Very Early Reading

[geomom]

My daughter has been very interested in books since she was nine months. At 15 months she shocked the heck out of me by pointing to letters on a box and naming them. She's 22 months now and knows the lower and upper case letters. And she shocked us again, by recognizing words in a story we had never read to her before just last week.

My husband and I were early self-taught readers and as adults are bibliophiles. We aren't totally shocked by her early interest in reading. But we keep asking ourselves, "What are we going to do with this kid?" I guess I am wondering what early education is like with a child that takes to it so easily. What pitfalls should we be on the look out for? What kind of programs might compliment her interests and aptitudes in a couple of years if we go the preschool route?

[Britishmum]

I'm also really interested in this subject and am keen to hear from others who have been through early education with children like this. Dd is now seventeen months and knows just about all her letters and some of the sounds. She recognises her name and a few words. Everywhere we go she is pointing out print. People have asked me how I have 'taught' her and it makes me laugh - how could you 'teach' this to a baby? She is just wired to do it.

I've taught early readers in the past, and they have all been very well adjusted in pre-school and through elementary school, as long as the classroom is not too formal and rigid in its curriculum. My friend's five year old daughter was sent home with a pre-reader book on her first day at school. My friend had to return it to school and point out that her daughter had been able to read fluently for over two years. The teacher was very embarrassed, but had just assumed that all children were at the same starting point when the entered school. That would worry me if a teacher showed such a lack of understanding about differentiation.

This is what I would look for in a preschool and school - that the children are treated as individuals and that the curriculum is play and discovery based. Whatever your daughter's ability in reading - or other areas - I think that she needs a play based curriculum at least for the first few years. Open ended activities mean that all children are catered for, whatever their individual needs. There shouldn't then be any need to move children up or down a grade - a good teacher can make a curriculum work for all the individuals in her class by giving open ended tasks and responding to individual needs.

But I do know how you feel. For a few weeks I worried about dd and wondered if I should try to slow her learning down. And I am someone who believes vehemently in maximising the learning potential of children through knowledge and understanding of the brain! I then spoke to a few ex-colleagues who made me sit back and think objectively. It's so easy when you are talking about someone else's child, but so hard when it's your own!

Now I am working again to help dd to learn whatever it is that she wants and needs to learn. We read, read, read. We play with her letters, we draw and write letters when she asks, we 'write' emails and letters to people, and we read the labels on everything. We'll find the right educational environment for her nearer the time, and who knows, by then she may be at the same level as her peers anyway! I've decided to relax about it and enjoy her enthusiasm.

[zombiemommie]

Different twist - *I* was an early reader, reading stories by 3 and in pre-kindergarden was paraded into a 3rd grade classroom to read one of their books (I remember this vividly-I was very uncomfortable). Anywho, I was skipped to the 1st grade from pre-k however I was not very socially mature at that time, still crying for my mom often. I was "bullied" per se by others in the early grades and remained quite sensitive (also from dysfunctional household, who knows what was from what LOL). The point of this story is that, altho I was reading on a 4th grade level at early age 5, the other areas in my schooling were never developed (perhaps because I was too young for the subject material, perhaps because it was "hard" for me and reading was easy and I didn't like to work? ) I was "pushed" along and I did not develop good math skills until COLLEGE. I was getting c's and d's in math and everybody pushed me along, ultimately doing things like giving me extra credit to boost my end grades because I was such a good reader. Nobody could comprehend putting a good reader into remedial math classes. I know that in 6th grade my mother had to work with me with FLASH cards for simple multiplication tables (I'm talking 3x6). This happened even into high school. I think it is great to nurture the reading, because it is a lifelong enjoyment and can enrich your life in so many ways. I just say "be careful" and be sure to encourage the other areas as well, so that your child has balance, and should your child be an exceptional reader, not to place too much focus on THAT but on the whole as well.

BTW, my 19 month old son has been pointing out letters since about 13 months old, anywhere and everywhere. Actually he used to hate the car seat and once he discovered signs, he's been a joy. He used to mimic my intonations from reciting the alphabet whenever he'd see a letter, but now he can identify certain letters b, o, s, x, y, z and will identify a few words like "moon" and "book". However he isn't a big talker yet so I'm not sure what he "really" understands. I read to him, but he is a busy child and would rather be jumping on the furniture LOL. I hope that I am able to instill a LOVE of reading rather than the the ability to read. DH struggles with reading and he talks about how he never like to read as a child - I, however, enjoyed being "sent to my room" because I could read all day long ! NOt a punishment to me !

What smart little babies we have, huh ?

