DS1 in reception - refuses to read

[Eve]

DS1 started in reception in October this year (he is a July birthday to one of the youngest) but he is reasonably bright and is coping well with everything apart from his reading.

Whenever I produce his reading book or his words he squirms, makes up excuses, says I'm stupid, I can't do it....everything to avoid reading. We have always read to him, he enjoys books, enjoys stories....but just doesn't seem to want to read.

I think it is because he doesn't want to have to concentrate....but he can concentrate well if he is drawing or doing something he likes. Or it may be that he doesn't like not being able to doing something without trying.

I have talked to his teacher lots of times about it, she says don't worry, just continue reading stories and enjoy books together which I do.

....but his behavious to avoid reading is really irriatates me and I end of getting cross.

Anyone else had reading problems?

Worksheets in reception? That sounds a bit rough. We don't get anything home from reception, and certainly wouldn't do them if we did. Life's too short. DS2 enjoys his school reading books, and insists on reading the full story every night, even though they're getting pretty long now. I resent the fact that he's at school for 6.5 hrs a day, without them imposing on his freetime too.

Roll on summer holidays!

The pressure really has built up - worksheets in reception just sounds totally ott! dd1 is in reception, we have a reading book, word boxes and writing to do each night. It seems a lot and we rarely do it all every night. I've been quite relaxed about it, but notice that lots of the other children are ahead of dd. Now they are having to split her class in two for Y1, on the basis of ability. Streaming at age 5!

Think we'll emigrate to somewhere more sensible!! eg New Zealand, they don't start school till about 6 or 7!

funny you should mention letterland, roisin, it was exactly what I suggested to my Dh at the time. You've reminded me, I must hunt out our copy.

Dont know if this has been said already - but another idea is to make sure your ds sees you and your husband/dp reading your own books. Also what about going into the supermarket and asking him to find you things and sayin g - WOW you read that right and you've found me the right brand of cereral to boost his confidence. As he gets older and still doesn't like reading you could explian to him why you are so keen for him to read - how important it is for grown-ups to read.

But I am sure he will be just fine in the end - but it is hard not to compare your child to other children!

Oh the other thing is to have a variety of reading material - magazines, story books and non-fiction - maybe he simply is not interested in what he is reading. Boys to seem to prefer non-fiction!

Oh and one more thing - sorry brain is working over time - is to keep readin the same book over and over again so he can repeat it. Very good for story writing according to research - so they learn the elements of a good story! and also you can show him how he is "reading".

message withdrawn

robin, you picked up on my feelings correctly - the worksheets - especially the phrase 'this week we are revising' certainly makes me fume. My son has only had one and a half terms of school, for goodness sake. I am not about to start him on proper homework just yet.

I like to give updates.....to show advice does work and things get better.

On Friday my son was celebrated in assembly

(parents assembly 2.30 every Friday and teachers nomoinate child/children from each class for celebration for extra special work, effort, being nice etc)

for his fantastic reading!

His Teacher said it was the best reading he had ever done, he read a whole book of 20 pages with no help or prompting, was blending his words and sounding them out when he didn't know!

This year, year 1 he just seems to have 'got' it with reading and he has a fantastic teacher and is in a great school. His reading gets listened to every day and they are big on reward and encouragement.

So I took him to MacDonalds as a special treat, and made him phone both grandmothers to tell them... I was very proud of him.

What fantastic news! Well done to little ds. You must be feeling incredibly proud of him right now.

What fabulous news Eve! Thanks for the update.

I told you so!
Really, very happy for you and your clever little boy! No wonder you are proud.

Brilliant .