Learning to read - best books for preschooler?

[charlieg22]

Not sure if this is right board but DS1 turned 4 in Oct & have been trawling Amazon for books to learn reading but there are so many + all have good reviews. Which did you use? DS is a quick learner but is very active + short attention span (arent all boys?!) so especially keen to hear from anyone with experience in this area + any useful tips/tools. Thanks!

Why do you feel the need to teach him how to read before he starts at school? I'd focus on letter names and sounds for now, playing I spy etc and not bog him down with anything more than that for now.

No idea if this is correct as it was my flaky Dsis that told me but you're not really supposed to teach them to read as it mucks up the schools method when they start.

I think instilling a love of reading for pleasure is the most important thing. This will motivate him to read when the time comes as he'll know books are fun. Have you joined your local library? Visit regularly, let him choose books and learn how it all works, chat about the stories, get to know your librarians, go to events there etc. etc. Libraries are wonderful family friendly places and no one tells you to shush these days as is the stereotype!

My (teacher) mother has given both her grandsons (include ds) the biff chip and kipper book sets and says they're great. Personally, I'm not a fan of learning tools for this age range (ds is 2.4yo) but ds loves the bloody boring story-less books!

My DS aged 4.2 is reading the Ladybird Key Words with Peter and Jane series of books - the same ones that I learned to read with almost 40 years ago (even the pictures are the same). Got him the 3rd set for Christmas and he loves them. We also use the flashcards that go with them. All bought quite cheaply on Amazon .

I suggest you do the phonics 1st. That's what they do in school. I didn't teach my DS how to read before school... as I didn't have a clue how!
Then start with the 1st Oxford Reading Tree books (Biff, Chip etc). There are loads of these. However, I it will get very expensive if you're planning on buying them (about £5 a book I think), as you do really need to follow the scheme in order. There are places where you can borrow books for a small monthly fee (they send them to you each month) - am sure someone here will have heard of it. Even when they start school, they will probably be moved backwards. I too used the Ladybird Key Words books (mainly for nostalgic reasons!) - DS wasn't as keen and preferred Biff & Chip!

Jolly phonics initially

My friend mentioned reading owls the other day. Lots of online appropriate books. Biff etc

I agree installing an enjoyment of reading is much better then starting teaching them to read. The worst case scenario is that you turn DS off learning

Thebookpeople had and reguarly had the Oxford reading series (biff, chip etc) at excellent discounted price, worth keeping an eye on

I love the Jelly and Bean books. There are very structured for early learners. They start with all small letters and then introduce the capitals slowly. They also introduce the easy sounds first and the combined ones ('ch', 'sh', 'th') later. My ds loves reading them.

www.jellyandbean.co.uk/

An active preschooler shouldn't be sat down learning to read, instead you should be reading to him. You need to create s love of words and books. You could put him off learning if he isn't ready to sit down and learn.

My son is almost exactly the same age and is in pre-school (attached to a school) where they have daily phonics lessons, using letters and sounds (you can download it somewhere, possibly Dept of Edu website if you google it). He already knew the basics when he start - had picked them up day to day, no formal learning. He has never been 'sat down to learn' and has a definite passion for books. Indeed reading absolutely anything, anywhere. He's not the only one in his (state) pre-school class at this level and the teacher (and the reception teacher who also knows him) has absolutely no issues with him being at the stage and is encouraging him at the pace he's ready and enthusiastic for. FSo don't be put off by people saying you shouldn't encourage him if he is interested and wants to do it. If he's not interested and you'd be forcing him to do it, then it's of course best not to and if he's not interested in holding attention for long, don't push it or yes, you'll put him off. It takes children several years to get to grips with the complexities of the English language so it's crucial not to put them off at the start. As a parallel, by DS who is so keen to read still has zero interest in writing (unlike some of his peers who will happily out of choice copy out words, their name etc) and I've left that completely alone - he'll do it when he's ready.

My DS has had some Biff, Chip, Kipper books but has found the early ones rather dull. He's seen the jolly phonics stuff but wasn't so keen and his school follows a different scheme anyway (Read, Write Inc) so I have deliberately avoided it. However, he really likes reading the Julia Donaldson Songbirds books which we've been getting from the library. It might be worth finding out which scheme his likely primary school will be using. He also just picks odd words out of the stories I'm reading to him.

Sorry for the essay.

My ds is 4 (October birthday) and his preschool has introduced phonics to him.

We read to him every day and he is now showing an interest in trying to read. He's also started writing (again preschool have introduced this).

But I don't plan to use any reading schemes. We just go to the library once a week and let him choose and develop his love of books.

At this stage you don't really need to spend a fortune on buying sets of books. Just visit your local library a lot and try out the different types of books and sets they have. At preschool age just getting your child used to handling books, reading left to right, the idea that print carries meaning etc will all be good foundations for starting to read. You will find that your DS might start to pick up lots of high frequency words (the, and, it.... etc) just from lots of reading. Don't feel you have to stick to simple picture books either, from a young age my DS loved fact books on dinosaurs in particular which we would read to him.

If your DS likes simple computer programmes try Alphablocks on CBeebies website, it's a good introduction to phonics