What age did your child start to read automatically?

[Pigwig22]

What age do children normally start reading “automatically”?

My eldest is dyslexic and one of the things that prompted me to do her an assessment was being out and about with friends kids 1-2 years younger than her that were automatically reading i.e. they would see some text and read it without thinking, like an adult. I’m not saying there might not still be some words they would struggle with, but it wasn’t an effort - they just read. That came much later for my daughter.

My son is in year 1 so I’m obviously conscious there is a good chance he will be dyslexic too, but I had thought he was doing well with reading - although he is still in the bottom 6 out of 30 in his class for reading book level (I know as I read with the class). They have had him on green books level 5 at school for awhile but he is comfortably reading level 6 at home.

However, I’ve not noticed reading becoming automatic yet. It was his birthday yesterday, so he’s just 6, and he wanted to read his cards but he really struggled over it. Positive is that he didn’t avoid reading, like his sister would have done and I appreciate some of the text would be different like bubble writing or handwriting, but the words shouldn’t have been tricky for him. I’ve also noticed there is a fair amount of guessing in his phonics books.

So wondering if this is a bit behind and it should be starting to be more automatic?

I think they go hand in hand, if you can read it you will be more curious, if its a challenge or an effort you would avoid it.

Anyway this thread has made me think yes it is unusual as most people don’t seem to even know what I mean, as probably unless you have a dyslexic child it’s probably hard to understand what I mean.

So he probably is dyslexic too, it’s just masked more as we make him read his phonics books every day.

I have followed various phonics accounts since my son started school and they seem to think about halfway through year 2.

Obviously some will be earlier than this or later.

Same as me. I can’t draw to save my life

@Pigwig22 My dc are pre the “phonics is the only way” dictat. We had all sorts of books, poems, and non fiction. In YR, my dc could choose a school library book. DD1 came home with the Ladybird book on the diaries of Samuel Pepys! Obviously could not read it (not typical MN genius) but she was curious about the pictures and what happened in the Great Fire. Poems for the Young and similar were a great hit and books from our local library. I’d not immediately think dyslexia: I think he needs a wider diet! My DDs had books on all sorts of topics because they weren’t all phonics boring books. So maybe move away from signs and menus. Fun jokey poetry was always a winner here.

Mine is severely dyslexic and now in Y12

The first give away was that when we were out and about she never pointed out letters or tried to read anything. If I tried to show her I was told 'No' very firmly.

There were also things like only 6 colours were permitted.

She was very early to talk - full sentences by 12 months - so it was quite strange that there was a huge love of books and absolute refusal to acknowledge letters or words - she just made stories up from the pictures or liked to be read to.

I compensated with lots of high quality films to shovel in vocabulary.

She didn't learn to read until she was 8, and only started reading for pleasure about 6 months ago (age 16.5). Her spelling, syntax and punctuation are best described as 'highly creative', but she is considered gifted at creative writing.

We tried lots of interventions and things to help but the only thing that had any effect at all was getting her touch typing and on a laptop for everything with lots of spell check and apps. AI is also proving a massive help. No dyslexia programme, colour overlay or whacky pens made any difference at all other than ending in major battles.

It’s gradual, but was somewhere around late year 1, early year 2 for both mine. I wouldn’t use birthday cards as an example at that age, especially if they’ve been written by the children as, quite frankly the handwriting is usually terrible and spelling very hit and miss ( more than one i’ve only been able to read because I knew what it should say).

I think that children who find it easier will certainly be more willing to do it. But early on before it was automatic, I was struck by how much he wanted to read. He was trying to sound out everything even when it was a lot of effort and he didn't know all the sounds. I think this is where it becomes more circular though. His curiosity and efforts were rewarded and improved his reading. I don't have experience of dyslexia but I imagine this would be very different for a child with dyslexia.

This is very interesting OP. I teach high school and we have a programme that looks at reading fluency and automaticity. It's shockingly low in quite a lot of pupils. I don't think it's something parents would necessarily spot if they didn't know what to look for. You're looking for patterns (which makes sense) based on your daughter.

Lots of pp have just focused on reading in books which is the decoding and the phonics element which is understandable, because we aren't ever encouraged to develop the other skills.

We have hundreds of books of every type you could imagine, fact books, poems, picture books, chapter books, all easily accessible to him at child height. This is not an issue with accessing different texts or enjoying to read, he loves books, but he’s never been inclined to read them himself, he would ask us to read them to him. I’m currently reading charlie and the chocolate factory to him, his fourth Roald Dahl and he loves it.

As much as reading to children is important, it is far from the only thing (I’m agreeing with you here @Pigwig22 )

I have seen this time and again on here, that ‘all’ you have to do is read regularly to your child and the rest will fall into place. And you should absolutely read to your child but they do have to read to you as well unless they are a bit of a prodigy. The difference in outcome between children who read daily to the teacher and those who read weekly is marked.

Sounds like my nearly nine year old dyslexic child! Full sentences at 12 months too absolute fascination with words and stories. My first clue was the lack of reading out and about as well.

Which is why I’m now also wondering about my son but wondering if it’s normal at this age or a first sign….

Hard not to be on the look out when I know it’s more likely he is than isn’t with a sibling that is dyslexic. And because, selfishly, the idea of trying to help two makes me feel quite panicked and drained already. Felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall until I gave up on spellings entirely with my eldest.

We read to my son every day and he reads to us every day.

