Learning to Read at an Early Age

One question troubles many parents: What about teaching reading to young children, at home or at school?

Many mothers and fathers, of course, think that the under-six age is early to fuss much about reading. And they are right. Most children don't get very excited about learning to read until they are Six or almost age Seven, in fact. The big leaps ahead in reading usually come in second grade, not in the under-Six years.

But a few children do learn to read when they are Five. Some learn to read at age Four and a few rare youngsters at Three. It is because of this wide spread of differences that parents worry about reading. Is there anything they should do at home? And underneath it all: Does a child gain by learning to read early, at Three or Four or Five?

That last question is one I can really answer. The answer is: "Maybe Yes and maybe No"! I'm sorry if that sounds like a cop-out, but that's the way it is. To learn to read at an early age may be a very good break for a child OR it may not. It all depends.

It all depends on how come the child learned to read ahead of most other children. How did the early reading come about?

If a youngster learns to read early because reading comes easily and naturally, that is one thing. Some children have the kind of intelligence that makes it easy for words and letters to sink in. Some come from homes where mother and father are real bookworms - that can be a help. Some children have older brothers and sisters who read; that sometimes leads the younger child into early reading. Some boys and girls are "loners" for one reason or another; they turn to books while other youngsters are more involved with people. Heredity plays a part in early reading, too.

No matter what the reason - and often there is a combination of reasons - it is one thing when learning to read early flows out of the nature of the child, and flows from the kind of family the child lives in. No one has strained, no one has struggled. You could almost say: the early reading just… happened. It was no big deal.

When early reading comes about in this natural way, a youngster gains - there is no getting away from it. These easy-going early readers usually love to read. They usually get good marks in their primary grades and find schoolwork enjoyable. And - although you can't tell for sure - they are apt to be good readers all their lives.

But before you feel too envious if your child isn't like this... And before you pop a button if your child is like this, let me remind you that nothing is ever all peaches and cream.

The children who glide into early reading sometimes face some complications. They may be bored in school. (It doesn't have to work out that way, but sometimes it does.) Because they are different, they may have trouble finding friends. (It doesn't always work out that way, but sometimes it does.) And while these early readers usually have one kind of intelligence, other youngsters are smart in other ways. Other youngsters may be more imaginative; they may have more skill with their hands, or be friendlier, or have more ambition.

The point is: No one child gets all the breaks. It is silly to be envious. And very silly - at home or at school - to try to reshape a child into a style that doesn't fit.

If your youngster is a natural, easy-going, nothing-to-it early reader, be very pleased. And if your child is on "standard time," learning to read when most other children do, be very pleased too. Because the only thing that hurts children is to speed up their timetable. That is the risky road.

The speed-up may work. A child may learn the letters or the sounds or a few words a little earlier. But youngsters who are pushed into early reading sometimes, later, turn against reading - it never was enjoyable and they've had it! Sometimes, later, they turn against school. And sometimes, later, they become more rebellious than people have to be. I am sure you know why. You never can push people around - not even little people - and get away with it. They always push back - later, when they can.

What, then, is the, best time for a child to learn to read? Early... at Three or Four or Five? On "standard time"... at Six or Seven? The one right time is each child's own time!

Fortunately it isn't hard at all to know when a child's time has come. That is one thing you don't have to worry about. The youngster who is ready to learn will drive everyone crazy asking about words and asking for help with reading.

Any time your child asks: "What is that word?" or "What does that say?" or "Show me my name" or "How do you write 'Stop'?", don't hesitate. Give whatever help your youngster is asking for.

And if your child is on "standard time" and not pestering you, you don't have to simply hang around and wait. You and the school should probably forget about formal, sitting-down lessons from a reading workbook or a primer. But there are no end of good things teachers can do at school - puzzles, paints, blocks, trips, activities; these are all fine for young children and lay a wonderful foundation for learning to read. And there is one thing in particular, an excellent thing, you can do at home.

I urge you: Read to your youngster just as often as you possibly can.

Read comic books. Read the funny sheets. Read the ads in magazines and read the mail that comes to the house. Read anything together that you both enjoy, but do read good children's books, too, just as often as you can. Make a bedtime story a feature of every night. Have a storytime in the late afternoon, or after lunch, or after dinner or whenever you can fit it in, any time that jibes with your family's schedule. I can't spell out the times because every family lives differently, but you can see what I am urging: books, books, loads of books. Stories. One after another.

Not knowing your budget, I can't urge you to buy lots of books. But at holiday times, birthday times, when you probably spend some money on gifts, do buy at least one book for that youngster of yours. You don't have to spend a fortune. The supermarkets and other stores have good books that don't cost a lot. Giving a book gets a message over to your child. The message: books (and reading) are important.

Then, of course, there are wonderful free books. If you are not using your public library, this is the time to join. You can usually take home 3,4,5,6 children's books at a time. Librarians are very glad to suggest books your child will like, and your youngster will have ideas, too. It is an experience for a child to see the whole mass of books in the library. And a wonderful experience in importance to be the one who selects the books.

No money-back guarantees come with reading lots of stories: "Read 3 books and your child will be reading in 3 weeks." It doesn't work that way. I can guarantee you this, however: Read a lot of books and stories at home and you will be building a very solid foundation. Like fertilizing the soil, the reading you do is bound to pay off sooner or later. And I can say the reverse very flatly: The youngster who hasn't had many pleasing times with books usually finds learning to read a very difficult job.

SO: I hope you and your child have many happy times together with books. Children on "fast time," children on "standard time," all young children love stories. Storytime is a prize activity, with no harm in it at all and with no end of good.