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Parents and Guardians Forum>Three And Half And They Don't Read!
fairymama 09:17 AM 02-15-2013
My kids are three and half years old now and they don't read. They go to a daycare, but they can just know the shape and name of letters but without reading a full word.. Is it normal or they are delayed? I can see younger kids who can read. any suggestions?
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Brooksie 09:29 AM 02-15-2013
I don't think its abnormal that a 3.5 year old can't read. They should be learning letter recognition, but not necessarily reading. My (just turned) 5 year old nephew is EXTREMELY intelligent and can write by copying and coaching and is just learning to read things. There are always things you can do to be proactive if they aren't where you think they should be, but don't be too hard on them, they may not be developmentally ready to comprehend it just yet.
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NeedaVaca 09:33 AM 02-15-2013
Why would you think this is delayed? This is very normal, most kids don't learn to read until closer to age 5. Exactly how many other children under this age have you seen read?
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Crazy In Mo 09:43 AM 02-15-2013
I honestly don't think I've ever met a 3 yr old that CAN read.

So no, they are not delayed
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akpayne 10:03 AM 02-15-2013
My dd is 4.5 and is just starting to read. Ive been told by her teachers and specialists that she is advanced. Therefore, no I dont think a 3.5 yo is delayed...where did you even get such an idea?? Let your child be a kid first, the rest will follow.
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Hunni Bee 10:36 AM 02-15-2013
...a literate three year old would be considered very advanced. Three year olds aren't ready to read yet. I didn't learn to read until the end of kindergarten, and that was considered early back then. Im only 25.

Please dont push them. We are expected our kids to be able do stuff earlier and earlier. Its really sad....that we're to thr point that we're worried about why our three year olds aren't reading
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dEHmom 10:41 AM 02-15-2013
my son just turned 7, he's in grade 1. He's in a reading program at school to help him read, he was a little behind at the start of grade 1, but most kids learn to read in kindergarten here, and now he's reading above his level.
my daughter didn't know how to read before kindergarten and grade 1, but she had books memorized by the pictures on the page, and could recite the book word for word. we could never skip pages with her because she always knew.
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MNMommy2 10:45 AM 02-15-2013
Originally Posted by Crazy In Mo:
I honestly don't think I've ever met a 3 yr old that CAN read.

So no, they are not delayed
Ditto.

People need to slow down about all of this and let their kids be kids!
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TheGoodLife 10:57 AM 02-15-2013
I taught for 7+ years in elementary, and I've only seen one 3 year old who can read (actually, she may have been 4) Reading words with picture clues and reciting books they've memorized, sure. But to actually read a word all by itself, that would be VERY advanced for that age Don't rush, sounds like you are doing a great job and reading will be here before you know it!
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itlw8 11:04 AM 02-15-2013
a three yr old that reads would be extreemly advanced. Now I assume they do read to the child in the childcare and you do at home also.

most 3 yr olds are learning to recognize their own name. But only if it is displayed where they see it daily and used.
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Blackcat31 11:23 AM 02-15-2013
Originally Posted by fairymama:
My kids are three and half years old now and they don't read. They go to a daycare, but they can just know the shape and name of letters but without reading a full word.. Is it normal or they are delayed? I can see younger kids who can read. any suggestions?
Did someone say they were suppose to read by this age? Just curious as to why you feel not reading at this age is cause for concern?

I'd say being able to recognize the shape and sound of a letter at age 3 might be considered advanced for some.

I certainly wouldn't worry stress about reading full words until atleast Kindergarten.

Are your kids in a new daycare now? Not the same one that you had concerns about in a previous post?
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mema 11:44 AM 02-15-2013
My dd didn't learn until the beginning of Kindergarten. She's now in 3rd and reading at a 5th grade level. My ds didn't start until the end of Kindergarten and is right on grade level.

I think that is too early and I wouldn't worry about it.
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SilverSabre25 12:17 PM 02-15-2013
I'm sorry, but are you really for real? Some (all...?) of your threads are very strange.

