Why I’ve changed my mind about reading strategies since I had my own child.

Before I had my own child, I used to recommend that my clients read a variety of books every single day in preparation for the 4+ Assessment.

Now Joshua is 28 months and I have changed my mind about this strategy.

I speak to many parents every single week and we often discuss reading. Reading is a priority to many parents that I speak to. They want their child to be reading before their 4+ Assessments. This is 100% achievable with my programme.

All of our students who have the recommended 9-12 months of 4+ Assessment preparation can read before going into their 4+ Assessments (blend 3 letter words). This sets them up for tremendous success with their learning.

I spoke to one parent a few weeks ago who told me that she sends her child to a weekly reading class. It’s a popular reading class attended by hundreds of children. She was told that her son must ‘read’ 10 books a day. I don’t think this is necessary or even helpful to be honest with you.

First of all, all children are different and unique. So what works for one child might not work for another. The best strategy is the one that works for YOUR CHILD.

Whilst I do strongly believe that we need to provide our children with a variety (however many you want) of books each day- as in laid out in front of them and not hidden away in drawers, I do not believe that it is in any way helpful or beneficial for your child to ‘read’ all of them.

Here is what I’ve noticed with my own son.

Each morning, I lay out a selection of books for him. He doesn’t currently have a book shelf but I will be getting one for him soon. He will always gravitate towards his favourite books and choose those ones. So what ends up happening is that we focus on one or two books every day.

I still get so much out of those two books. I can still ask him different questions about those books every day and the more we look at those books, the more we notice about them. The more we find out. We can go deeper and deeper into the books.

I am very much led by him when it comes to his ‘reading’. I do offer other books but if he says no, I don’t force it. I want him to love reading and not to feel forced to do it.

I also read chapter books to Joshua and we have started without first one and he often chooses to listen to that one before his naps or bed time. This is the one I’m currently reading to him.

Which reading strategies do you use with your child?