I meant couldn’t read the bubble writing on the front of the card

DS was reading automatically by the end of reception definitely because he went to visit friends with his grandparents and they had a slightly rude sign in their office which he read out loud much to their embarrassment, they hadn't expected him to be able to read it so easily. He was free reading by the end of y1, having completed the reading scheme, his comprehension is also very good. However I am aware that is advanced, I was the same, it's good in a way because he has ADHD and dysgraphia so he gets extra time in class to work on his writing while others are still reading. He reads every day, in the morning he'll get up and have breakfast and we have to take a book off him so he eats, he'll get dressed really fast so he can read before we leave, he reads every night as part of his homework and for fun, to us and for himself. I am aware that it's likely hyper focus/special interest and we don't let him have small screens at all or TV in the week because I think he'd get as obsessed with them. They all develop different things at different paces don't get too hung up on it.

I know; I did say I was agreeing with you. I just meant in response to all these ‘well I read a few books with my child and he was fluently reading by two and studying Shakespeare at seven.’ A minority of children will learn to read almost casually but most do need that skill taught and to practice the skill.

Yes, very different. I was like that, I got all my mums books out from very tiny and pretended to read.

My daughter memorised her books and used to pretend to read them, but as soon as she was actually being taught to read she stopped and just wanted them read to her. I could tell she was desperate to read chapter books when all her friends started to but she just couldn’t. It has been so sad to watch.

And hearing about other children’s curiosity does make me convinced my son must be dyslexic too. He has every opportunity to grab books and read but wouldn’t dream of it unless it’s our dedicated time each day for him to read to us.

That’s a good point - it is how children are taught and I guess unless reading does come easy to you then children are unlikely to develop the automaticity skills in everyday life as it isn’t encouraged. I tried to encourage my DD but I could sense her shame out and about when others could do it easier than her so hated putting her on the spot.

Many dyslexic adults don't read 'automatically ' in the way that you mean. They are capable of reading and understanding what they have just read but unless they need the information do not bother to put in the effort needed to read the words. E.g., if they are looking for somewhere to eat they will read menus displayed in likely looking cafe windows but if they are not interested in choosing somewhere to eat just now they will ignore all menus.
Reading takes greater effort for dyslexic people than non-dyslexic people, usually so if they are not looking for specific info it doesn't make sense for them to read every word they pass.
It sounds as if your DS is doing just fine for his age but you might find that he struggles with higher order skills as he gets older, texts become more complicated and more plentiful on each page. Then an assessment could be beneficial for him. I have known University students who have been assessed as dyslexic for the first time, when studying for a degree.

My DS is in Year 2 (albeit a summer baby) and I would say that this has happened only really in the last few months. He’s always been a ‘good’ reader but it’s taken a while for it to become automatic and just reading words because they are there rather than because he has to. My brother struggled a lot with dyslexia when we were children and so it’s always something I was aware of with him.

I find it very interesting hardly anyone has answered or understood the question. Can’t speak for my children only me

i am dyslexic and can say definitively it was at age 9. Something just clicked or changed and it became more automatic and a pleasure rather than a chore. Where all the rules and individual words no longer had the be deciphered in the same way and the meaning flowed.
Still a slower speed and requiring more thinking than a non dyslexic but a massive jump for me

I understand the question but sadly my 13 year old appears to feel about reading as I do about spiders so the answer here is...still waiting...

DD was 4 when she started sounding out road signs etc for fun - she got on really well with phonics and teachers always commented that she was gifted beyond her years at spelling/comprehension. Maths on the other hand has never come naturally!!

I totally get that exhaustion

If it makes you feel any better, DD has just passed Y12 with top grades in every assignment - but she’s studying music and not A levels and BTEC means no exams so everything can be spell checked and edited at leisure.

My biggest take aways were that if children spend all day struggling in school then they rarely want to spend after school struggling with more of the same. Watch self esteem - find something they’re good at: sport, art, drama, music and put the resources into that instead. Then they don’t always feel like there’s something wrong with them. The school SEN system is pretty crap - prioritise getting 4 or 5 in English at GCSE and don’t overly stress beyond that unless you can afford a lot of gin!

Oh and keep an eye out for ADHD - DD has that with bells on. Medication has been amazing.

I’m answering this question both from the perspective of a parent and a dyslexia specialist teacher.

My own DD is 7 soon and neurodiverse. She is still sounding out most words and we definitely aren’t at the point where it has ‘clicked’. That is, when they start to recognise and remember lots of words by sight.I think that’s what you mean.

From a professional perspective, I see children ‘clicking’ at many different ages. Sometimes as late as 9 or 10. And sometimes there is an underlying difficulty there. They may still continue to struggle with spelling. Sometimes not. There’s a certain point I’d start to worry but it is later than most people would expect.

I think exposure to words and reading is important and can help guide children towards ‘the click’. They are more likely to get there with exposure for sure. However I also think it’s a developmental thing and depends on a whole array of individual differences. And sometimes the brain is dealing with other stuff first. That’s why I’m not racing to give my dd a dyslexia label yet as I’ve seen how children can just suddenly ‘read’ over the course of a summer holiday.

listening to a child read their own reading book is not the only way the teacher will hear them read. Phonics lessons, guided reading, whole class reading are all times that the teacher may listen to children read. As you will be aware from doing it, 1:1 reading with kids is very time consuming and no longer considered best use of teacher/TA time.

At my daughter’s school they do whole class reading daily, and the teacher will hear a selection of kids throughout the week during that. Or if they do a guided reading carousel, they’ll be listening to each group weekly. Plus at my daughter’s school they have a mini phonics assessment half termly in R/Y1.

Anyway, to answer your original question, in my experience it was during y1 or y2 for the majority of kids.