Please tell me DS will just "get" reading

[PeterParkerSays]

DS is in Reception and an August baby, so one of the youngest in the year.

I admit that this concern has been caused by the mother of DS' friend saying how she was surprised the her DS has just jumped up their reading scheme from level 9 to 16, having started on level 2 in September, but DS is just toddling along with level 2 books - he's only had books with words in since Christmas, has no interest in reading, says he doesn't know what words say, makes no attempt to read, and just doesn't "get it".

I think I naively thought that DS would jump at the chance to read because we've read to him loads from being a small baby, and he loves being read to, but he just has no interest in reading at all.

If you had a child who couldn't read when they started Reception, when did they start making notable progress? Also, if we try to push this with him, are we just going to put him off reading altogether? I don't know whether to just carry on with him as we are, and wait for it to click, or to try more intensively to get him to read.

I know that he's only 4, and won't get to 18 still on his level 2 books, but I'm just concerned that other children seem to be showing progress in their reading level and he's not.

All I know is that a DF with an August born DS was tearing her hair out comparing him to the rest of the class.

She worried that my DD1 (6months older) and the other DCs knew their phonics and could read simple books.

I heard readers in Y2, her DS read very nicely. DD1 was the worst reader by far.

(DD1, DD1 is dyslexic and didn't learn to read 'properly' until Y6.)

I think reception is just too soon to worry for summer born DCs

Keeping a watching brief through Y1 absolutely, but not doing to much worrying.

He's still young. Take him to the library every weekend, take him to bookshops and let him choose books to buy, go nuts with excitement if he does read something out of choice, but otherwise it's another year to 18 months until you really have to start fretting.

I absolutely would not push it at all with him, just carry on reading with him and making books a joy not a chore.

My son has just turned 5 and in reception. I'd say he is on the verge of it clicking with him. To be honest I don't think he's really gained anything by being taught to read before about now. If he had done nothing at all and then started next term I'm pretty sure he'd be at the same point at the end of the year.

Granted, he's picking it up, but when they have to decode so many words, including ones they've just read a few words back it indicates to me that their brains just aren't ready.

He enjoys it and is starting to see a whole new world opening up to him, but if he doesn't want to read his school book I do not push it.

To parents who slip in the boasting just indulge them by saying "Oh you must be SO proud" and leave it at that. They are probably fishing to find out what level your child is on. Don't tell them.

DS2 (June birthday) struggled in Reception and Y1 and then towards the end of Y2 he suddenly 'got it', started flying through the levels and is now a free reader in Y3. It wasn't just reading books that he could now do, he would now read stuff all around him ie. signs, instructions on games, subtitles on TV etc. He's still not at the stage (as some of his friends are) of reading by himself for pleasure but I am sure that will come as well.

We don't seem to do the comparing thing at our school. I do admit to having a peek in a book bag when DS has a friend to play, but other than that, I actually have no clue what levels the other kids are on.

I talk honestly and openly with good parent friends, who are not judging/boasting.

My son is brilliant in my eyes and that's enough for me.

DS not until we did Dancing bears at home from sound foundation after Easter in reception year - because despite having his hearing checked he struggled to hear all the sound in words and need lots more practise blending than he got at school. Made huge strides in yr1 and now very good reader in yr2 and does it for pleasure a lot.

DD1 was great in reception but school used mixed methods - struggled in yr1 took against reading but then made progress again - does read now for pleasure but has less stamina than DS- now even school thinks she's dyslexic. She does extra phonics at school and home.

So while I wouldn't worry I'd keep an eye out and maybe look at the online phonics games and maybe give him some extra blending practise.

I'd also recommend avoiding such conversations with other parents.

In the home ed community, many kids are not 'taught' to read at all. They often start later eg age 8 or 9 but within a few months are either average or above average. I know someone whose daughter had severe dyslexia and couldn't read until she was 16 (her mum is a fierce proponent of autonomous education). Within a year she had got a B in her GCSE English! Basically it all comes right in the end. Too much pressure to read will turn him off books - the last thing you want. Just keep reading to him and all will be well :)

bonkers - I chuckled at your we don't do the comparing thing, oh but I do have a peek in others book bags when they come to play.....I think however much we all like to think we don't compare or worry about other kids levels, deep down it is somehow useful / reassuring to know where other kids are at compared to your own.

Now Shhhh, I didnt just admit to that

Ds is October born so much older and was still on level 1 + at this stage in reception. He started Yr 1 on 2 and finished it on level 4.

He made lots of progression in yr2 when it clicked. Now, in Yr 3 he is SATS level 4, free reading and on G &T register at school for reading. Early reading means little as they can soon catch up and overtake others when it clicks. I honestly think not all children are ready at 4 or 5.