3.5 year olds don't read. They are doing GOOD to know shapes/colors/letters. Really. They are. Of course they don't read. Children aren't developmentally ready for that until 5 or older. Let your children be children, please
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NeedaVaca 01:06 PM 02-15-2013
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
I'm sorry, but are you really for real? Some (all...?) of your threads are very strange.

3.5 year olds don't read. They are doing GOOD to know shapes/colors/letters. Really. They are. Of course they don't read. Children aren't developmentally ready for that until 5 or older. Let your children be children, please
I keep wondering the same thing! Strange posts, and she kept her kids with a provider that admitted to hitting? It's all a little weird...
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kitykids3 01:14 PM 02-15-2013
I have never seen a 3 year old read. I was reading at 4 and my mom was told I was advanced. At 3, my kiddos are usually still learning their letters and numbers. 4 or 5 is when they put them together.
You saw a child younger than 3.5 reading? Really?
Your child is in no way delayed by not reading yet. Plus, we shouldn't be forcing the learning on them so young. Then they lose their natural love for learning. Instead, expand on things that interest your child.
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Angelsj 02:15 PM 02-15-2013
I wouldn't say NO kids...but it is rather unusual.
My crew... oldest was 5, next was 4.5, next was reading ON HIS OWN at 2.5, next was 5, then my oldest daughter at just over 3, next one was nearly 6, and the next was almost 8, and the youngest was 7.

Not impossible at all, as two of mine were reading before 3.5, but on average that would not be considered at all delayed, and some kids are not ready until closer to 7 or 8. For the record, those two youngest are now 11 and 13 and both read at an eighth grade level or above. They caught up very quickly.
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Heidi 02:54 PM 02-15-2013
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
I'm sorry, but are you really for real? Some (all...?) of your threads are very strange.

3.5 year olds don't read. They are doing GOOD to know shapes/colors/letters. Really. They are. Of course they don't read. Children aren't developmentally ready for that until 5 or older. Let your children be children, please
Yeah, I don't normally jump on the bandwagon, but when I read the post, my reaction was ????????????????
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jokalima 02:59 PM 02-15-2013
Is ok not know how to read at this age. I have 2-3yr olds and one of them did not know the #'s and alphabet until very recently, I asked a Special Ed teacher that visit my house if that was OK, she told me that she does not have to learn all shapes and letters at 3, that it is OK if she does but it is also Ok if she does not, so I stopped stressing about it. Her brother is the same way, my 2 year olds know the colors, letters, numbers and shapes, but him does not know any of this, his special Ed teacher said it was fine for him not to know this.
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Hunni Bee 05:41 PM 02-15-2013
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
I'm sorry, but are you really for real? Some (all...?) of your threads are very strange.

3.5 year olds don't read. They are doing GOOD to know shapes/colors/letters. Really. They are. Of course they don't read. Children aren't developmentally ready for that until 5 or older. Let your children be children, please
I was tempted to say something like this...I almost didn't respond. I was like, Seriously??
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LK5kids 08:29 PM 02-15-2013
I taught kindergarten for a number of years..... And NO there is no reason to expect three yr. olds to read!

I don't even believe in pushing letter recognition at that age. There are wat too many important things 3's should be working on and reading is not one of them.

Do not worry about this!
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mrsp'slilpeeps 08:45 PM 02-15-2013
My son is 7 and is reading at a B level in grade 1 and they consider that way behind. I dont.

He struggles so bad with reading because they want him at I level, but wont give him extra help.

Stop pushing kids to do things before their time.
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Angelsj 05:46 AM 02-16-2013
Originally Posted by mrsp'slilpeeps:
My son is 7 and is reading at a B level in grade 1 and they consider that way behind. I dont.

He struggles so bad with reading because they want him at I level, but wont give him extra help.