[geomom]

Thank you. I guess my real concern is keeping it well rounded. When I think about it though, I don't think it will be a big problem. I am a math/science geek and dh likes science too. I probably will have to keep a close eye on preschool/school to make sure they keep it well rounded too. Of course, I will be involved anyway.

So far her interests are wide and varied. Right now she is more interested in us making up stories than reading books. Every rock, stick, and leaf she picks up has to have a story. Good opportunities to introduce natural history. Ack! Our imaginations are being seriously taxed though. Luckily, she likes repetition. And when I get tired of reading and story telling, we practicing kicking the ball and running around the apartment giving loud whoops an hoots. The neighbors probably think we're crazy.

[Britishmum]

Zombiemommie - I think you have a great point and a clear illustration of what can go wrong if people mishandle early reading.

Like Geomom, I make sure that dd has a well rounded experience. We do all the normal toddler activities - music, art, mess, play, and a visit to the park every day. Maths doesn't worry me as she seems as forward in maths skills as reading - she sorts her bricks by colour and shape and knows some of her colours and shapes. I haven't formally 'taught' her but she insists on being told! Dh is an engineer so they spend hours building with lego.

Dd is more cautious about gross motor activities than her peers though - she will climb but wants often to hold my hand and takes a long time to tackle new apparatus, where her little friends seem to whizz off while she is still standing looking! It seems that her nature is to think first whereas many of them seem to climb then deal with it if they get stuck. I am trying to encourage her to be more adventurous, but I think it is her character to be cautious and weigh up all the possibilities before acting - the same as dh!

I'm not so worried about her home experience, but more about how schools treat children who are literate early. That is my main concern - finding a school that suits her needs at the time and where she won't be accelerated through grades just because she can read well.

Homeschooling is not an option for us unless I really couldn't find somewhere where dd is happy. I'm trying not to worry for now, although I do have to go to look at pre-schools to get her name on waiting lists. I'm hoping to find somewhere with a good playbased curriculum where all round development is fostered.

[battymomma]

britishmum--i appreciate that you said you want to find a school where your babe won't be accelerated just b/c she reads well early!
i am reading The Hurried Child right now and that is one of the things the author (david elkind?) says. it is good to have the gifted and talented programs, but not if they are actually at the expense of our kids!

[Britishmum]

Battymomma - I'll look up that book. It sounds interesting. I see so many people here who were rushed through grade levels until they were at college at the age of fifteen or sixteen. Yuck.

It amazes me that so many people want their child accelerated up grade levels. I want my child to fulfil her potential and use her intelligence to full advantage, but I want her equally to develop emotional intelligence and life skills - and be well-adjusted and happy! That means that she needs to spend a lot of her time socialising and playing age appropriate games with children of her own age, not be involved only in activities with children who are much older than her, just because she can read or do maths as well as them.

Anyway, I'll check out that book - who knows if I will need it, but it's good to be prepared!

[battymomma]

yes, it is very good, very interesting. has really helped my attitude change about many things these past few days.
i HAD to buy it for a college class, but never really read it or appreciated it then. now i am totally absorbed and thinking about it the way i should, not like a college kid forced to read, KWIM!

[AmyB]

Originally posted by zombiemommie
The point of this story is that, altho I was reading on a 4th grade level at early age 5, the other areas in my schooling were never developed

I also read at 3 years old, and had the same problem that because I was a good reader teachers assumed I was also good at math (I was not particularly) and that I could comprehend what I read (I could not always). In elementary school I initially had the problem that teachers sent me home with inappropriately easy reading material, but in later grades the school curriculum had self-paced reading modules or reading lists so that wasn't a problem any more. You might want to find out if your daughter's school has this kind of self-paced instruction.

A child who likes to read mainly needs lots of access to books. Get her a library card and let her pick out books she wants to read. Try not to censor too much. A kid who can read will figure out how to read "off limits" books behind your back anyhow. If there are books you especially want her to read, just leave them around in your bookshelf or under the couch.

--AmyB

[mamasi]

early reading

I was an early reader, too, and agree with much of what has been said here already. Just wanted to add that while I totally agree that one should not censor what one's kid reads, paying attention carefully, talking with your child about it, is really key. I read books that were way over my head because I was a skilled reader but I lacked the social context for understanding what was going on. For example, I read Little Women when I was five, and when Beth dies I was totally traumatized. I still remember how sad and confused I was about why she died--it made me depressed for what seems now like a long time. I wish that my parents had asked me about things I was reading and given me a way to talk about it (maybe some kids will just speak up, but for whatever reason I didn't). That's my goal for myself, if ds turns out to be into reading!