@steppemum

I quoted you because I thought your comment was sensible and needed reiterating. Sorry if that peeved you.

I would be in the 'don't worry' camp if it weren't for the OP's comment about the child's reaction to being asked to read.

Most likely, your DS will slowly learn the basics of reading/literacy and will eventually 'click' and take off. It happened for my DS around 7, and I think that's pretty common. To be honest, there's a fair number of boys that benefit not at all from all the push to read so early. If they'd started two years later, they would probably reach the same level at Year 3 that they do now, and without the confidence issues.

However, I think it's a good idea to take a real interest in this. As MaizieD suggests, find out exactly HOW they are teaching him to read. Because if you understand what's happening at school, you can support that at home. And if they're using a method other than synthetic phonics, you could understand that therein lies his problem!

If you describe what he's reading and what he has been doing in school, the experts (not me!) on Mumsnet will be able to advise you.

DS3 is a September baby so the oldest in the year (any older he'd be year 1 now). He was on pink and red books for ages. The school tried him on higher bands as both his older brothers had clicked easily with reading, but he couldn't read them. Reading clicked for him a few weeks ago, he went up several book bands in a few weeks.

Maizie I thought you were having a go at me!

sorry, too easy to misunderstand words on a page!

That isn't to say that I just ignored him not being able to read as well as his brothers. We worked on the phonics that the school sent home etc. It just took him longer than his brothers to automatically pick out pairs of letters in digraphs in actual words etc which they seemed to be able to do with much less effort.

Thank you so much for your replies. I suspect that some of DS's reluctance to reading is him being tired after school, we have limited time before school because another mum drops him off for me.

I don't think there are any problems with DS's ability to read, I'll sit on my hands then and wait another year or so for it to click for him.

Which ones are the late bloomers? This child is in Reception. I heard Sir Michael Wilshaw blame children's nurseries in deprived areas for not compensating for the lack of stereotypical middle class infant abilities. (I'm not sure all middle class children have them either. But I guess Sir Michael finds it appropriate not to mention that bit.)

Incidentally, who is paying for the nursing of these poverty-stricken children? Presumably, if the families are that poverty stricken they can't afford massive nursery fees in the first place.

If a child is seven and can't read early Biff & Chip books I think there's room for an argument. But surely the blooming starting point's got to be somewhere (and not in Sir Michael's non existent nurseries.)

Columngollum - all 3-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery provision, and 2-year-olds from some families (low income, in the care system etc) are also entitled to free nursery provision - see the government website here Free early education.

What kind of well paid job only lasts 15 hours a week, including commute. And what am I supposed to do with my children before breakfast club and after afterschool hour? And who says that I want to see almost none of my children anyway.

I agree with exexpat. I have always likened learning to read to potty training, in that children will do it when they're ready.

The son of a friend of mine very intelligent, about to go to Oxford to read law only started reading at the age of 6. He just didn't want to before, and it was only when his mother said that he couldn't be an inventor without being able to read that he decided to put his mind to it.

Column - the point of the free early years provision is not to provide child care for working parents. It is to give children who might otherwise not get it access to nursery education, ie opportunities to play, listen to stories, do creative stuff, interact with other children and adults not in their own families and so on.

This is seen as particularly important for children from deprived and stressed families who are less likely to have access to all that, and who (statistically) are more likely to arrive in reception with smaller vocabularies and without the kind of habits you need to get along at school, like being able to sit still and listen for short periods, or work/share with other children.

If you are working, the assumption is that you will be able to top that up with paid childcare, possibly with the help of childcare vouchers/child tax credits etc.

Perhaps Osborne missed out on that last posting on mn. He's gone an given the last bung of tax relief to couples who work and use childcare. Someone should have told him that it's not about working, it's about reading stories. I'm not sure how that's phrased in a budget speech, but I'm sure they'll figure it out.

bauhausfan I know someone whose daughter had severe dyslexia and couldn't read until she was 16 (her mum is a fierce proponent of autonomous education). Within a year she had got a B in her GCSE English!

Thanks for sharing that. I love hearing positive SEN stories having known so many mothers of dyslexic children.

"I know someone whose daughter had severe dyslexia and couldn't read until she was 16 (her mum is a fierce proponent of autonomous education). Within a year she had got a B in her GCSE English! "

I am really struggling to suspend my disbelief here..

Jesus Christ OP, in the kindest possible way: Relax!

My DSs didn't read until they were, 6 (I think?) and have caught up with all their "smarter" friends who could read at a young age.

Education is not a race, really, honestly it isn't.

Kids develop at different rates and can come on with leaps and bounds (like catch up an entire year, or DS case, catch up on being 2 yrs behind)

just focus on making learning fun, don't project your unfounded anxiety on him please