What is the average age for reading? - Page 2

[elizawill]

i don't know what schools or other parents necessarily consider average, but with my own kids they are reading fluently by age 8. i start to teach reading when they are kindergarten age (about 5 1/2). we start with letter sounds, then digraphs, & build up to sounding out words and then decoding sentences. but i don't consider them actual "readers" until they are fairly fluent (reading actual books well with comprehension - not leveled readers or beginner chapter books).

this has been achieved by age 8 here (well, my son was actually by age 7 - he has read phenomenally well for quite some time & he just turned 9).  if it happens earlier or later for other kids, i imagine that's totally normal. even in public school, kids are all over the place with reading in elementary K-3.

Edited by elizawill - 3/24/13 at 8:56pm

[Lillian J]

Do keep in mind that finding the average from the low end to the high end doesn't mean there's one ideal. I've heard of 2 yr. olds learning to read more or less on their own and very bright 9 yr. olds struggling at in spite of having been exposed to a love of reading from parents in a positive and enthusiastic way all their lives. It's highly individual - and most children are reading by the time there's anything all that special for them to read. If parents read a lot to children, they're sharing wonderful experiences and adventures, and they're able to enjoy all that together  - they're also able to read material that's much more advanced than a young child would be reading on his own - so there's no special advantage in a child reading independently at an early age. Take a look through some of the articles written by homeschoolers, former teachers, and other professional educators on the subject - there's a lot of strong disagreement with the idea that early is better:  preschool and kindergarten. 

Lillian

[thefragile7393]

I tried with my son from pre-k....I shouldn't have bothered that early.Only this year has his reading taken off, although he hates practicing. I long researched delayed learning, Waldorf....and I have to say that the theories fit my son well. He is now 7. I should have just stuck with Reading Eggs for his early years...or Ooka Island.

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[JamieCatheryn]

I was 3 when I could read some words, was reading little books at 5 in kindy and I read for fun almost constantly from age 8 to 21. I taught my older son at age 5. He turned 7 yesterday and doesn't read for fun yet, but pretty fluently reads what he encounters in games and signs and labels. My middle son is 3 and writes his name and some other letters, recognizes letters and identifies some letter sounds. I haven't been working with him on it I just answer what he asks me. If they can read before they're 8 I figure it's fine, readiness does vary.

[FLmomof1/1ontheway]

My first now 8 was a natural reader.  She picked it up right away and was reading easily right after she turned 5.  She now falls asleep every night reading long chapter books on 5-6 grade level. She is the type of kid that reads while she is walking and doesn't even get dressed in her PJ's before she starts reading at night. 

My second now 5 almost 6 is not reading yet. She knows all her letters and their sounds. She can read all 3 letter words and some sight words. She was/is resistant when it comes to school work.  I had to teach her in a completely different way then I taught my first. I do realize I have not had the dedicated time I had when teaching my first.  I also have a 3yo.  When I taught my first she was it and I could occupy her little sister.  Now I'm trying to teach my oldest and my second while I have a crazy 3 yo who must be involved with school. 

However I can tell she does not have the same maturity and natural ability my first had.  I think all kids are different and can "learn" things better at different times.  After all not all adults love to read.  I am a horrid speller and enjoy math and science more. So it just depends on the individual.  We are all different. 

[thefragile7393]

my son is 7 and barely took off on reading this year. i worried and stressed for a long time...

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