thoughts on reading chapter books to 4 year old?

[tammyw]

Just wondering what you think? My daughter will be four in March and my husband has been reading Wizard of Oz to her. She is loving it! Can't get enough. One friend said we might want to wait on chapter books because when she's older and reading, it will be hard to find age appropriate chapter books for her to read.

We read loads and loads of picture books, so this is a first for us on the chapter book. Just wondering others' thoughts on the matter?

[Treasuremapper]

My dh reads the Little House on the Prairie series to us every night, including my three and five year old daughters. They cannot read at that level yet, but they love the books. I think it is a good idea to read chapter books.

[LiamnEmma]

There are so many literature choices out there, what's wrong with reading books that your child loves? And who is to say your child won't choose to read those same books to herself at a later time? I comfort-read well-worn books all the time (well, less now but over and over as a child and young adult). If she's into it, do it.

[hellyaellen]

i wish mine would have been interested at that age. we tried a few but never made it through one. i still thinks it was a valuable thing though.

reading is pretty much always good imo

[PeacefulSeams]

My husband has been reading Harry Potter to my 3 year old. They are on book 3. He loves them!! After they are through, I am going to read him Charlottes Web and The Borrowers. I see no reason why it would be a problem, especially if they are really into it.

[RiceMomma]

I think it's a great idea if they are interested. IMO, it's better to read literature that's above a child's comprehension to help them stretch, rather than always trying to bring everything "down to their level." Sometimes we may not realize what a child can understand, as they may be unable to really convey what is going on in their minds. I have had times where I read something to my daughter, and I could tell she was really thinking about it, but she lacks the communication skills to explain it to me.

[Daffodil]

As LiamnEmma said, she'll probably be happy to read the same books again herself once she's a bit older, so I certainly wouldn't worry about using up all the good books too early. I've been reading a lot of chapter books to my DD lately, and I've been assuming she'll want to read most of them again someday.

[merpk]

My kids loved the "My Father's Dragon" books at that age, too.



There are some picture "chapter" books, too, that they can read at nonbedtimes, too. Like the Little Bear books, etc., that are very gentle and age-appropriate and not so labor-intensive for the parents


IYKWIM.

[PiePie]

i disagree with your friend. i would try little house in the big woods and stuart little. and of course (on an easier level) the little bear books and the frog and toad series.

[meemee]

with the amount of literature coming out every year i dont think u will run out of age appropriate books for ur dd to read. good books i mean. but in a sense i also agree with ur friend. i am saving some classics for my dd to discover on her own when she grows up instead of reading to her now. mine is 4 and loves chapter books too.

[nancy926]

I say if it works, do it. I read "Stuart Little" to our 4-y-o DD but since then she hasn't wanted another chapter book. She still prefers books with lots of colorful pictures, so I have just been looking for picture books that are more text heavy.

[Hera]

Actually, my dd felt confident enough to try chapter books on her own because she could read ones that I'd already read to her. Since she knew how to pronounce the names, and more or less what was going to happen, she was able to read through the book.

She still loves to have me read her favorites, and to read them over and over again herself.

We started with Charlotte's Web at about age 2.5. She really enjoyed it and was able to follow the story, which amuses me now that I have another 2.5 year old who is nowhere near ready for that sort of thing.

[orangebird]

DH has been reading DS, 4, his first chapter books lately. First was Charlotte's Web. It has been a little hard for DS to focus, but DH has been saying basically if he can get through the book, he can see the movie. So now he has been reading just books that have movies so far. Right now they are reading The Hobbit.

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by tammyw

One friend said we might want to wait on chapter books because when she's older and reading, it will be hard to find age appropriate chapter books for her to read.

We read loads and loads of picture books, so this is a first for us on the chapter book. Just wondering others' thoughts on the matter?

OK, that is the weirdest reason I have ever heard I was a bookaholic as a kid, they will always be able to find something they will enjoy to read. I would never hold a kid back from reading, that is just crazy!!:

[Rigama]

Originally Posted by tammyw

One friend said we might want to wait on chapter books because when she's older and reading, it will be hard to find age appropriate chapter books for her to read.

What a sad and bleak world your friend must live in, to truly think that one could EVER run out of things to read. We could probably read a novel a day to our kids and still have plenty for them to read on their own when they are older. I feel really sorry for your friend!

[Thalia the Muse]

Actually, my dd felt confident enough to try chapter books on her own because she could read ones that I'd already read to her. Since she knew how to pronounce the names, and more or less what was going to happen, she was able to read through the book.

This is a really good point. And kids seem to enjoy rereading in a way that most adults don't.

[Gorzong]

Well, when I was 4 or 5 my Mom read me The Hobbit, and I still read it later in life. It's really something that I loved as a kid, and I think helped me enjoy reading once I was older.

My little girl is only 28 months, and I don't think she's quite yet ready, maybe in a couple months we can start something.

Liam.

[amor vincit omnia]

We started reading chapter books to them in the womb and we've not stopped since!

[LindaCl]

No, I disagree completely. If your daughter likes to hear the stories, go for it. There are probably a million chapter books out there. It's not like you're reading Oz now is going to exhaust the "limited store" of available chapter books and there won't be others to read when she's older.

Linda, a fully qualified recipient of a "Too Many Books, Too Little Time" coffee mug.

[Woodchuck]

My three year old loves to be read anything including chapter books. He'll listen for hours... usually longer then my voice lasts.