Ideas to improve 7 Yo's comprehension

[sleepwouldbenice]

Hello all

my DD1 is what you may call immature for her age

Part of this is her nature and I (mostly) would not change this - she is gentle, sensitive and caring but also somewhat innocent and naive. Shes not a wallflower though, can be bossy when she needs to be!

But I have realised that some of it may also come from the things that we expose her to in her daily life - I think this is influencing her vocabulary, understanding of the world and life etc - and therefore I was looking for your views on what your 7 YO's do in comparsion:

For example:

• activities - brownies, swimming, drama, disco dance, rollerskating. All typical I think
• playing - mostly make beleive things with her nealry 4 year old sister but not lots I can do about this
• films - mostly cartoon based - Ice Age, UP, Toy Story etc so her sister can watch. But sometimes other stories such as Narnia stories or Night at the Museum
• television - does not watch things like x factor etc, mostly as we dont and we are usually doing other things. Watches a bit of CBBC (scared of things like Sarah Jane though) and then cartoons like Tom and Jerry or Scooby Doo
• books - reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to her at present, she reads things like horrid henry although not sure how much she skips of it. she will read for herself if prompted but does not ask to do it.

Would appreciate your views on whether these seem immature for her age and if I can make some changes to improve her comprehension. my hands are tied a little by her having a younger sister - so we can't just do things that a family with say a 7 and 10 year old may do - but would like ideas as to what could change

Thanks for your thoughts!

My elder dd is nearly 6 and sounds similar to your dd - although I don't think she'll be that much different in a year or so. To be your dd doesn't sound immature. It's nice for them not to grow up too fast.

One thing my dd has just started being really interested in is animal documentary type programmes on TV - last night she watched Michaela's Zoo Babies, but she also loves RSPCA rescue type things, and she was fascinated by a documentary on animals living in Yellowstone National Park. I find these sort of programmes lead quite naturally on to discussions about other parts of the world, climates, what things need to survive, reproduction etc which is helping to broaden her view of the world a bit. Not sure if this is the sort of thing you meant though.....?

Sounds just like 90% of my Y2 class.

All sounds completely normal to me - my DD is 6.5 years, I consider her mature for her age, and she does similar activities to yours. She likes reading Horrid Henry, listens to Roald Dahl on tape, but loves Sarah-Jane, and hasn't seen Narnia stories because I think it is a bit old for her (and want her to read the books first). She is also very into animal things - am going to try her on Zoo Babies now that Runoutofideas has mentioned it.

As a mother of a DD who is 7 this month I think that all sounds perfectly normal! Some children are exposed and influenced by things beyond their years and understanding. Some parents seem to want their children to be older than what it says on their birth certificate. I have been amazed at some of the things the children do and say at my DD's school. Some simply do not care. They are children for what seems such a short time I am not rushing my DD into life experiences she cannot cope with!

Sounds fine. My DS (7) also has a 4yo DD sibling. DS, has, in the last six months, started showing an interest in different channels and will in addition to CBBC watch:

• Match of the Day
• The Weakest Link
• Competitive cookery shows eg Masterchef or Great British Bake Off
• Other competitive shows eg the Magicians

Can you tell he's competitive?! I think some of these family oriented shows are fine, especially if you watch together and explain any borderline behaviour, iyswim. I would much sooner be with my DS watching a programme and explaining it to him, than shelter him from it and then have it discussed inappropriately in the playground when he is ignorant of it. But do appreciate everyone has different opinions on this. You need to decide what you are comfortable with and what you feel is appropriate given your individual DD and the circumstances.

In terms of other stuff, films its mainly as you say animated stuff, but they also enjoy the first two Harry Potters, ET and a few others which are still child oriented. Dr Who on TV and DVD is very popular.

Reading, its the normal stuff, Roald Dahl, Captain Underpants, any football annual he can get his hands on, and occasioanlly the sports section of the newspaper.

I think the play based make believe stuff with her younger sister is GREAT. Really important for developing their bond and their imagination. Mine are regularly spies or Dr Who and Amy.

As the 4 yo becomes more portable as it were, we have started doing more trips on the train, to London etc. Most of the places we visit are with the 7 yo in mind, and the 4 yo adapts well. I would love to start taking them both abroad more now too, just need some more money.....

All thanks for this really appreciated. I do agree that I don?t want her to grow up too fast at all but as you can see I do wonder if I shelter her too much.

