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Original poster

Could your child read before starting Reception?

242 replies

imaginaryfriend · 22/09/2007 13:25

Dd (5 in 2 weeks) has just started Reception and they're learning basic words like 'is' 'it' 'in' etc. My mum said to me on the phone last night that I could read the first stage Ladybird books before I went to school and suggested dd was behind.

To be honest I always thought she was pretty bright. She can recognise and write most letters of the alphabet (slower with numbers) apart from lesser used ones like 'j' but she's nowhere near being able to read words yet. She can write my name, her dad's name and odd words she's written a lot on cards like 'me', 'to' and 'love'.

I'm wondering now if she's actually behind her peers at school. I haven't asked the teacher as it seems kind of wrong to ask about what stage your child is in comparison to the others. I'm not competitive, she'll get there when she's ready, just curious.

so I thought I'd ask you guys instead.

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Threadworm · 22/09/2007 19:38

God, they start school so early that it doesn't seem important to get them reading before. Ds1 was only just 4 when he started school and I hadn't done any learning to read stuff with him: we just read loads and loads to him.
His reading took off with no bother at all.

TinyGang · 22/09/2007 19:40

Not read but they knew some letters.

They catch up and it levels out.

It's like babies that walk early. They're no better at it in the long run than the ones that walk later.

harpsichordcarrier · 22/09/2007 19:42

no, I have purposely not as Threadworm says they start so early! I have really concentrated on play. she does recognise some letters and some whole words e.g. Disney Barbie
like everyone says, they will mostly catch up

FranSanDisco · 22/09/2007 19:47

Ds (5 yo in October) could read Crash, Hot Wheels, McDonalds, Start, quit, enter, car and cars and recognise most makes of car from the badges. Yes he is a car freeekkk who spends too long on the computer !!! He's doing OK with real words as well now Dd who at 6.5 yo was a free reader could not read a word before she started school and she was always considered a bright child.

harpsichordcarrier · 22/09/2007 19:48

yes she also recognised cars
I was pleased until she said "yes mummy like the DVD"

ladymuck · 22/09/2007 20:02

Ds1 was totally illiterate at the start of school. ds2 knew most letter sounds and could read cvc words. Both dh and I could read before school but that was in the days when children's tv was 20 minutes at lunchtime and 3:30 - 5:15 in the afternoon.

The dcs are at a boys school and very few are reading before they start.

Flamesparrow · 22/09/2007 20:05

I dunno if I could or I couldn't. I can NOW which is what matters

DD can't (well, she knows DVD spines), most of her friends can't - one of them in her class can I know for sure, dunno about the others.

They all even out.

ChasingSquirrels · 22/09/2007 20:10

bugger, just typed quite alot and somehow deleted it.

Short answer is yes, he finished ORT level 4 at the begining of the summer holidays and we have just been reading a selection of stuff since then.

DirtyGertiefromnumber30 · 22/09/2007 20:12

ds (4.5) can read some words ie dog, cat, mat, dad, mum etc but cant READ per se.

My mum reckons i was reading famous five and secret seven at 5. yeah right!

dunscared · 22/09/2007 20:18

Imaginary Friend!!
My MIL is teacher and she says good vocab and understanding of the meaning of words will lead to sound reading - no problems.
My daughter just started preschool and we were given a letter stating reading was NOT on the agenda as they're too young. She loves her books and will sit "reading", making up the story to her dolls.
Just chill and enjoy things before they're getting homework!

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 22/09/2007 20:58

dunscared - do I know you by another name? Just wondered because of your enthusiastic greeting. Thanks for the post by the way. I have no worries with dd's vocabulary, grammar and understanding of words, she's remarkably eloquent I think.

I'm so totally surprised by the amount of children who can 'read' by the time they start Reception, I really didn't think it was the norm. I think I'll ask a few of the other mums at dd's school if their kids can read. If they can this first few weeks / months must be pretty boring!

My next question: If your kids can read do you mean read a selection of words or actually read lots and lots, i.e. pick up any typical library book with pictures and read the story?

OP posts:
Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 22/09/2007 21:02

... by the way, sorry to sound dopey, but what are CVC words?!

OP posts:
DrNortherner · 22/09/2007 21:09

Do you think our Mother's exxagerate a little?

Acording to my mum I was walking at 9 months, toilet trained at 12 months and reading properley at 3. Seems a bit to me.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 22/09/2007 21:12

I doubt my mum's memory but she doesn't tend to brag about me. I, apparently, wasn't walking until I was over 2, refused to touch a vegetable until I was 5, was always rubbish at sports (asthma, skinny type). BUT I've always been a head-in-the-clouds arty type so I read early, drew amazing pictures. And was crap at maths.

I think my mum still thinks of me that way!

OP posts:
LIZS · 22/09/2007 21:13

cvc - consonant vowel consonant, ie sounded as c-a-t blended to cat

littlelapin · 22/09/2007 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

noonar · 22/09/2007 21:18

IF, my dd is very bright orally, and very creative, but still can't cope with more than a single line of basic text with common words on each page, and she's in yr 1. don't worry.

btw, how are your health concerns, hon, if you don't mind me asking? i remember v clearly your mri worries... xxx

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 22/09/2007 21:21

Reading at 3? Honestly? I'm starting to feel like dd's way behind. I don't know if 5 is the average or not. I would've guessed that not that many in dd's current class can actually read yet, going by what I saw when they were in the school nursery together. There are quite a few who can write quite well though. Dd's not bad at writing.

OP posts:
littlelapin · 22/09/2007 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 22/09/2007 21:24

Hello noonar, it's been ages! I'm still going back and forth to the neurologist at the moment. Still very unresolved. And you?

OP posts:
gess · 22/09/2007 21:25

Nope ds2 couldn't read anything when he started. By the end of reception had finished ORT level 7, and now (a few weeks into year 1) reads fluently. Don;t see thenpiint of starting them at 2 & 3 - I don;t think he could be reading any better than he is iyswim.

WendyWeber · 22/09/2007 21:27

I learnt to read before starting school too, allegedly , but none of my kids did - I don't think it's important at all.

noonar · 22/09/2007 21:27

it's a lengthy old process, isnt it?

i have some weird symptoms that i sometimes think are MS related or poss just anxiety. not persuing any dx, though, as am too much of a worrier!

WendyWeber · 22/09/2007 21:28

(They were all reading way above chronological age by the end of KS1)

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 22/09/2007 21:37

I could read before I went to school and I'm a June baby so young for year. But being the youngest of 3 I probably had ample opportunity to learn from my sibs.

My DD1 has loved books since she was about 6mths - I really thought she'd read early too but she hates it, she's nearly 6 and it's a huge struggle. She's still average for her age though.