Reading in head

[teafor1]

How and when do kids learn to read in their heads? My ds will read to himself but he whispers the words. He is in year 1.

I think they're all different!

My youngest started doing it at 4. I asked him what it was like (because I couldn't quite believe it) and he said it was my voice that he heard in there!

he probably does to a point without realising it - when he comes across a word he doesn't know or isn't sure of does he sometimes go quiet and sound it out in his head?

I think it is age and also reading level related. eldest started to do it at about level 10 ish so age 5 for her, youngest is just starting to do it now - about level 8ish and just turned 5.

It seems like all of the words and he is at level10 so that is why I thought it was interesting. I would have thought he would be reading silently by now. I guess he is not ready though.

he is probably just on the edge of it.

DD was 4 & started reading in her head when reading Topsy & Tim.

DS was 6 and coming to the end of yr1 so around stage 9 ish.

I dont know about reading but in ds' music class the teacher tells YR kids to say the words in their head but not say them out loud as an excersise in keeping time. the children are 5-6 and generally seem to be coping well so maybe you could try suggesting he do that (if you havent already!)

My DS was 4 when he started "reading like Daddy".

Reading aloud is actually very important for development so please don't worry

Fram you might be interested in scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/2013/01/23/silent-reading-isnt-so-silent-at-least-not-to-your-brain/

One day my 6 yr old waa reading out loud in the car and my son was getting annoyed cos he couldn't concentrate on his book so I just asked her if she knew she didn't have to read all the words out loud but could say them in her head. It was a revelation to her and she started doing it to herself ever since. I think she just hadn't thought of it!

age 7-9 ime.

I know that my 5 year old can read in her head- for instance, if we''re out somewhere she might be looking at a poster and say 'What does x mean?' However, she almost always chooses to read aloud, even if she's on her own. I am in no hurry to stop her. I think it's good because it forces her to say each word rather than skipping over the trickier ones. It also helps with expression etc. I think that children should do a lot more reading aloud than they generally do.

Mrz interesting study! Thanks all for your thoughts. He told me tonight that it's easier to read out loud than in his head so for now that's fine.

DS1 was 4, DS2 is 6 and in Y1 (L9 books) still can't, I don't think he will do so that soon either.

DS1 began reading in his head during Y2.