My son is an early reader. How do I help him more?

Question

My son who just turned 3 yrs. in Aug, could put together sounds at 2 1/2. So far I haven't really had to sit down with him to teach him much. He's learned it by watching and listening. He just started preschool on his 3rd birthday. I practice reading with him regularly; what else should I do to facilitate him?

Answer 1

It sounds like you have a gifted child. Is he already making attempts at writing? If so, it would be worth spending some time focusing him on that. Just write the words for things he knows, like the names of his favourite foods, any members of the family and so forth, and see if you can help him build up a vocabulary. To construct simple sentences for reading, try starting a book. You can call it "I'm three", or "My name's ---------" (Using his own name.) In this way, he is learning the concept that written words are another way to express speech and to give us information about things around us. He already has the basic grasp of this concept but by being more interactive he will progress even faster.

Such a book can have just one very short sentence on each page, like "This is me", or "I like candy". You write the words in trace form and he traces over them and draws pictures to fit. Soon he will have a book that he can read out loud, and even though he will soon very likely memorize the sentences and not really read them, don't worry. He is getting the concept.Then you move on to some of the books you have read with him and see what words and phrases he can pick out, and perhaps start another book with his improving vocabulary and grammatical skills.

I hope this is of some help. Good luck!

Lenky

Answer 2

All you have to do is read read read to him. Let him read when he's interested and motivated. He's far too young to be instructed; there's a big school of thought that it is actually damaging to start reading before 5 because of eye development.

Make signs naming every object in your house and tape those signs to the thing they name. Read great books, interesting books, REAL BOOKs. (I read the Odyssey to our 3 year old each night for 18 months. His intellect is astounding, as his vocabulary and reading and writing.) Get fabulous picture books with only a few words per page. Read Dr. Seuss. Reading books over and over, which kids ask for, is very helpful in building reading. Point out all the things he can "read" already - logos, store signs, etc.

Have him tell you a story, write his story down on several pages, have him illustrate each page. Then, you can read him this book and he will want to start reading.

I'd take him out of preschool. It's not actually good for teaching kids, except the kids of uneducated single moms (per studies.) Learning in kids under 5 takes place in the context of a one on one relationship. Preschool is not about that at all. Preschool is not good for 3 year old boys. (It's not really good for any kids, as it pushes conformity, materialism, and cliques.)

What preschool and other institutional school does is remove the passion and curiousity of a child and teaches him that 'learning' is something done in one place (school) at certain times (school day, school year.) Keeping kids out of school as long as possible is the best way to facilitate their learning.

Answer 3

Just provide him with as many books as possible, and if he comes across a subject he finds especially fascinating, try to find ways outside of books to make that topic come alive for him, as this will help solidify the idea in his mind that the material he reads is connected to everyday life. Also, take him to the library, and let him pick out whatever he wants from the kids section, even if it's not something you'd think he'd be interested in. And keep him away from the TV as much as possible ; TV can kill a love for reading in young children like nothing else.

Answer 4

Don't push him to hard, or put pressure on him. Unlike someone advised, I don't think the New York times is good reading material for a 3 year old. Everything in it would go over his head. Continue to practice reading with him. Introduce him to poetry. Some schools might let him go read with children a year older who already know how to read. You might want to talk to his teacher about that. But children that young usually like to stay where they are familiar.
I read with older children starting when I was in kindergarten. I had an older partner and knowing she was there helped me feel comfortable. If you do do this, you might want to partner him up with someone he knows from his neighborhood or a friend's older sibling.

Answer 5

My little sister is 3 years old and has started reading also (i'm happy for that) i would read to him before bed time and have him help you sound out the words. Also there are videos called Little Einstein. they have a lot of dvd's that are made just for kids this age and older. they help children learn sounds and reading. they also help with colors and other things to learn about.
good for your son! hope mine is that smart too.

Answer 6

I think this is fine!! Congrats on him reading so early! There are preschoolers in my 4-year old class that don't even recognize their letters yet.

Answer 7

To let your son's mind expand you have to let him read the newspaper I suggest the NewYorkTimes also encourage him to learn about current events and read along with him as well it will strengthen your bond.

Answer 8

Sit down & read with him to him, or both!
This is a great thing help him!

Answer 9

buy him some leap frog books. You can also see if he is intersted in trying to write. his manipulatives may not be there yet but he may enjoy trying to write the alfabet

Answer 10

remeber to teach him the alphabet. once he knows that start to teach him what sounds they make and how all the different sounds make words. good luck :)