I wish my friend hadn't told me how much her reception ds knows

[boinging]

I had been plodding along happily thinking my dd was doing fine in reception, when we had the conversation. It seems her ds knows all the phonic sounds, is reading car magazines and writes in full sentences with correct punctuation with pretty good spelling. And apparently he has aquired all this independently and at school, but she hasn't done anything with him.
My dd is starting to grasp reading, and can read words with the sounds she knows (by no means all of them). But her writing is often all over the page with sounds missing here and there. Please reassure me she is normal. I am starting to panic.

Her DS is reading car magazines?

I'd be crushed

Thinking about it my friend may have an underlying worry about her ds. She said he is very obsessive about reading everything about cars and he is an extremely obsessive dc. Knows all cars, and everything about them, only draws cars. He is very intense and really full on.

I now feel awful for contemplating that my friends ds may have a problem. please ignore.

Sorry for the long post - I guess I feel quite strongly about all this - It sounds like your DS is completely normal and you really shouldn't be worried whatsoever.

I have 2 DS both very different, DS1 knew all basic phonics at age 2 through playing on a childs laptop game, could read at age 3 and started Year R on blue band books (level 2ish) and is now in Yr 1 on level 3c (he has reading age of 10 and comprehension of 7/8) whereas DS2 who is due to start school September, only knows the letter sounds that are in his name and probably will be no where close to reading when he starts school.

I have done nothing differently with them as far as I am aware, DS1 could just read without being 'taught' and DS2 will go down the normal channels of learning phonics in year R and will eventually read. DS2 is still reaching all goals and above average in some even though what both boys were doing at that age is miles apart.

I have experienced some negativity around DS1 and often people don't believe what level he is at etc (I will only discuss with non-friends if they ask) and god forbid if I ever said anything then people can be cruel. Who knows where he will be in a few years time, maybe completely average but I really don't care as long as he is reaching his potential.

Try not to compare your DC as they all get there when their time is right but also to all the nasty comments re the other DC please remember it is not a crime to have a gifted child and why is it boasting, no one says it is boasting when someone discusses their average level child and how proud they are or one who has been behind and progressed amazingly. I posted a thread on here a while ago to get some advice and mainly got very snide, negative comments rather than helpful advice!!!

Very true, PeaceLoveandCandy about forgetting the "other stuff" that needs to be learned - my DD can be painfully shy and we have had to role play things like "saying hello to my friends when we see them on the street" and "asking the teacher for help". I think it would be easier (and less emotional for us) to be helping her learn phonics!