[Britishmum]

That's a great point, Mamasi, about making sure that reading material is age-appropriate. Dd already loves books that are meant for age 4-6, although of course I am reading them to her. I find it strange when she brings books to other people, and they flick through and coo at the pictures for her and say things like 'Oooh, pretty kitty!' when she already knows the story. She gets frustrated and keeps saying 'Read the book' but most people just can't believe that she really means it!

I have had to put some books away as she loves to look at them but I worry about the content. For example, Not Now Bernard, where the monster eats the little boy. You really have to look through books carefully to check what they contain, and try to imagine what they would mean to the child, who has the ability to understand the content but not necessarily the emotional maturity to separate out that it is humour or fantasy.

[geomom]

Britishmum and mamasi- Good points. Dd loves Beatrix Potter, but we've had to edit a couple of them a bit because dd gets upset when the animals eat each other.

Right now she is giving letters and words a short break and going crazy over puzzles, blocks, and numbers. Now I worry about her doing jig-saw puzzles meant for 4 year olds.

Of course I worry she doesn't speak in sentences yet too. She does combinations of signs, words and gestures to get her meaning across. But of course, I meet these toddlers who are speaking in sentences and wonder when dd will start.

I can be such a mom.

[USAmma]

Abi is 16 mos. old and can recite most of the alphabet with me, count to 10, recognizes a few letters in both Tamil (dh's language) and English, and knows a couple of colors. No I did not set out to make her a brain child, nor do I think she's "gifted". I just make learning a game and she's so ready to learn whatever I teach her. This started with me just talking to her. Sometimes I couldn't think of anything to say so I would recite a poem or the alphabet or count to 10. Just in the last two weeks she's shown all the skills listed above. Totally blew us away!

I read a book in India called Teach Your Baby To Read and it was facinating but too much effort. Besides, I asked myself what was the rush in teaching her to read? She can learn at the normal age. I didn't really expect her to learn all that she has by now, but we just keep making it a game and she enjoys it. She's even starting to write letters in Tamil as well as trying to copy the 5 pointed star, and does well with circles. My MIL is an artist and of course says it's in her genes to draw well. ;-) It's part of dh's routine to come home and spend time drawing out and naming letters on the magnadoodle. Abi gets it for him sometimes and then after he's drawn it she copies it.

We do read to her a lot but she's not interested in sitting for the whole story. So mostly we just point to the pictures and tell her the story in summary. She started the letter recognition with an ABC book that had one big letter on each page in red, plus one big picture to go with it. Now when she sees a letter A like in her magnetic fridge magnets, she calls it "apple." It's just facinating to see her brain developing! At the same time I'm in no rush to push her. Just going by her cues.

Darshani

[PM]

**slightly off-topic, sorry***

Zombiemommie - You and I had very similar experiences in school. I always went to reading class in the higher grades, or read those reading card/questionnaire thingies in my classroom about 500 times. I had C, D and even F grades in math. In college I needed 2 points on my math entrance exam to get out of taking remedial math. My English score, however, got me into 300-level English and creative writing classes. My advisor happened to be the director of the Creative Writing program, so she did me no favor by "giving" me those 2 points so I could concentrate on my writing. Of course, later on, to support that underpaid (non-paying) writing career I needed a "real" job, one where I had to do all sorts of math. Well, I finally learned my math, and loved it.

**back to regularly scheduled thread, in which I can't participate because Iris has enough trouble learning two languages, much less reading already!**

[USAmma]

ParisMaman
this is off topic too but I enjoyed hearing the story of Iris' name on that name thread, esp. the grandmother's journal! That is so cool!

Darshani

[SeaMama]

My ds first recognized words at age 2, read fluently by age 3, and now, at age 5, is devouring chapter books faster than we can procure them. It is such a joy to have him share our love of reading! But there are a number of challenges too, as you gals have discussed. The main one has been to shield him from excess praise from other people, who want to freak out and talk about what a "genius" he is. It drives me crazy when people say to him "Oh, you can read? You're so smart!" He is incredibly gifted but it has always been our goal that he be happy, rather than accomplished. So we have never pushed the academic stuff, we just follow his lead (which he makes very clear!) as to what he wants to do. And he is totally well-rounded, he likes to play with Legos and run around shrieking with his friends as much as he likes reading.

The other challenge right now is finding appropriate books for him, and this is a tough one. This is a kid who will read the newspaper if we leave it lying around ("Mom, what's a serial rapist?"), but even though he reads at an adult level he is still only 5 and needs to be protected from inappropriate information. He is too young for the Harry Potter books, for example. I have just found an awesome children's librarian at a library across town, who after learning that ds is an early reader spent 20 minutes dashing all over the children's section and coming back with stacks and stacks of books. I wanted to kiss her!