Stop pushing kids to do things before their time.
Something I learned long ago. Kids are different. Sometimes they just need more time before it all "clicks." Problem is, if they push too hard they will turn him off reading altogether and it will be really hard to convince him he will enjoy it.
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fairymama 05:51 AM 02-16-2013
Originally Posted by SilverSabre25:
I'm sorry, but are you really for real? Some (all...?) of your threads are very strange.
I don't see something strange in my posts. When I posted this benign question It was just a wish to see my kids advanced and doing great as I am really doing a good job with them. I already see two kids of my neighbor who are 3.5 and they READ.
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fairymama 06:05 AM 02-16-2013
Originally Posted by NeedaVaca:
I keep wondering the same thing! Strange posts, and she kept her kids with a provider that admitted to hitting? It's all a little weird...
How did you know that I kept my kids at the provider that hit them? Do you know what happened up to date? I don't think so.
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Lavender 06:13 AM 02-16-2013
I don't believe it would be considered developmentally appropriate practice to teach MOST children to read at that age. Some maybe, but not most.
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Kaddidle Care 06:17 AM 02-16-2013
I worked at a Daycare/Preschool/Pre-K Center for 5 years and as far as I can recall, only 3 children were reading by the end of Pre-K.

My neighbor's children are all reading by 3-4 but she home schools and reading is something that she stresses.

If this is something that you want, then you need to supplement their learning at home.

This is a good quote to consider:

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

— Emilie Buchwald
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NeedaVaca 07:43 AM 02-16-2013
Originally Posted by fairymama:
How did you know that I kept my kids at the provider that hit them? Do you know what happened up to date? I don't think so.
In the last post you spoke of this situation you did continue paying her and had a lot of good things to say about the provider...Since we only know what you post and that was the last one you made it "seems" like you were happy with them there or else why would you have paid her to hold your spot for 4 weeks? If you have since left (and I hope you did) then that's great news for your children!
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Heidi 12:06 PM 02-16-2013
Originally Posted by Angelsj:
Something I learned long ago. Kids are different. Sometimes they just need more time before it all "clicks." Problem is, if they push too hard they will turn him off reading altogether and it will be really hard to convince him he will enjoy it.

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Heidi 12:16 PM 02-16-2013
FairyMama-

I went back and reread some of your other posts, and realized that you mentioned that English is not your first language. Perhaps this is why you are more concerned about your children not reading yet. ??

I'm not sure what your native culture is, but in general, we take a more relaxed approach to this than some other countries. Not relaxed enough, in my opinion. I think we push too much too early here. I know in some other countries it's even earlier.

Every child is different, some potty train before 2, some are a good 3. Some read early, some read later. For me, it's more important that they enjoy reading, and therefore read for the joy of it, or to get information, not because it's something they MUST do.

In any case, don't worry. Let them play, sing songs with them, read TO them, teach them to love books. They will learn to read when they are ready.
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Patches 12:31 PM 02-16-2013
Originally Posted by Heidi:
FairyMama-

I went back and reread some of your other posts, and realized that you mentioned that English is not your first language. Perhaps this is why you are more concerned about your children not reading yet. ??

I'm not sure what your native culture is, but in general, we take a more relaxed approach to this than some other countries. Not relaxed enough, in my opinion. I think we push too much too early here. I know in some other countries it's even earlier.

Every child is different, some potty train before 2, some are a good 3. Some read early, some read later. For me, it's more important that they enjoy reading, and therefore read for the joy of it, or to get information, not because it's something they MUST do.

In any case, don't worry. Let them play, sing songs with them, read TO them, teach them to love books. They will learn to read when they are ready.

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craftymissbeth 03:40 PM 02-16-2013
Originally Posted by Heidi:
FairyMama-

I went back and reread some of your other posts, and realized that you mentioned that English is not your first language. Perhaps this is why you are more concerned about your children not reading yet. ??

I'm not sure what your native culture is, but in general, we take a more relaxed approach to this than some other countries. Not relaxed enough, in my opinion. I think we push too much too early here. I know in some other countries it's even earlier.

Every child is different, some potty train before 2, some are a good 3. Some read early, some read later. For me, it's more important that they enjoy reading, and therefore read for the joy of it, or to get information, not because it's something they MUST do.

In any case, don't worry. Let them play, sing songs with them, read TO them, teach them to love books. They will learn to read when they are ready.

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Tags:high expectations, pushing boundaries, reading
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