Teaching preschooler to read?

[Anonymous]

At what age can you teach your preschooler to read? DD is 3. I've seen some teaching materials for ages 18 months to 5 years. What do you think? If you have older children, did you work with them on this around age 3?

[singlemom1208]

Good age to start teaching about letters and sounds

[specialwingz]

All 4 of my kids were all reading by 3 years.  My twin boys, actually 2.  They just seemed to pick it up  lickity-split.  We did ABC flash cards every night after bath time.  I started them at 1 yr.  It became "our thing" to do every evening.  By 18 months, they knew all their ABCs and I moved on to small word flashcards.  By 2 1/2, they were reading on a 1st grade level.  By 6, they were reading on a high school level.

Now, this is NOT normal!  LOL.  My kids just seemed to have the knack.  So, I'm NOT saying every kid should be able to do this.  I'm just saying that flashcards were the key for us.  Kids like that kind of thing when you are consistent and make it fun.

[Anonymous - Original Poster]

Quoting specialwingz:

All 4 of my kids were all reading by 3 years.  My twin boys, actually 2.  They just seemed to pick it up  lickity-split.  We did ABC flash cards every night after bath time.  I started them at 1 yr.  It became "our thing" to do every evening.  By 18 months, they knew all their ABCs and I moved on to small word flashcards.  By 2 1/2, they were reading on a 1st grade level.  By 6, they were reading on a high school level.

Now, this is NOT normal!  LOL.  My kids just seemed to have the knack.  So, I'm NOT saying every kid should be able to do this.  I'm just saying that flashcards were the key for us.  Kids like that kind of thing when you are consistent and make it fun.

Were they bored in school? Did they skip a grade?

[UxorQuodMatris.]

I just read to them to start. We practice leaning to recognize letters and the sound they make, then sight words. My 4 year old can read simple stories. After they learn to recognize the words, we work on retelling the story so I know they're understanding what they are reading.

[jonellg]

I don't think that's true at all. As long as they know the letter sounds and can sound out the words it's reading. There's not much to comprehend in See Spot Run...

Quoting Anonymous:

Sorry, at that age all it is is rote memorization. They can't truly comprehend what it is they are "reading" unless they are actually gifted.

[jen2150]

I waited till my kids were 5 years old. I waited till they showed me an interest in learning to read. Unless she is asking to read the best thing you can do is facilitate a love of books. Read to her and make sure she sees you reading. When my boys were young I would read poems out loud to them as they played. You can start with creating fun games involving letters. Don't have any particular goal in mind. Just play and have fun learning. I recommend you read the book Einstein never used flash cards. It has a lot of great research on how young minds learn. Whatever you do follow her lead. Let her guide her learning. It is the best way for her to actually learn. I have taught both of my sons to read and one of the hardest lessons for me was relax and follow their lead. Follow her lead and you can't go wrong.

[jonellg]

It's not normal, but it could be. If more people would try they would see kids can learn all kinds of things very young. I do not think my kids are gifted, I just started teaching them very young.

Quoting specialwingz:

All 4 of my kids were all reading by 3 years.  My twin boys, actually 2.  They just seemed to pick it up  lickity-split.  We did ABC flash cards every night after bath time.  I started them at 1 yr.  It became "our thing" to do every evening.  By 18 months, they knew all their ABCs and I moved on to small word flashcards.  By 2 1/2, they were reading on a 1st grade level.  By 6, they were reading on a high school level.

Now, this is NOT normal!  LOL.  My kids just seemed to have the knack.  So, I'm NOT saying every kid should be able to do this.  I'm just saying that flashcards were the key for us.  Kids like that kind of thing when you are consistent and make it fun.

[peachesforme]

I'm a prek teacher and yes, it's great to work with them at age 3. I would caution tho, if they aren't in the mood, don't force them or you will turn them off to learning. suggest books but if they say no, then just follow their lead and try later.

[mom2the.rescue]

Quoting Anonymous:

 

Quoting mom2the.rescue:

It depends on the kid.  I read a book about how to teach your kid to read...like as young as 18 months.  I tried it with my sons, ages 3 & 1.  They were able to understand a tiny bit, but I don't think it helped them as much as I'd hoped.  They're 11 & 9 & still struggle.  My dd is 4 & can read.  She craves more learning.  When the other kids are drawing circles on the sidewalk, she's spelling words.  So I pushed my older kids to get smarter faster...and it didn't work too well.  I don't have as much time to push my younger kids...and they're soaking up every little bit of teaching I give them lol.

 

 

I don't mean I'd push, but she knows colors, numbers, the alphabet, shapes, and is asking, for example, "What does E-F-I-I-J" spell, throwing random letters together and asking what they spell, so maybe I can start teaching her how to spell.

Yup, sounds like she's ready to learn sounds & stringing them together.  Have fun!

[Tea4Tas]

Quoting Anonymous:

Sorry, at that age all it is is rote memorization. They can't truly comprehend what it is they are "reading" unless they are actually gifted.

My oldest daughter is actually gifted. She was reading when she went into kindergarten. Guess what? It sucked. She went to the principal  30 TIMES in her first year of school.  First grade was just as bad.  I pulled her out of her private school in second grade( they wanted to hold her back because she wasn't listening in class) and put her in public. THEY wanted her to skip 3rd grade (she was already the youngest and smallest in her class)  I had them hand pick a teacher for her who would allow her the autonomy to work ahead of the class. In 4th grade she went into GATE-and in 6th grade transfered OUT of GATE nd into a special school for the gifted.

She had issues thru her entire school career-until College, when her self led style really worked for her.

The 2 kids I had who did NOT learn to read before going into school, actually have done a bit better, happiness and behavior wise.  My older boy is middle of the road-he opted out of GATE because he didn't like his fellow students and turned down the Gifted school his sister went to.   While I would have loved to see him being more challanged-I also want him to be happy and to have a normal social life.....so I allowed him these choices.