When did your children read independently at night

[seeyouinanotherlifewhenwearebothcats]

DS is 7. He is a keen reader and I read his school reading book with him each day and listen to him read a chapter of his own book in bed every other night (I alternate doing a chapter with DD). On nights he isn’t reading his chapter book to me, he reads a library book at his reading level independently. But he is keen to read on at his chapter book himself and start a new book series. I’m delighted he wants to read and want to encourage it. But my question is, when your children started reading independently, how could you be sure they were understanding? Like he obviously comes across new vocabulary that I need to help him with. Any tips welcome.

DD wasn't reading independently until about 10, then she was suddenly reading novels figuring out new words from context.
DS is 8 and won't even hold a book independently, let alone read it, because the noise the paper makes is "too weird" and "hurts"

I agree

My mother - a teacher - let me read anything I fancied. I was reading some adult classics in Junior school (not abridged - we had them at home). I also read and enjoyed comics. I had access to the OED for hard words, or my parents. I read quietly to myself - glass of milk and a few biscuits. The same with my son. One really good teacher who took his class to the local children's library informed them they had to pick one age appropriate reading book and one of anything else they fancied in the children's library. He would come home regularly with a book on fossils and geology. As boys can be hard to pin down to read, I was pleased that she was willing to let him expand his thoughts.

What a great question and it shows that your kids are in a good place with an involved parent!

It's been mentioned a few times and comprehension is more than just looking up words in the dictionary, you do have to read with them and hear them read so they know how to pronounce words, and you have to talk about the story to prove comprehension. But I agree that access to a directory and knowledge of how to use it is important.
Comprehension is why they have those boring biff and chip books in primary school, and the questions/points to discuss with an adult.

In terms of your actual question my son could "read" pretty much anything at 3.5, from the names of the bus stops on the screen to books that he had no chance of understanding the content, even many irregular words he could read and say correctly. But his understanding was poor, he would (and still does) quote things word for word rather than putting them in his own words.

Luckily he reads a lot of non fiction so I try to discuss things that he comes up with and put them into practice where possible.

I think ultimately you just have to keep them going with a love of reading, and keep up with talking to them and discussing things as widely as possible. And keep on with whatever books the school provides, however boring they are!

By whom?

That doesn't preclude the child reading independently. I would expect an enthusiastic reader aged 7 to want to read the next chapter of a book he is enjoying even if mum isn't available. She can always ask him to tell her what she missed before they read subsequent chapters together.

A parent's role is to foster as much independence as possible, rather than tie the child to her, in reading as in every other aspect of life.