How do I / should I teach my son to read before he starts school?

[barbamama]

My son is 2 and a half and is showing some interest (on his own, after receiving a set of wooden letters) in letters. He is starting to be able to recognise the letter D (for his name) and M (for Mummy) when we read books together. He has been able to count to 10 for ages, again pretty much picked it up on his own from reading books (or Nursery maybe?). He knows all his colours etc. I am unsure how much to encourage with this type of education at home before school. On the one hand, the perceived wisdom (in the state sector at least) seems to be learning through play, no rush, they don't start school until 7 in Scandanavia, children who learn to read later get better GCSE results etc etc. A friend who is a Nursery teacher says leave it to the school to do in Reception or it will confuse them. On the other hand, I have been reading some of the threads on entrance tests for 4 year olds for pre-preps in the private sector and it would seem he would be at a massive disadvantage in a year and a half if he couldn't read and write even!! I think he will go to a state school but what if he goes private? (haven't entirely decide yet). I don't in any way want to push him but simillarly I don't want to restrict his natural desire to learn or jeopardise him going to a particularly academic school in future if that's how it pans out. I know all mother's think their children are bright and 2 or 3 seems so young to label/decide - but would it really be so wrong to make a start at home before school? what are other people's experiences? Is the difference between State and Private on how much they should know at a young age really that wide?

I would recommend the jolly phonics DVD or other JP material.
They learn the sounds of the alphabet (ie. aab, baa, cah etc)rather than the letter names.
I found this very effective with my son, he started reading at the end of the first term in reception and he is finding spelling soo easy.

Yes someone else was telling me about jolly phonics too - is that the same as synthetic phonics? All the books/DVDs etc say 3+ but I suppose theer would eb no harm in trying one out - thanks!

why do you want to?

okay, sorry, hadn't read your post when I asked you that. To be honest I think reading is all about CONFIDENCE and if children are encouraged to do it before they're ready then they just think it's something they're rubbish at. I'd just read to him a lot, and follow what he's interested in. He's really really little. Don't panic!

I think at that age it is very important to encourage a love of books. Spend a lot of time reading to him, discussing what you're reading. Let him see you reading for pleasure and I think that's all you need to do. I'm not expert on this so I wouldn't like to say whether you should try and teach him to read yet.

yes I don't necessarily want to - just wondering what people though as I hear very conflicting things. I would never push him and he does spend plenty of time playing - really just wondering as he has started asking me about letters and I didn't want to do anthing that would confuse him later but it seems wrong not to answer him if he's interested. You're right, they are so little - I still can't believe kids are doing entrance exams at 4! On the other hand, they say involved parents are good and mine always were. You're right, we'll just carry on doing lots of reading books and see how it develops.

Agree you should answer his questions if he's showing an interest. There are good books for little children about letters and numbers - got some for ds because he was interested, not in a pushy mother way. And he went through a phase of enjoying spotting letters and numbers while we were out and about, on gateposts and road signs - yours might enjoy that.

Well, I was going to teach my DD before she got to school, mainly beaceus she's bilingual so I wanted to get the harder language out of the way before she started proper schooling at 6. That aside, I still would have done it even if we lived in England, not least because I have idyllic visions of her with her nose in a book so I can get on with cooking dinner or whatever in peace. I didn't realise that later readers got more GCSEs - I would probably treat that piece of information with a pinch of salt, from what I've seen most school-leavers these days have trouble spelling the simplest of words or indeed forming sentences.

FWIW I learnt to read at 3 (was curious like your DS), yet nonethless managed to get loads of GCSEs, A levels and a degree and can converse and spell correctly in 3 languages. In my view the more you read the better your vocab is in general and an early introduction, provided the willingness is there, can only engender a lifelong love of reading.

Yes, get one of those ABC books with pictures to add to your library. I've spent years of my life going 'yes its an ambulance, oh yes an acorn, oh goodness yes an aardvaark' aaagh. But they like it.
I think we should all take a stand to avoid the pressures. If the school can't see a bright, sparky, funny non-reading 4yo as being a good thing, then they don't deserve your dc!

