https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:38:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1176079 Sat, 26 Oct 2013 14:06:35 +0000 Mrs. Schoolbus 1176079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a first grade teacher and we teach reading in first grade. In preschool and kindergarten, they teach them the letter and what sounds are associated with them. From there some kids take off and can read but usually can read words by blending those sounds together. In first grade, we review what they learned in kinder and put it together so they can start reading books with words that they are able to sound out and memorize sight words (words that can't be sounded out.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1176014 Sat, 26 Oct 2013 12:41:24 +0000 nana87 1176014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my brother learned to read when he was about 3 or 4, and definitely was way advanced by kindergarten (he freaked his teacher out by bringing in his fave book to class--t.s. eliot's poems that the musical "cats" is based on!). it took me until 1st grade. we both became huuuge bookworms (me even more than him probably) even though it took me longer! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1176009 Sat, 26 Oct 2013 12:32:56 +0000 Arden 1176009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was reading at age three, chapter books at four, but my little sister had no interest in learning to read until she was seven. My mom didn't push either of us, just let us lead (we were homeschooled), and we both turned out to be major bookworms.</p> <p>So... it didn't make much long term difference. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1175982 Sat, 26 Oct 2013 11:51:26 +0000 googly-eyes 1175982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Read as in being presented with not previously known sentences and be able to say and understand them? Probably around 5 to start, but the foundations of literacy (making sounds, words as symbols...) start in infancy and reading comprehension can continue to improve throughout life. I can read hellobee, but I can't necessarily read and understand legal documents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1175944 Sat, 26 Oct 2013 11:12:11 +0000 HLK208 1175944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was 6 by the time I could read but my mom said my oldest sister started at 4.</p> <p>B (who is 4.5), has started sounding out words and remembers a few small words. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1171301 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 11:16:37 +0000 immabeetoo 1171301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My siblings and I were all early readers and now my nieces all are too. Basic reading by two and reading anything you out in front of them (or try to hide from them ha!) by three. LO loves "reading" all his books now so hopefully he will be a reader too! I don't care if he is early or not, just that it is fun and natural. All those baby can read programs and early flash cards creep me out.</p> <p>Also, it was hard on me in elementary to be so far ahead in reading. They tried bumping me up in grades but I failed miserably so they let me "work" in the library (which I loved). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1171176 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:56:00 +0000 Bookish 1171176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was 2 (says my mom) but my niece struggled up really until last year (and she's 8). There's such a huge range... I really thought it was normal to read at 2 until I talked to other moms. We read to LO a few times a week (she's only 4 mos), and hopefully the several hundred books we have in the house will be a good influence as well ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1171151 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:51:20 +0000 mrs. wagon 1171151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wagon Sr. and I both learned to read from Sesame Street (haha!) at age 3. We were both children of immigrant parents so they thought Sesame Street was amazing. We both grew up to be crazy bookworms. </p> <p>Wagon Jr. is almost 4 now and he is pretty obsessed with "R is for RJ" and identifying the first letter of every word... "H is for HVAC!" He likes saying all the letters of words he sees, but he can't really sound words out yet. But since he started doing this, he LOVES books and reads quietly every morning after he gets up and dresses himself! LOVE. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1171138 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:46:52 +0000 banana 1171138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son can read quite a few words ( around 30?). We never pushed him to read. He just really loves the alphabet. :)</p> <p>Forgot to include his friends' names at school. He can probably read around 50? he can "read" entire books but I think he just memorized them so that doesn't count. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1170766 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:17:37 +0000 looch 1170766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think anywhere from 3 to 6 is completely normal and appropriate. I think a lot of what we interpret kids as "reading" is being able to pronounce words, but not really comprehend their meaning...case in point, I can "read" German with the proper pronunciation, but not comprehension. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1170749 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:14:34 +0000 T-Mom 1170749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is 5 and reading short words. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1170736 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:11:43 +0000 LemonLong 1170736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think my brothers and I started to read around 3 or 4. Both my cousin and nephew were proficient readers at 2. My cousin has diagnosed autism and my nephew is displaying red flags of being on the spectrum. Of course, that's just my family's experience -I'm in no way saying if someone's child is reading well at two they are autistic or anything! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1170698 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 09:02:23 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1170698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ellie is six and it has been within the past year. It really does vary from child to child, and early starts are not always indicative of later proficiency. The most important thing is to provide good modeling (parents who read, a print-rich environment, etc.) and follow and be receptive to the child's cues, which it sounds like you are doing. Nothing wrong with starting early if it is interest-led. :) Ellie is loving being able to read independently-- it really opens the world up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1170681 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 08:58:09 +0000 mediagirl 1170681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My brother was reading when he went to Kindergarten and at the time, that was considered exceptional. I didn't read until 1st grade. We both went into Kindergarten at the age of 4 (him turning 5 in Sept, me in Nov). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1170669 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 08:55:37 +0000 travelingnanny 1170669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Between 2 and 6. It depends on the child. I would say in general around 5-6. My brother learned at two (hates reading) and I learned at 9-ish (loves to read). My story is very long but the short explanation is that I am dyslexic :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-kids-learn-how-to-read#post-1170376 Thu, 24 Oct 2013 08:45:00 +0000 Andrea 1170376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 3.5 and can read a tiny bit. She is really excited to be learning and loves books. </p>