3.5 yr old literacy development

[Nanay]

HI .. I have a almost 3.5 year old who is not in kindy (will be in august..we are o/s in china atm). I just received an email from a friend of ours that says her DD who is almost 3 (3 in sept) can read about 20 words! This prompted my DH to tell me to get on to my DS about "educational" things meaning "why cant he read at his age and he is older than their DD... Might I add she is a part time worker (only works 2 days a week) and has a speech therapist sister. I used to work full time and now for the past couple of months trying to settle the kids down o/s after the move. He did attend kindy/daycare while in aus. He loves to read and make up his own stories and i just taught him to write his name!
Anyways..I know i should not be forcing the issue of writing and reading with him but i guess i just need the reassurance. All I know is at this age play and interaction are more important than learning to read words.
Is reading by them selves before 4 advanced or am i just being to laxed with my son (i.e. he is behind). He does watch tv (more than i want to) but i try to keep it to educational shows (and yes its DH who changes it to cartoon network coz he used to say ABC shows were boring...)

I think this just became a semi vent..hmm

[WorkingClassMum]

** bump **

[jalibali]

I am a primary school teacher and also a mum to an almost 3yr old and a 1yr old. My advice would be not to worry too much, most kids cannot read when they get to school, your son is definitely not behind.

Gifted children often learn to read early, some at 2, many figure it our for themselves without any teaching.

I am encouraging my daughter to recognise her name and words you see around - like toilet, mens, ladies etc. I also read to her a lot and as she gets interested I will teach her to read. I would like for her to read before she gets to school, but I won't force the issue if she is not ready.

She does go to preschool and has improved her vocab immensely since she went there. But they don't teach reading till the year before school.

Hope that helps

[KatiesMum]

Reading is something that will come when the child is ready.

My DD (who turns 4 this week) is reading quite well .... but its something she was really interested in and had started on her own. She goes to kindy (school based) 2 days a week, and of the 27 kids (3.5 - 4.5 yr olds) only 2 are starting to read. All the rest range between being able to identify the letters and only being able to sing the ABC song.

Usually - some kids learn to read between 4 and 5, and most dont start until grade 1.

If your child isnt really that interested - dont stress. Dont push him into something he doesnt want ... it will come when he is ready.

[crazymuma]

My son is 5 and can probably now only read and write about 20 words. He is on the same level as most of the kids in his prep class.


Can't say I have every met a 3 year old who could read or write their own name. Yes many do but its not 'normal'

[biscotti]

Don't stress
My own 3.5 yr old can read her own name and her sister's name and some environmental print (the Stop sign, our st sign, billboards etc) and that's about it and I think she's pretty normal
My oldest DD did read as a preschooler but this wasn't the "norm", only two children in her class were reading as preschoolers.
Just enjoy him and don't worry about the other stuff - it will come

[Nanay]

Thank you for all your input. I was not stressing until DH brought it up. He knows B is the start of his name and I think he knows it. He is a cognitive learner, he needs to visualise everything. He is good at matching. I read to him all the time (or as much as the DS2 lets me, i try to include him too but at 1 he has the attention span of a fly). It took him a long time to learn his numbers too. I was not worried but DH certainly put the pressure on as im just new at the SAHM thing. I let him watch tv but when DS2 is down i like to do stuff with him like read to him or write with him.
I tried today teaching him to recognise ABCD and i know he got it but he started mucking around and messing it up intentionally (just like when he was learning his numbers) so i took that as not interested mum, i just wanna play or draw or watch tv.

[Little-Pink-Hen]

Oh my gosh

first hugs
you have not failed him!

I'm a preschool teacher 3.5-5 yrs 99% of my children don't read before starting school
learning to read and write happens when they are ready, in a non stress way, I've had many children who can't make one letter in July than October they are writting their whole name. Is your ds starting school in 18 months? 18 months even 6 months is a huge time frame! And learning to read and write is why you go to school
if you want to start some work, I start with ore litracy work
make some name cards about 3 high and used them on things so he can recognise his name, write his name on everything he works on, check out what type of font your school system in your state uses so your write in the proper font. Only use lower cases except for the first letter. Alway write on the top left corner this teachers that writing and Reading happens left to right top to bottom. When Reading run your finger along the words to teach the words having a meaning. Encourage writing over the top of his name. Put a card under neither and Trace over it. Use a eseal or the fridge to practice writing to help develop fine motor skills
what type of drawings does he draw what do they look like??

[Nanay]

Lisamd - he is starting school in mid-august (an international school). When i thought him to write his name i thought him to write it in caps (i thought it would be easier for him to write in caps). But yeah i will definitely teach him to write it in sentence case. When i was "teaching" him to write, I would hold his hand and we write it together and then he "copies" it. Do you think its better if he writes over it instead of copying? He does a pretty good job copying.
When he draws it looks like it has a purpose, he knows the grass and will draw what some would guess as grass at the bottom of the page, mostly circly things but he tells me they are ladybugs (he will draw with red first then color it in with black) or dinosaur or spiders etc. He will use different colours as well but he has his favorite colours.
Thank you for your response.

[chameleon]

My DD is 4 and can't read at all She can recognise her name and that is it. She is only just beginning to write her name now too, and that is with me reminding her which letters to use. It is all out of order as well, not in a straight line.
She can't count well either, I think she really can only count to 4 well, and after that she often gets mixed up. Can count to 10 on a good day.

I am a bit stressed about it too, to be honest, but everyone keeps telling me not to compare her so much! DD also goes to an occupational therapist and she seems to think I am a bit of a worrier and that she is right on target.