Comments on: 10 Alternatives to Forcing Your Kids to Learn to Read

By: Sara Scoggan

Sara Scoggan — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:41:21 +0000

In reply to Anna@The Measured Mom. My daughter loves the Berenstain Bears so much that she wants to read "all of them" when I ask her which one she wants. I think we have 20! I don't mind them if it gets her to love to read. And I can always say, "We are going to clean up the messy room just like "The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room!" :)

By: Claire Masters

Claire Masters — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 01:48:42 +0000

My son is 2 years old now and I want him to start learning how to read at an early age. Thanks for these tips and I'll really note how modeling sounds will let him copy what I say eventually. Now, we just need to find the right books.

By: Laure

Laure — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 05:27:30 +0000

My bonus daughter is this exact same way. It has terrified me and made me think I was doing something wrong. Thank you so much for your post you have made me feel not so alone and like a failure. I appreciate your advice so much! Thank you!!

By: Kate Parnes

Kate Parnes — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 23:55:35 +0000

Liz, great attitude! I am a first grade teacher and it makes me crazy that all kids are expected to read at the same time at the same rate of fluency. It's just not natural. Speaking from my own experience, I KNOW that many children who aren't strong readers in first grade "take off" in second. Two of my own sons are also perfect examples of that. If we had had reading specialists in our school when they were here, I'm sure they would have both qualified for special help. Low and behold, by the end of second grade you couldn't take either of them anywhere unless they got to bring their book. So read on. Let your son hear the rich language in books that are far too advanced for him, take the pressure off, and I predict he will be a reading machine in his own time.

By: Erica MomandKiddo

Erica MomandKiddo — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 11:49:33 +0000

In reply to SmileyPR. Thanks for the recommendation!

By: SmileyPR

SmileyPR — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 17:30:01 +0000

My students love Jolly Phonics, Star Fall and Songbirds Phonics readers.

By: Erica MomandKiddo

Erica MomandKiddo — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 16:08:10 +0000

In reply to Celeste Yeiter. I'm glad my post helped. Since writing this, his reading has improved leaps and bounds, and all with very little "teaching" on my part.

By: Celeste Yeiter

Celeste Yeiter — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 13:15:05 +0000

I appreciate this so much! We're in the same situation. My younger daughter is 6 1/2 and not reading - quite different from my older daughter! I've been feeling pressure to "get her reading!" and we've had tears and frustration over it. NOT what I'm going for at all! I've backed off again for now and we're refocusing on the love of reading. I also found Reading Eggs online which takes me out of the equation and is so motivating for my daughter. She feels really proud about accomplishing levels and is getting way more phonics practice than she would ever accept from me! We're off to the library with your list of easy readers that won't make me want to poke my eyes out. :) Thanks!

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 05 May 2015 11:47:45 +0000

The best thing parents can do to help young children grow into passionate, skilled readers is to provide them with positive associations with reading beginning at an early age. Child psychologist David Elkind points out that the 3-5% of children in the United States who are able to read phonemically upon entering Kindergarten had parents “who read to their children, took them to the library, and talked about books with them.” These children did not receive any sort of formal instruction from their parents, but benefited “from the motivation that develops from rich exposure to language and books and the special attention of a warm and caring adult.”

By: Emma @ P is for Preschooler

Emma @ P is for Preschooler — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 11:25:25 +0000

These are great tips! I take a laid-back approach with my 6 year old too. For now I focus on making it fun - the rest will fall into place (I'm hoping, lol!)