Sometimes I wonder what it's like for him to have so much more information streaming into his brain than other kids his age. I get overwhelmed when I think about it too much, because quite frankly, he's about to bypass us and we can barely keep up! Thank god he just got accepted into the perfect school for him, where they celebrate the uniqueness of each child and teach with an inquiry-based style rather than textbook.

Whew, long post, but it's one of my favorite topics and it's the first time I've wandered into this forum!

[Britishmum]

It's so reassuring to hear from others whose children are doing these things early. Sometimes I find it hard being around other parents of children the same age (19 months), although luckily a good friend's little girl is now talking and interacting with dd, so we have somebody 'closer' to our experience. Dd seems instinctively to prefer to play wiht this little girl, because she will want to do some of the same things such as look at books and stay focused on an activity for a longer time.

Another mother asked me the other day if dd is interested in colours. What could I say? She's known her colours for several months - she knew a couple at one year, and I thought I was truly going mad thinking it, until my mum realised and mentioned it.

I sometimes want to talk to other people about my concerns about my child in the same way that others do if they are worried for example, that their child isn't talking yet. But if you say anything, those parents think you're crazy! It's like you can only worry if you think your child might be behind the average, not if they are above.

We are working hard to foster all the play things, and she adores playing with lego and toy cars etc. Although then I watch her build with all the yellow bricks, or sort out all the red cars and line them up, and see other children going 'brum brum' with theirs. I go with the flow, answer her questions and enjoy watching her develop, but I still worry about school. We'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it, but it's good to hear other people's experiences and be prepared for what might lie ahead.

[mamaat40]

Hi Everyone - this is my first post to Mothering. Glad I found you guys. Dh and I have one son, Max, 14 mos. Last night I was over at a friend's house who introduced me to the concepts in Teach your Baby to Read by Dolman. Her son was reading novels by age 4, etc. He's in public school, age appropriate grade, but is an accelerated reader. Anyway what this method involves is, it piqued my interest as we have not done anything like this for Max --we read to him lots and he's always busy with his toys-- is having separate flash cards beginning with names of people he knows -- mommy, daddy, grandma, etc., pets names...-- 3 times a day you are supposed to just run through them - saying the name while he sees the word. Then you go to body parts and then to common items he knows. You make a group of flash cards for each-- (eyes, ears nose, etc,) and cup, spoon, fork, plate, etc, and flash these (just once - 3x/day) while you say the word. It's word recognition he's learning. Later on, my friend said she'd put the word on the item (these were the bigger items, not the silverware I guess) like refrigerator, oven.....

Also included - Dolman has a kit or you can make your own - is phonics - flash cards with "eigh" "ing" "sp" "st" etc. and you say these while you flash in front of your child, just once, 3x/day.

You can also make booklets with pictures on one side, the word on the other and flash through those. Seemed to me like just a way to bring in more stimulation, while not pushing him, etc. I'm not interested in hurrying him at all. The cool thing was all the stacks of categories she had -- pictures of animals, famous paintings, flowers... : I'm thinking of doing this. Thanks for all the thoughtful replies from you accelerated readers. I'm a bit hesitant in starting this, too.

margi
dh bob, ds max 14 mos.

[PM]

I guess my question would be: How does this benefit my child? What does it bring my child to be an accelerated reader? Future success? No thanks. Better grades? If he/she loves school, those will come naturally. A true love of reading? Maybe not.

What do you all think? I've read to Iris since before she came out of my womb, but I did it to spend time with her, to interact with her, not to teach her how to read. She loves books; she "reads" every book she owns 3-4 times every single day.

[SeaMama]

I feel very strongly that little kids, pre-kindergarten ages, do not need to be "taught" to read. I think that, by being around lots of books and being read to by enthusiastic parents, if they pick it up early, great. But early readers are not the norm, most kids don't start until at least 5 or so. And the way my ds started to read was by whole word recognition, he has no clue about phonics or anything, but he now reads like an adult and can sound out words and is learning rules of grammar etc. as he goes. Which I think is the natural way for early readers to do it. I think phonics and other methods of teaching reading is fantastic for older kids but actually might be detrimental for little ones. If they are totally into it and that's what they want to do, great, but I don't see the point in rushing it. I know it is believed that early readers generally have an easier time of it in school, but while I don't even necessarily think this is true (I was an early reader and completely fell through the cracks at school), I also don't think the converse is true: non-early readers (normal-paced readers) can and do have very successful school lives.

This is JMO, and I know lots and lots of people don't agree. I just feel it's one of those things where people seem anxious to have their kids grow up too fast.