113
votes
My 2.5 years old daughter asks to learn to read
There are lots of things you can do:
Don't make it a chore. She loves reading so foster that, don't kill it.
Keep reading to her. As you do, trace your finger along the words so she can begin to ...
- 6,290
57
votes
Accepted
What do I do to get my nine-year old boy off books with pictures and onto books with text content?
So it looks like you have two questions, how to foster a love of reading and how to get your son to start reading more reading-level appropriate books (that phrasing was chosen carefully, I'll get to ...
- 13.3k
43
votes
Will reading the same book in two languages confuse my daughter?
Don’t worry.
I have 3 kids who are now fluent in 3 languages...
When the youngest was learning to count we were giving her the numbers in either of two languages - because she was also at nursery ...
- 2,459
36
votes
8-year-old daughter is obsessed with books - escaping from something?
Hmm, apparently my eight year old has a twin sister nobody told me about! Basically everything up there would word for word work to describe him.
This is totally normal at this age. It's hard to ...
- 61.8k
35
votes
Is it normal for a child just turned 3 to be able to read and how do I develop and nurture his intelligence?
Speaking from experience1, your child is advanced, very likely gifted - but it happens. Remember that “normal” is just a statistical distribution and doesn’t imply any value or sense of wrong or right....
- 18.1k
33
votes
Accepted
Can I "read" from English books to my infant, but use words from my native language?
I have personally tried this. The only difficulty that I've found is that once your child reaches "reading age", these books can offer some starting points. However, if your child has consistently ...
- 2,522
29
votes
Accepted
Is it good or bad to correct a child's spelling online?
YouTube comments, phone auto-correct, someone looking over your shoulder ... all of these could definitely annoy someone. Think of how you would feel if someone did it to you. Don't treat this child ...
- 2,522
27
votes
Accepted
when to start reading books to a child and attempt teaching reading?
In our experience, the main reading-promoting activities at this early age were limited to reading aloud to children. We used good quality books with lots of pictures, often board books. Having the ...
- 5,148
26
votes
What do I do to get my nine-year old boy off books with pictures and onto books with text content?
Your son sounds like my son! A few years ago I went through the same struggle. Bright kid, reading way above grade level, but spends all of his time reading Dogman and Captain Underpants. Tried a ...
- 61.8k
26
votes
How do I make my kids love reading?
First off, I'd recommend you change your language some. "How do I make my kids..." never ends well. Your kids are their own people, and they'll choose to like, or not like, things; trying ...
- 61.8k
25
votes
My 2.5 years old daughter asks to learn to read
I'm a french guy who was reading at age 3. My father used the "méthode boscher", and it succeeded incredibly: I can vouch for it and the feasability.
My son is currently learning to read (age 6) with ...
- 396
16
votes
Accepted
Discussing early literacy tools with parents
Very, very carefully.
Seriously, one of the easiest ways of offending friends is criticizing the way they raise their children, even if you mean well.
I'm sure that you have only the best ...
- 18.1k
15
votes
How do I make my kids love reading?
A Tale of Two Children
I have two boys, both grown now, but they were very different. We read to them every night, multiple books, and they both loved being read to.
However, when the older one came ...
- 251
14
votes
My 2.5 years old daughter asks to learn to read
There's a developmental stage called phonemic awareness that's a precursor to reading. It's a recognition that words are made of separate sounds, and a skill in manipulating those individual sounds. ...
- 36k
14
votes
Accepted
What is the practical upper limit on reading to your child?
I have not ever heard of any research suggesting there is "too much," however there are some sensible guidelines that could give you a practical upper limit:
when your child gets tired, don't force ...
- 26.5k
13
votes
My 2.5 years old daughter asks to learn to read
From personal experience: I started reading at 3. I was 4 when I read a book on my own for the first time (Winnie the Pooh - the original, not some dumbed down Disney version).
So to the "is it ...
- 1,361
13
votes
when to start reading books to a child and attempt teaching reading?
when to start reading books to a child
As soon as it's fun for everyone involved. 11 months is fine if you and your daughter enjoy it.
and attempt teaching reading?
Too early. At 11 month you ...
- 7,194
12
votes
Can I "read" from English books to my infant, but use words from my native language?
You may not get a choice, particularly as your child gets older. Mine has lots of books in both English and her mother tongue. When I pick up a book she will often request demand it be read in one ...
12
votes
Is it good or bad to correct a child's spelling online?
Like Ian, I would also urge you to think of how you would feel in the kid's place. Personally, I would be really annoyed and embarrassed if it turns out someone has been letting me make mistakes ...
- 236
10
votes
Is there any benefit in reading to a baby 2 weeks old?
As psychologist that is specialized in early age can say:
For child - hearing the words of the native language is very beneficial, because he is starting to recognize and then remember tones, voices ...
- 117
10
votes
Accepted
How to further an aptitude toward early literacy?
This may not be the most scholarly article devoted to the subject, but it has been borne out again and again in well-developed studies: reading to your child id one of the most beneficial activities ...
- 69.5k
10
votes
Making reading books the only option on long car commutes a bad idea?
You are trying to give your son 2 boring options and hope that the boring option which requires more effort to be bored will win out. Honestly, I don't see that happening. If you want to instill a ...
- 13.3k
10
votes
What do I do to get my nine-year old boy off books with pictures and onto books with text content?
Continue with your practice of encouraging your son to read, and have patience. Reading to him, buying books and going together to the library to borrow books are all great ways to help develop ...
- 5,148
10
votes
How do I make my kids love reading?
Children see, children do.
When they hang out with you, or even nearby you, read a lot of books. When they look interested, show them what you're reading and talk to them about it.
Make silly faces ...
- 3,431
10
votes
How do I make my kids love reading?
I can't beat the existing best answer! But to add a few more points...
Don't underestimate the value of pictures
If your children are too young to read, the pictures help the child stay with the story,...
- 3,005
9
votes
Accepted
My 8 year old daughter tries to "guess" the words while she tries to read. Any tip to address this?
When she runs into words that confuse her, just say the correct word quietly and in a neutral way. She needn't stop, but it's best that you get the sense that she registered the meaning even if it's ...
- 126
8
votes
Accepted
Suggestions on making reading fun for a 10 year old girl
I try to explain to her that reading is fundamental and also builds your vocabulary.
That is about the last argument to get a ten year old to read. You know, that green juce that tastes like grass ...
- 18.1k
8
votes
What do I do to get my nine-year old boy off books with pictures and onto books with text content?
This addresses only one aspect of @Becuzz's excellent answer, and @Paul Johnson suggested it (albeit very briefly.) So, nothing new here, just fleshing it out.
My first child was reluctant to move ...
- 69.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible