Parents of precocious readers: Why do I feel like I have to pretend my kid can't read?

[Anonymous]

It's jealousy, plain and simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's jealousy, plain and simple.

You can think that if it makes you feel better about pushing "Your Baby Can Read" DVDs on your toddler.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why you feel that way. I say - be proud. Don't hide this fact. Don't act humble. Just say matter of factly - Little Johnny can read; he is a fast learner. You can even brag a bit. Yes, you can. It is impressive. Other people brag about their kids in sports, etc. I think it is perfectly okay to be proud of a smart tyke and mention his accomplishments so long as you do so in a very matter or fact type way.

[Anonymous]

17:08 is a perfect example of this kind of thinking/jealousy. If your kid is reading at an earlier age than mine, it must be that you're a crazy parent pushing reading DVDs to toddlers! Couldn't possibly be just that your kid happened to pick up reading earlier than her/his kid...

[Anonymous]

I was a precocious reader and my DC is entering K as a fluent reader. I'm an average adult for the most part, I just love reading. I haven't had negativity about DC's reading (which started at 4) but I had a lot of comments that DC potty trained at 2.5. I didn't force it, just made the toilet available. So many people had a comment, assumed I forced it, said there would be future issues, etc. Nope and my kid has had less than five accidents in three years. All this to say that some parents are competitive and some are petty. Comparison is the quickest way to self defeat. Live your OWN life with your kids, I'm sure they are awesome too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bragplaint.

+1

[Anonymous]

I don't care at all, OP, but please don't brag when your child is reading Harry Potter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:17:08 is a perfect example of this kind of thinking/jealousy. If your kid is reading at an earlier age than mine, it must be that you're a crazy parent pushing reading DVDs to toddlers! Couldn't possibly be just that your kid happened to pick up reading earlier than her/his kid...

Seriously not jealous at all. So explain how your kid just "happened to pick it up." They taught themselves how to read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:08 is a perfect example of this kind of thinking/jealousy. If your kid is reading at an earlier age than mine, it must be that you're a crazy parent pushing reading DVDs to toddlers! Couldn't possibly be just that your kid happened to pick up reading earlier than her/his kid...

Seriously not jealous at all. So explain how your kid just "happened to pick it up." They taught themselves how to read?

At this age , reading is just the ability to string sight words together. If you read to your child a lot, they learn to recognize words. If you're out and about and they ask you to tell them what the sign says, they are learning more words. The child just learns to read by being exposed to the words.

I was excited that my 3 yr old could read. His teacher commented that he knew many sight words but he wasn't necessarily reading. Her definition of reading is the ability to sound out new words correctly. By that definition, my now 4 yr old can't read.

[Anonymous]

At that age for all children...no..some are really sounding words out..

[Anonymous]

At this age , reading is just the ability to string sight words together. If you read to your child a lot, they learn to recognize words. If you're out and about and they ask you to tell them what the sign says, they are learning more words. The child just learns to read by being exposed to the words.

I was excited that my 3 yr old could read. His teacher commented that he knew many sight words but he wasn't necessarily reading. Her definition of reading is the ability to sound out new words correctly. By that definition, my now 4 yr old can't read.

Teacher here. It's true that some kids at this age are especially good at "decoding," and therefore understand how to pronounce many new words without actually knowing what the words mean.
Be sure to check in with your child from time to time and ask them if they know what certain words mean, or see if they can summarize the meaning of a paragraph or page they just read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:08 is a perfect example of this kind of thinking/jealousy. If your kid is reading at an earlier age than mine, it must be that you're a crazy parent pushing reading DVDs to toddlers! Couldn't possibly be just that your kid happened to pick up reading earlier than her/his kid...

Seriously not jealous at all. So explain how your kid just "happened to pick it up." They taught themselves how to read?

NP

My kid taught himself to read before age 3. I worked on the alphabet (and colors and numbers and counting) with him, but I wasn't pushing reading. He liked the show "Between the Lions" which has a phonics focus. He watched some "Between the Lions" and started reading on his own. He could both decode and comprehend books. He wrote grocery lists for me.

I got a few comments from preschool teachers who found it freaky and weird, but that was about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At that age for all children...no..some are really sounding words out..

And good for those who are. Good for those who have a lot of sight words. Good for those who don't give a crap about reading until they're in early elementary and will never read for pleasure but are great at something else. It takes all kinds.

People who feel they need to hide their kids skills think that their kids are so obviously better than everyone else's that other parents will be jealous if they know the kid's superpower. Just be matter-of-fact about it if the topic comes up and shut up otherwise (or be prepared to be mocked behind your back -- not out of jealousy, but because your smugness is hilarious). If you need to brag, talk to your spouse or the kid's grandparents.


Signed,
Another parent of an early fluent reader

[Anonymous]

I think it is really sad that adults feel the need to push hate onto little preschoolers who can read. Contain yourself adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:17:08 is a perfect example of this kind of thinking/jealousy. If your kid is reading at an earlier age than mine, it must be that you're a crazy parent pushing reading DVDs to toddlers! Couldn't possibly be just that your kid happened to pick up reading earlier than her/his kid...

Seriously not jealous at all. So explain how your kid just "happened to pick it up." They taught themselves how to read?

NP

My kid taught himself to read before age 3. I worked on the alphabet (and colors and numbers and counting) with him, but I wasn't pushing reading. He liked the show "Between the Lions" which has a phonics focus. He watched some "Between the Lions" and started reading on his own. He could both decode and comprehend books. He wrote grocery lists for me.

I got a few comments from preschool teachers who found it freaky and weird, but that was about it.

Ok. So he learned from a TV show...