest as you would with anything. And if they're not interested, you don't do it. You don't have to be some hot-housing tiger mother.

That is a great summing up of the very best way to educate children, particularly young children. You follow their interests and harness their enthusiasm

Would you care to explain this to Liz Truss? She seems to have missed this point altogether.

I could. Started school with a reading age of 11. They didn't know what to do with me so put me in front of the bookcase. 2 months later when I had read everything they let me choose the new books they ordered.

DS (4) can read basic words and blends them out. He writes well, not correctly but the phonics logic is there e.g writing a card to Roni he put Ronee.
DD (3) wants to read so I let her play about on a website called reading eggs (?) and she's enjoying herself but I'm not policing it IYSWIM.
DS2 is 18 weeks. He can't read

I have video of dd reading her name and those of family members on her second birthday. At 3 she knows all letters and can blend cvc words but hasn't yet got sh or th. She knows ch though because of chocolate.

The older two were both reading at 3 with phonics. Justruns Iin the family.

My DS is 14 months. He knows 14 phonic sounds. I have never taught him them but we read about 50 books a day I reckon. He's a bit is obsessed. He started do ssssss when he saw an s then mmmm when he saw M. I cracked out my flash cards and it turns out he knew 14 sounds. He is obsessed with letters at the moment and reads them where ever we are. I have recorded him for posterity!

Do I need to do the mumsnet thing and say something he isn't good at in an apologetic manner? He can't drink from a bloody beaker to save his life!

My dd can find Peppa pig on the sky box but again that is probably more recognise that those lines always get her reading. She isn't decoding/sounding out words.
She points out things that start with the same first initial as her name. She understands that writing means things but that's as far as it goes.
She is 2.7 and clearly a genius (like her mother)

My five year old knows her name has a hat (circumflex) so can always find it. She only started school this week though so I'm sure she'll be reading soon.