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Personal shopper - reading

16 Sep 2006

Annalisa Barbieri answers a parent's query on the pros and cons of teaching young children to read at home in an article in the Guardian. Following is an extract.

I would very gently suggest you leave him [three-year-old] to learn to read and write at school. We start formal education earlier in this country than anywhere else in the world, yet studies show there is no advantage to it and that by the age of eight or nine, no matter how early children started, they are all at a similar level. If anything, some of those who are taught too early can struggle and be put off learning all together. He will have the rest of his life to read and write; let him learn through play for as long as possible. He may be making noises that he wants to read: so let him! Give him a book and watch as he mimics the way you've read it to him. He won't be reading in the usual sense, but he will be learning, and having fun.

There is heaps of research on early learning you can read at www.literacytrust.org.uk, which has lots of reports regarding whether children should learn through play in the early years, or through a more formal curriculum. Liz Attenborough, who is the manager of Talk To Your Baby, says: "The hardest thing to do is listen, give children silence to explore their own thinking; it does take time but it's enormously beneficial. Being at home should be a rehearsal for the real thing [learning to read and write], not the real thing. You shouldn't be trying to teach them anything, just introducing them to things."

But there is lots you can do to help your son along the road to reading and writing. Let's take books first. Reading aloud with your child 'teaches' him to engage in story-telling, it gets him to listen and follow a story. These are crucial steps towards most life skills but are vital for reading. Talk about the story with him afterwards, as learning how to say words will help him get control over his tongue and soft palate. I can't give you recommendations for books because it's all about what your son likes, and all children are different. It's easy in these days of ordering books on the Internet not to go to libraries anymore but this is a perfect place to let your child handle books - you may be surprised by what he's attracted to, as it may not be what you would have chosen for him.

Things such as painting help with the fine motor skills needed, later on, for learning to write. There's a lovely film study from Hungary that shows children doing big swirly movements with their hands, then ever-decreasing movements until, put a pen in their hand and they could 'write'. Painting involves lots of big expressive movements that many of us don't connect as being the forerunners to writing, and many parents get squeamish at the thought of letting their child run riot with paints.

Toys that involve threading really help with fine motor skills, which in turn will help with writing. You don't need to spend any money here, some big buttons or cotton reels and thick string will do the trick. Also look at the puzzles with knobs on the pieces, as these not only help with fundamental movement skills but also with hand-eye coordination.

(The Guardian, 16 September 2006)

Tags: Talk To Your Baby