I started sometime in the Spring before Kindergarten with "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons", though not every day and not particularly intensively. Our local public school stresses sight words and three-cuing. With some family history of dyslexia, I didn't want them to fall into bad habits.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1st grade teacher.

NEVER push reading. Enjoy books and read often. But don't PUSH learning to read!

+1 Not a teacher. But a librarian and mom. And I agree!

And I would even caution against doing "programs" and other stuff like I see above - kids can sniff out an agenda pretty quickly. Just read and make it fun. And you also read - and not on your phone.

Anonymous wrote:1st grade teacher.

NEVER push reading. Enjoy books and read often. But don't PUSH learning to read!

+1 Not a teacher. But a librarian and mom. And I agree!

Never. Just read to them constantly. Get out a million library books. Read anything they want you to, plus some you know are good and they’ll like. Sit there in the couch for as long as they will and READ

As a reading specialist, I suggest that you first read to your children to give them a love for reading. Age appropriate discussion leads to comprehension. Pre-reading skills should be accomplished before formal instruction begins. It is especially important to teach the left to right reading pattern and to build a balanced base of phonics and whole language. This does not happen as often as it should. The most organized and effective program I know is the pre-reading part of Project Light computer based learning program. You can find them online. They are based in Norfolk, Va.

I really don’t think reading should ever be pushed. It will happen when appropriate material is available, student is developmentally ready and encouraged. Pushing usually does more harm than good. I really like being able to wait till age 8, before formal reading is required especially for boys. Obviously you can’t always do this, especially in public school.

One program I use often and really like is Writing to Read, which works well when there is a balance of phonics and whole language and grammar/language being taught. I am praying for you to be sensitive to your child’s readiness and to find the right material. Meanwhile keep on reading.

PS sometimes I just read to myself out loud when I had a child who didn’t want to stop and listen. It is ok to read while they play. I sometimes had them to act out the story. This can be fun for everyone. Blessings to you and your family.

I am the one who does not approve screen time for young children especially when parents mistakenly believe the children are "learning". I made a comment earlier. Yes please anything during pandemic, that's so different. As a daycare and preschool teacher for 20+ yrs, I could tell you that I can tell apart the kids who have too much screen time and no screen time (there is usually no middle - the parents either for or against it), by their very different behaviour in a group setting. Reading to your child is best tool for all your child's learning. Screen time is time wasted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Using screen time is bad even if your excuse is learning to read. Zero screen time for 3 yr old is best, very limited screen time at 5. That's what all the research says.

what's the research on making sanctimonious comments on the internet to prop up your own parenting choices?

And what’s the research when kids are all home 24 hours a day due to the pandemic. Oh, right, none. MYOB PP, the tablet is my child’s beat friend right now.

Anonymous wrote:Using screen time is bad even if your excuse is learning to read. Zero screen time for 3 yr old is best, very limited screen time at 5. That's what all the research says.

what's the research on making sanctimonious comments on the internet to prop up your own parenting choices?

Using screen time is bad even if your excuse is learning to read. Zero screen time for 3 yr old is best, very limited screen time at 5. That's what all the research says.

My DD did not read until the summer after second grade. Honest to goodness. The very next year she tested at above grade level for reading in standardized tests (and continues to two years later).

I just kept reading to her like the experts say. It will happen in its own time. She still doesn’t love to read, but at least she’s very proficient at it.

Never push reading, unless you want them to hate reading.

My 4 year old daughter hasn't shown any interest in learning to read so we read to her often. We do some different games like i made a sight word matching game, we use the bananagram tiles to make cvc words to sound out and we've done a little bit of Starfall activities. She definitely has the skills so I'm not really trying to stress if she's not motivated to do it right now

100 easy lessons. Start it at 5. 10 min a day. And keep reading to him with a lot of variety, some in depth books and some short ones that he may be able to read with you. But don't pressure him to actually read them yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all for weighing in. Pushing is not really the right word, more like - should I be working on it with him? It sounds like probably not as he doesn’t seem ready. He was a very early talker and is extremely curious and bright. He loves looking at books on his own during rest time (and some mealtimes as our 11yo frequently brings books to the table and the little one idolizes him). I think I am just inwardly freaking out a bit because my others were reading well before 4.5. He does have an October birthday, so we still have another year before K. I will continue just reading for pleasure with him without working on him recognizing sight words for now.

Despite the naysayers who believe all kids should learning reading entirely by osmosis, yes, you should work with him. Make it fun. Don't let it take over his life. But it is helpful to spend 20 minutes a day working on pre-reading or early reading skills so that he has the tools when he is ready to start reading.

I agree with above poster. YDS is almost 4.5 and I tried a few phonics apps with him to see if he would like any. He loves Reading Eggs (and Math Seeds). I sit with him and allow him to do as much or as little as he wants. Some days he does one board and some days he wants to complete a level. I let him decide.

OP here. Can you please tell me more about Reading Eggs? I’ve not heard of it before this thread.

The website is Readingeggs.com. I signed up when they had a free 30-day trial. YDS enjoys it. ODS hated RE at that age so it depends on your child. I also tried ABCMouse and Reading Raven. For some reason YDS likes Reading Eggs the best. Good Luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like around 8 if they don't get it sooner

No, if they are 7-8 and not reading its a huge red flag and kids need tested.

Only if they haven't had any instruction. I got a refugee who spoke 3 languages but at 9, she hadn't been taught how to read. She followed a normal trajectory once she had received instruction. Look at the circumstances.