A special plea

[thecloudhopper]

Hello all,

I just wanted to write from the view of a reception class support.

So many times I see on here how do I teach my 3.2 year old child to read/write?

For me and I am sure EYPs agree, it is much more helpful if they can put on their own coats, can go to the toilet without help (ie can wipe their bum).

It is also nice to have polite children who say please and thankyou without a reminder.

You're absolutely right.

{makes note to stop wiping DCs bums for them}

at the meeting prior to my DD joining her pre-prep the teacher and Head BEGGED parents not to try and teach their DDs to read and teach them to use a knife and fork and put on their gym kit instead.

pagwatch thats just what I am saying I am glad there are people who agree with me te he.

shitemum I am glad you see what I meen.

Message withdrawn

I had internalised reading by the time I went to school - got me in no end of trouble!

thats not my point my point is that sooo many children can't do the putting their coats on ect when they get to school for me that is more important.

I also am not so sure about children being pushed to read and in my oppinion you should leave that until they start school

i take your point, but it would also be nice for me to have a child who didn't have a language delay full stop, sometimes a kid may have less obvious SN that can affect their "manners"

My ds started learning to read at nursery when he was 3. I assume they did that because he was ready and interested. I don't think learning to read and write and learning social skills are mutually exclusive.

Some children are still very poor at motor control at age 4. I taught ds to wipe his bum, but I couldn't teach him not to do it messily. I taught him to put his trousers on but I couldn't teach him not to put them on back to front. At 8 he is only just learning to tie his shoe laces, and that is not due to lack of training.

Early reading is easier for some children because it does not require fine motor skills.

Sometimes you have to go for what your child can learn, not for what would be convenient for them to learn.

I understand where you are coming from, a very dear family friend is a nursery nurse and she always says that. When you have so many children to get wellies & coats on etc its fantastic if they can do it themselves.

But my DS has SN and physically he is not very coordinated so he can take his pants down but not trousers. And cant get either of them back up. And cant get shoes or socks on or off. Can get coat off but not on. Can not get hat on. Can not wipe himself. Some of this is probably normal at 2.8 but some not. He can however read a handful of words, always says please and thank you and excuse me. I have just taught him what he is capable of learning, whatever that may be. I havent had too much control over what that is. He has no concept of his body and the space around him so is always getting hurt.

His SN are not obvious at first glance either so you may not know it if you didnt spend a lot of time with him. Hope that helps.