Ds was reading proper chapter books before starting school, dd is now in reception, reading very well but nothing exceptional like her brother. I think it was completely right to teach ds to read because he was always eager. Tried to do the same with dd but a different personality, and damaged her confidence a bit, now fine though. I think the difference was that it was a way of keeping my son entertained which worked for him, but I pushed it too quickly with her and it became not fun. Key thing, keep it fun!

If he wants to, start teaching him letter sounds (alphabet puzzles, singing the alphabet, spotting letters when you are out), and gradually take it from there. Magnetic letters are good, and we had a chalkboard in the dining room that we used to play letter games with when he felt like it.

As to the school thing, a good school will deal with a precocious reader, and I think it gives them lots of confidence in the classroom.

Yes that GCSE thing sounds suspect to me too - I haven't seen the research, someone else referred to it in another thread. I agree about the pressure and letting them play, develop at their own pace. On the other hand, they will have to live in the real world as it is so I guess it is a balance.

Also, I really think that if they're going to be early readers then they will be and if they aren't then they won't. So DS1 and ds2 both started pointing to the words after a while and asking what they were, but dd1 didn't and learnt in her own time when she started school.

2 and a half is so young, i personally think wait. It's much more important to love books at this age. We learn reading much earlier in this country than in many other countries - i don't think there's any benefit in starting too soon.

My dd who is also 2 1/2 loves being read to, she's learnt the words to several books - she even sleeps with her favourite books. My 5 year old is just starting reading now, and is learning so fast, if she'd started 2 years ago i don't thinks she'd be so willing to try actually as it would probably have made it into a struggley issue for her.

No don't, I taught mine. He was bored stiff for a year while the rest caught up. DD (untaught) had a much more interesting time.

Having had to move ds because of nursery closure, I would never move him again unless he was unhappy.

wouldn't try any 'teaching' but kind of go with the flow. If he is asking about letters in his name show him and show him other things that begin with it and see what he says - if he doesn't seem to get it drop it. You should trust your instincts on this as is invariable better than any so called schemes.

Good advice, I think you've confirmed my instincts which are to encourage if he shows interest but only if it is pleasurable for him. You can't go wrong with lots of reading books I'm sure, like you say, he will pick it up if he's going to but if not will do it at school. Actually, that is exactly what the teacher friend of mine said - some of the children start Reception knowing how to read and some have never even thought about it but that by the end of the year they are all more or less at the same level (with the exception of particular learning difficulties etc). I was a bit sceptical but maybe that is true from your experiences.

I think you should encourage him to enjoy looking at books and leave it to school age, sometimes we as parents can push our kids too early, the school might teach him a different way in which we as parents might do, and it will undo all your good intentions.

Not sure early reading has much to do with intelligence or academic achievement - lots of super bright people I know didn't read early.

All learning this early should be a game, so if they're having fun, it's a good thinng and if they're not it's not. Why not teach letter sounds if they hsow an interest? Just make sure you praise them lots, and finish the game before they get bored or tired.

I know a 7 year old who has been at steiner school where they leave reading til quite late, so he'd never done any. He's moved here, and gone to the local school. In six weeks he's caught up with the rest of his class! His mum said it's happened so fast, he's got all the skills he needs to do it now - and he's flying with it.

From my own experience with DS1 (early reader all As/A* at GCSE/AS/A2 etc) I don't think early reading hindered him academically. He started by reading road signs (all in capitals, oh dear). I remember as a child being annoyed at not being able to read and really pleased when it all became clear. If he continues his interest,Jolly Phonics may be useful though he may just pick it up using whole words as DS1 and I did.

I wouldn't say early reading necessarily hinders, but it might not be that helpful either - you can only be lead by the child - if its a struggle, leave it, if they're pushing for more - go with it. I think formal learning should be left til later as a 2 year old has got so much playing to do.

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Nicely summarised as usual, thanks.

Where did you read/hear that early reading led to bad GCSE results? Must confess I've never heard that one and I would be rather doubtful about it .

I have read that the single best predictor of good GCSE performance in primary school is reading ability at 7.

Agree with what everyone has said. If he wants to learn, and you want to teach, why not? It will pretty soon become clear if he's fed up.