Do you think it's a good idea to teach your child to read, before they start school, if they are able to

[user1492337624]

Just wondering what your views are ?

This child in question knows all their phonics and has started reading basic words like tent cat peg etc

"This child in question knows all their phonics and has started reading basic words like tent cat peg etc" I'm not sure what you consider reading

In some countries they don't even start school until 7yrs (countries where children are happier and mentally healthier than ours). I think it's tough starting at 4yrs, I certainly wouldn't push a child to read before they start school and with the best will in the world, it's going to be a frustrating year for a child sitting side by side with their peers learning phonics if they know it already! I mean once they get to school read, read, read with them. Almost the single best thing you can do with a child to help with their education but for now, no, you read and bring stories to life for them, don't kill the love of reading with the pain of breaking down and blending each word in a sentence.

Disclaimer: I am an experienced primary school teacher so according to the government not really worth listening to or paying well.

If it comes naturally to them, which is uncommon.

I 100% disagree with nurseries or parents 'teaching' phonics to a pre-school child. No need for it.

If your child is ready, willing and able to read, it doesn't matter if they learn before they start school, or after. The most important thing is that they enjoy reading, at any age.

Both of my DSs developed fluent reading skills before starting school and the school adapted to their reading levels along the way. We always read to them from being babies but didn't 'teach' them to read, it just happened naturally.

Now as a teen and pre teen still love reading, and do it willingly as part of their daily routines.

Did you teach phonics? Then you have already started teaching reading.
If the child learned it themselves, you can't stop them reading.

The assumption that starting school later means that children don't learn to read or write or count before is flawed. Many countries have quite a formal kindergarten system.

I've never met a young child frustrated by sitting with their peers learning phonics when they already know it (do they know everything? Many adults including teachers don't) they quite like showing off their expertise .

If you're spending time teaching them, even just phonics or anything else, then it's what you've lost by doing it. Time with an adult is valuable, you could've been doing so much more, rather than learning a limited skill that most kids will pick up anyway, especially those who are in a position to do it before school.

You could've been increasing their vocabulary or reasoning, two much less limited activities which are probably more critical than the phonics of reading.

I did start as you have and they could read cvc words. Then waited for school. School didnt notice and taught from the beginning. However she then picked it upo very quickly and has finished the year on orange band (purple at home) compared to an average of maybe blue. It wasnt exactly a lot of work before starting

My kids started school able to read cvc words - they were interested and picked it up (and saw us reading a lot, so wanted to copy), and their Montessori had various phonics related activities which they could choose to use (and did). I think it was an advantage in terms of feeling confident in the early days, and setting them off thinking themselves as being 'good at school stuff'. But it wouldn't have mattered if they hadn't.

Just as a note, some people will say that other catch up later. That may be the case for some, but not always.

sooooo you will stop them from reading the stop signs, stop them from saying mommie the shop is "open", stop them from saying "pizza" because most toddlers quickly learn sight words....including their first names, the name of the street they live on etc etc etc.
then add to that reading a few books to them and they quickly pick up cat dog mouse etc etc etc
by the time my little ones started school they could read most basic common words and i'm sure all little ones can without much effort.

i'm sure all little ones can without much effort.

No. Not all children do that.

Unnecessary imho, but from your op it seems the child has already learnt or been taught the basics. My dds nursery taught to this level so luckily didn't impinge on our time together.

Some obviously pick reading up quicker than others as can be seen by the range reading abilities reached at the end of reception but most with older children suggest that ability evens out over the years.

I wouldn't bother personally. They learn it al in YrR anyway so I dont see any advantage. Lots of other fun things to do

Well we started out doing jolly phonics, Justin's singing and doing the actions with the book and now this child had moved into and loves the orchard toys match and spell games
And can sound out/read all the words in that game, this child also has some random toy that's a sort of flipping chart type thing and he sounds words out in that too and enjoys it

This child also enjoys lots of other things too this is a very small part of the week indeed and is read to every single night

sooooo you will stop them from reading the stop signs, stop them from saying mommie the shop is "open", stop them from saying "pizza" because most toddlers quickly learn sight words....

But that's not reading, that's recognising a few symbols - loads will recognise a couple of golden arches, or a rubber man, or any number of other symbols. But it's nothing like reading.

Reading is a limited skill - you can either translate the letters into words or you can't - knowing what the word means is a different matter, and that is likely the skill that takes longer to develop. (DD once thought a Heroine was a female Heron - Hero thankfully not being a male character in DD's mind)

Reading isn't a limited skill. It's the start of the new world for a child.
You don't need to start early, but nothing wrong with starting early either if the child is ready.
And you can increase vocabulary or learn reasoning skills while reading, but also you can learn whole a lot of new things if you can read.

If the child interested before school, I think child is ready. Otherwise, they won't learn/ get it.

i'd say recognizing symbols is the beginning of reading.

In my experience (primary teacher) children are much more likely to enjoy something if they feel they're good at it. And the more they enjoy it, the more they want to do it, so the better they get at it.
So I think if they're interested and seem ready then giving them a bit of a head start can make a big difference to theirs early years experience, which in turn could make a huge difference to their entire school experience.
Definitely worth spending a few minutes a day on I think.

Our DD is "into" words and numbers & were teaching phonics ATM. I say teaching. More playing with how to make letter sounds.

I really wouldn't push it. You may be using a different method from the one used in school which could be, at best, confusing for the child.
The vast majority of the other children won't be able to read so what will a reading child do while the others are learning?
I would say enjoy books together, if they pick up some letters/ phonics/ reading along the way, fine. But I wouldn't systematically teach my child to read before school.

this child
Are you talking about your own little one, or someone else's child?

Either way, the best thing you can do for children is to engage them in learning through play. Forget about teaching phonics, just play, and play well!

We're not bothering teaching phonics, DD (3) will learn that in school. We're just trying to instill a love of reading; pointing out words and sounds etc. I was reading before I started school but that was literally because my parents read to me all the time, fostered a love of reading and surrounded me with books, and I was naturally drawn to them. I was reading Matilda at 5, Harry Potter at 6.

I don't know if DD will take after me in that (she seems more interested in writing than reading) but I want to make sure the house is filled with books. As for teaching phonics, or any sort of "teaching" to read, we won't be doing that.

I taught one of my four because he was crazy about words/stories/reading. They are all book worms though.

Having lived in two countries that supposedly started school later, both had kindergarten/preschool programs very similar to what kids in the UK are learning in reception.