Teaching a Child to Read- Part 2

So if Suzie can read at 3, why can’t Johnny?

 

Some kids read early and others don’t. I don’t believe you should push a child to read at an early age. It’s so easy to compare one child to another. I know for me, I follow several blogs where their children are reading at very young ages. Comparing only makes you frustrated, or feel insecure. (ha-ha speaking to the choir.) One of the big problems in today's society is that we expect All children to learn the same, and at the same pace. As a rule of thumb for me, if your child is not reading or showing interest in reading by age 6, you may want to push a little. (baring no special needs are present)

Really 3 is an unrealistic age to expect a child to be reading, but some kids are ready. If a child is ready, PLEASE do not hold that child back! “But how do I know they are ready?”

Here are a few readiness signs to look for. If you think your child is ready, but resists learning, chances are they are not ready. You should just keep reading to them, and engaging them in pre-reading activities.

Readiness Signs

• Your child pretends to read books
• Your child knows the sounds letters make
• Your child notices words in their environment, signs, TV show names, store names, cereal boxes, etc.
• Your child knows where the words are on a page in a book
• Your child knows that we read from left to right
• Your child can retell a story you read in his/her own words
• Your child holds book the proper way 
• Your child recognizes his/her own name and other familiar names or words {mom, dad, siblings, etc.}
• Your child shows an interest in writing
• Your child understands rhyming words
• Your child understands beginning sounds
• Your child is interested in learning to read!

 

Keep in mind that your child may do everything on this list, and still not be ready. If you find that to be the case, do not be discouraged, just keep trying, and having fun!

Here are a few sites that help with reading readiness:

• 1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com
• starfall.com
• http://pbskids.org/superwhy/
• http://pbskids.org/read/
• http://pbskids.org/lions/
• http://pbskids.org/wordworld/index_flash.html
• http://www.bobbooks.com/

Happy Reading