3 year old not interested in books/alphabet

[Fugghetaboutit]

Should I be worried?

If I try and sit down with him and read he runs off. I try and suggest he choose a book : same thing.

He's very on the go, lots of energy. Loves being outdoors exploring, likes lego and painting, play dough and messy stuff but not colouring or reading at all.

He likes being read to at night though. He doesn't know any letters except for O as his name starts with that. I know at nursery they do lots of reading and alphabet learning, just wondering how I can do more at home.

I wouldn't. I would wait for his natural interest to develop.

I hate that my 3yo DS is being taught to write the alphabet at nursery. He's writing out sodding letters when he has no idea which sounds most of them can be used to represent. I was just saying today that it's on my list of reasons for wanting to leave the UK for my home country.
There children are not taught to read or write before 5 and the literacy results are better than the UK. From what I have read there is no benefit to teaching this early - as the evidence from other countries shows.

Let him play. Reading stories at bed is enough.

Thank you, I always tell myself he's so young it doesn't matter but you get those pangs of worry!

I just want him to enjoy being little and explore the world

I sent my children to a childminder precisely because I didnt want them having the pressure to learn so young. Its not necessary and for most Im sure its not as much fun as the sand pit or making dens in the garden.

Mine went to school not being able to read or write and only recognise a few letters. There were others that could do much more (their mothers will only be too pleased to tell you!!), within the year it was all pretty much even and now several years later who can even remember!

He is doing exactly as he should: being little and exploring the world.

Sounds like he's being a model 3 yo.

Mine was exactly the same at 3, now at just over 4 he's suddenly got interested in letters. Still not interested in writing but can just about scrawl his name.

He likes being read to at night though

There you go - he does like books.
During the day he's behaving like any 3 yr old will - exploring the world around him. There's no reason why he should "know the alphabet" or recognise letters at 3, he's got more important things to do

You've all made me feel better. It's funny because when I picked him up from nursery they had been playing with letters and his key worker said he knows a few letters now which is good I suppose, although now I'm not really bothered either way