My daughter is 5 (nearly 6) and approaching the end of Kindergarten. She brings home three books to read every day for a week from school (new ones every week).
Today she said:
No I don't want to read that one. It's too hard.
There were slightly more words on the page (8 lines of text vs the 4 she normally reads). It seems to be an 'attitude'/'confidence' type of issue. Just wanting to stretch to the next level.
Now maybe there is some underlying issue. I can talk to her and find out more about her feelings and try to tackle those. Where I want to get to is enthusiasm and confidence. Whilst I can be supportive, I don't want to set a pattern of emotionally dependent behaviour. I want her to be enthusiastic about the challenge of reading.
My question is: How do I instil confidence when my child (aged 5 nearly 6) declines to read a book as 'too hard' when sent home from school as homework?