DS, 8, reading books too quickly

[rattusrattus20]

Not a stealth boast along the lines of 'he's too advanced' etc, I mean he just races through them, must be skim reading or something, not fully taking things in.

e.g. he rattled through 'the Hobbit' in a few days, afterwards I quizzed him on some of the contents, he did OK at being able to describe the major events, but not some of the fine detail [e.g. there are 13 main named dwarves in the book, I asked him to name them, he managed about 2 or 3 names & then started saying things like 'the young twins' or 'the fat one'].

I don't suppose anyone has any tips on how to get him to slow down a bit?

I seem to have avague memory that I did this at around about the same age... I enjoyed reading books two or three times on the trot because I got more information each time! Sounds like he is keen to read so I would just keep encouraging him with lots of new material. TBH the hobbit has lots of bits which are quite dull, especially for an 8 year old so I wouldn't blame him for skim reading some parts!

He's clearly understood the story if he can describe the dwarves - I'm not sure that testing him on all their names is a great example of anything!

I read quickly - it's no problem - I'm still immersed in the story and getting all of the info I need.

Why does this bother you OP?

I read in exactly the same manner when it's a novel. If he's enjoying reading, that's all that counts at his age.

I wouldn't worry about it either. I read like this. I don't bother with names and I wouldn't remember them either. I remember initials or descriptions of characters or things they did. I have been reading non-stop since I was a child. When I read for work (I am an academic) I do slow down and take notes of everything, otherwise I don't remember, but when I read for fun there is no reason to remember the names of the dwarves (I am a huge Tolkien fan, have read everything, even trudged through the Unfinished Tales, but if you were to ask about the dwarves I can only come up with Gimly because I had a pony called that!).

I’m another who thinks it’s not a problem. I’ve always read really fast. There’s a difference between reading for pleasure and studying for a test, after all.

I could never have named more than a few of the dwarves, either. No matter at what age I read (or re-read) it. I, too, would have described them. I remember trying to memorise them once, but Kili and Fili never stuck, and somehow Bifur Bofur and Bombur always turned into Bifur, Bofur and Barbar. (Yes, I had to Google just now.)

Encourage him to re-read books, immediately or later. Just for the sheer pleasure of rediscovering them, and discovering new things, too.

Discuss books with him while he is reading them, not just quiz him. Of course, this means you have to have read them, too. Pretend confusion, and look things up yourself in front of him to check your recall. Share some reading - maybe take turns or characters.

Get him to recommend books to you that he has enjoyed. Maybe make a book journal that you both write in. Just title, author, who read it, genre, why you recommend it. We kept such a journal for a year or two each time our dc were at your dc's stage.

None of mine have my taste for fantasy Though dd like Weird Sisters, and they all enjoyed Mort, but none delved further into Terry Pratchet.

Why is it a problem for you that he reads quickly?

Reading quickly is actually a skill in its own right. It sounds like he's enjoying the story and racing through to find out what happens next. So you've got an engaged and enthusiastic reader on your hands. Why is that a problem?!

And for what it's worth, loads of us are hopeless at remembered the names of characters in books - we're working with a mental picture which the name triggers. So long as he knows who's who and what's going on, which he clearly does, all is well.

I think if you start trying to force him to read for pleasure in an approved manner, you're very likely to ruin all his enjoyment.

If he is enjoying reading isn’t that the most important bit? I read fast naturally but it’s never been an issue

My son did the same at that age and it's nothing to worry about

That's how I read as a child and often still do as an adult. I have a career in book publishing so it hasn't done me any harm Everyone reads differently. Some love the descriptive passages and want to savour every word; others prefer more active scenes and will skip over bits they find dull.

I still skim read. I really shouldn't. I just don't like description very much. Perhaps your son is the same.

Also I remember skipping over loads in the Hobbit and LOtR. Especially the bloody songs

That's how I read as a child and still read as an adult. My work involves a lot of writing and proofing so clearly hasn't harmed me!

He likes reading books, let him read at his own pace and take what he can from them. Even those with great comprehension don't know every single detail till after a few repeat reads.

If you make it a chore by making what and how he reads a big deal, you might put him off it.

I used to read like this as a child and my 9 year old does the same now. If you try and force him to slow down or read differently it could make him less inclined to read at all. It may well be that he slows down himself or not but let him read how he prefers.

Sounds perfectly normal to me .

I read really fast. Dh always goes on at me saying I can’t have read things properly - but I do! I just read very, very quickly. I think some people do!

I can read very quickly and take enough details in, and could at his age. I did a speed reading test once and came out in top 5% answering all the questions correctly. People were always saying to me at primary "You can't possibly have read it properly" but I had.

I've never been particularly good on remembering names though, either in RL or in books.

What is important is being able to read slowly when it really matters. So I knew that when doing reading comprehension, I would read once at my usual speed, then once slowly, noting down anything important. I was very good at comprehension.

My almost 8 year old does this! He tells you he has read 10 chapters when he can’t possibly have 🤷‍♀️.

Just keep giving him books, quizzing him on them afterwards may end up discouraging him and that would be sad