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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Could your DC read and write before they started school?

44 replies

topsi · 22/01/2011 17:38

My DS is due to start school in September, he can recognise his name and can recognise the first letter when he sees it in another word. He can copy his name if he is in the mood and can punch the letters in from his first name on the computer but in the wrong order.
I know he has another 8-9 months of developmet before he starts in September. I know his nursery (Montessori) is doing work with him on letters and sounds and my Mum is also doing some work with him. Home life is very hectic and I must admit I don't do as much as I would like.
Will the other kids be able to read and write at this age??

OP posts:

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Ponders · 22/01/2011 22:18

Answer to thread title Q - no. Some of them knew some letters & could do a bit of random "writing" but otherwise, no, & nor could most of their peers.

Mine were all reading at tested age 10+ by the end of Y2 though.

FreudianSlippery · 22/01/2011 22:20

OMG freudianslippers!!!

You (almost) have my name :o

Anyway, op, don't worry, as others have said it's just important that they can follow instructions, put their coat on etc.

greenlotus · 22/01/2011 22:21

Mine have picked up reading quickly (we couldn't stop DS2 reading out road signs at 3) but conversely are quite poor writers even after a year or two of school.

Honest, it's not expected that they will be able to do any of that on starting, the teacher will pitch the work to their ability.

Seville · 22/01/2011 22:22

DS2 will be 4 in Aug. He knows his alphabet sounds, can read CVC words and "the", "and" etc but not much more. He can't draw a circle. He can't wipe his bottom. Only one of these facts about him will have a crucial impact on his reception year and I think it's the last.

bosch · 22/01/2011 22:32

ds1 (Sept baby) could read, write and draw before he started reception. Ds2 (July baby) couldn't do any of those before reception and I maintain he did no work in reception at all. He's in y3 now and doing fine. If I'd not had ds1, and seen how his (younger) peers were allowed to set their own pace and do what they wanted, i'd have been concerned at ds2's lack of ability on entry to reception and lack of progress in reception. I can see now that he's doing fine that i was right not to be worried!

ttalloo · 22/01/2011 22:47

DS1 is four in February and he can recognise and write his name (but it is only four letters long), and is always asking me what sounds different letters make, but I'm not sitting him down specifically to learn to read because I think he's learning better through play.

That's how he's learnt his numbers (thank you Thomas the Tank Engine for having numbers on the side of each blessed engine).

I'm having far more trouble teaching him to get dressed by himself (we've mastered undressing, more or less) and to wipe his bum, which as many others have said, will be of far more use to him when he starts in reception than being able to read and write fluently.

And I don't think it makes much difference what level they are all at when they start - it's where they end up after seven years of primary school that matters.

So don't stress yourself, your DS is doing really well, and will be just like most of the other children in his class when he starts.

Original poster

topsi · 23/01/2011 07:31

Thankyou so much for all your answers!! I wasn't expecting such a good response.
I think I will concentrate on making sure he can get dressed himself as he can be a bit 'lazy' in this department, or maybe I offer to help a bit too freely to speed things up.
He sounds at an average level for his letters etc to am very happy with that.

OP posts:

2pinkmonkeys · 24/01/2011 10:57

NO and there is no reason for them to.
dd could write her name and new the sounds of maybe half the alphabet and thats it. They pick it up so quicklly when they start school there is no need to waste those prescious few years at home learning stuff they will only relearn once they start in reception.

i have a friend who is totaly and i mean totaly obsessed with getting her 2 year old to read!! the poor child has lessons at home and she likes to show off that she can reconise her letters and numbers. But if she gets it wrong in front of us she will tell her off and say 'you know this why are you getting it wrong now stop messing about!!!'.
i really dont agree with this and i feel for her dd. she is under so much preeure to do well already and she is only 2.5 whats she going to be like once she starts school?? i dread to think!

so dont worry about a thing your ds sounds just right for a child staring school.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 24/01/2011 10:59

no! Not even slightly.

throckenholt · 24/01/2011 11:12

No - maybe an attempt at their name but nothing more than that.

From experience I have learnt that kids learn to read when they are ready - and no amount of stressing about it will make it happen much quicker.

Elibean · 24/01/2011 11:25

No. She could recognize her name, and sound out a few letters - thats it.

She's now in Y2 and one of the best readers/writers in her year group, so...

And dd2, who is just 4 and in pre-school, can write half her name and sound out a few letters - possibly recognize 'cat' and 'mum' but thats about it.

Honestly, your ds sounds bang on target

greenlotus · 24/01/2011 13:01

Recognising name IS quite useful in terms of labels - otherwise get them with a picture on too!

jonicomelately · 24/01/2011 13:04

No. That's what you send them to school for. It's pointless too because everybody will catch them up.

If they can read/write, in most cases it's because they've been drilled for competitive purposes.

taffetasplat · 24/01/2011 14:44

No. It can be daunting reading MN sometimes, with many people talking about their super bright children etc. Its not the norm.

I've noticed that a lot of DS's friends that weren't that ahead compared to their peers in Reception are now ahead of them in Y2.

Don't fell guilty, if your DS wants to learn and you have time, do some gentle stuff with him, but don't if not.

My DD has just started Reception and until about 4 weeks before showed absolutely zero interest in letters, writing etc.

DastardlyandSmugly · 24/01/2011 14:51

DS could write his and his sister's name and recognise some letters. He's come on leaps and bounds since starting Reception in September and is now starting to read.

There is a boy in his class who has been reading properly since he was 3. He's exceptional though - taught himself to read and this is despite his parents having EASL.

Agree with other posters who say that making sure he can get dressed, use the toilet and feed himself are much more important things for him to have mastered.

Litchick · 24/01/2011 18:56

No, and it didn't matter a jot.

Both reading by Easter.

IVANA32 · 24/01/2011 21:41

Hi...DD who is fine has been exposed to swearing somehow.
It feels dreadful but how can I wean her off? I dont swear myself ~(mind)!! Please help

IVANA32 · 24/01/2011 21:44

DD who is 5 has been expose to swearing somehow!! It feels dreadful but how can I nip this in the bud?? Please help

redpanda13 · 25/01/2011 10:12

No DD could read and write her own name only. She does only have a 3 letter name though

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