Other parents talk about their kids reading Harry Potter, taking them to ?famous and fearless? shows, etc etc. All of which their kids seem to take in their stride whilst I feel it would go over my DD?s head (or maybe that?s my problem!). Just trying to understand whats ?normal? I suppose

I guess I ought to say that she is 7.5 ie in year 3 not 2, so I do suppose that some things you all mention do indicate she is a little ?behind? in the nicest possible way, in her development. ? any views from parents of those in year 3??? Thanks

I think the problem is that she is very much guided by what we do or suggest, somehow need to build in chance for her to find her own favourite shows, and point her in the direction of things she may enjoy ? through TV, films, what we do on days out etc

Part of this will come from being the older sibling (DD2 complete opposite of course!) although not every oldest sibling is like this of course

Also part of her sensitive behaviour is that she is very much ?I can?t do this? (when she can!) so will shy away from reading a book with lots of text etc that she might really enjoy. And as I say she is scared of Sarah Jane so suspect Dr Who may end up the same. Documentaries probably a good direction to go in

Thanks again and any further views welcome

She sounds lovely. If she is sensitive, then she will be scared of Sarah Jane and Doctor Who. I think DS may eventually get scared of them when he realises rtwhat they actually mean. I fully expect him to stop watching it next year. Or at least do a bit of viewing from behind the sofa.

With our DS, its all trial and error. He is very self aware, especially of his own likes and dislikes, so its relatively easy to flick through lots of differing options quickly.

They are all different and comparisons are odious. My DS is very noise sensitive, but it took me years to realise this, of him hanging onto me at parties that were noisy, getting stressed when roadworks are going on etc. I don't think there is a "normal". Life would be very boring if we were all the same.

My daughter is just like yours. She's 6.5 and probably more immature even.

At the moment she's messing around in the bath with her younger brother (a treat for them these days due to boy / girl things - they are 6 and 5)

She has a great personality, very fun, can sometimes be grown up but young at heart, very caring. I've been listening to other parents and friends that have kids in year 2 and their kids are on chapter books / novels and seem way more mature. I was talking to DH tonight because after re-organizing my bookcase I decided that I felt I wanted DD to stay younger for longer so rather than push on with lots of chapter books I'm heading back to the family type books and reading together for enjoyment. It was a strange moment because I've really been keen for her to be learning all these skills early and yet I've had a re-think as a parent. Perhaps I've gained a little confidence and believe there is time for her to grown up and enjoy the older things. How about a bit of fun for all of us. The joy of having 3 young kids is that they do keep each other young and playful.

I really miss the free play and fun we used to have at the beach when we lived abroad where age didn't matter. Play at the swimming pool to.....

Our culture certainly has an idea of how kids are to behave and grow up. One thing good in Western Australia was seeing teenagers playing nicely with young children in the street on scooters and rip sticks with parents chatting away.

Hope this helps..

Thanks

yes the rule should be that no one ever listens to what anyone else is doing....! We would all worry lots less then!

Your dd sounds quite normal to me. Mine is 8 in April and has an older and younger brother.

My Y3 dd and her friends love

• animated and real movies. Animated means Barbie, Pixar, Disney... "real" movies means Wizard of Oz, High School Musical...
• they play dress up and make believe like "schools" They all seem to enjoy pop music and dancing.
• TV wise she enjoys the programmes that you listed but also has older tastes than your dd and watches SpongeBob, Disney Channel rubbish like Wizards, Nick rubbish like iCarly. As a family we watch XFactor, Top Gear, Dr Who, Sarah Jane.

I really can't see how her comprehension would improve by acting older... Maybe documentaries. song lyrics and new genres of cartoons/film could increase her vocabulary but it sounds like she is doing fine.

Hi

I do know what you mean about the comprehension link - what I mean is the ability to hear and understand the use of a wider range of vocabulary. In addition I guess fostering a wider comprehension of the world around her and what goes on

Thaks

Absolutely normal. I didn't allow dd to watch much more adult stuff than that when she was 7 and she has grown up into a completely savvy teen. Imo the best aid to comprehension skills is not television but parents who talk to their child. Which I am sure you do. 7yos are allowed to be immature and naive. They do a lot of growing up between 9 and 13.

hi! My dd is 7 and in yr 3, and sounds very similar to your dd. She's not interested in things like X Factor etc, but prefers to watch stuff like Scooby Doo. She's just getting into SpongeBob and some rubbish like Big rush. She doesn't read much for pleasure but still loves me to read to her! Games wise, she still plays make believe or dancing games, loves listening to all kinds of music. MIL thinks she should be a bit more grown up now but I don't agree - I wouldn't change her, plenty of time for all that, childhood is too short these days.

You could try audio books - a good way of increasing range of reading.

Also some of the specialist children's magazine. We used to get National Geographic Kids, and now have Aquila. You might also want to consider Puffin Club membership.

Thanks again everyone! Will look into the magazines and more audio books, all the shop bought mags seem, well not great...