Teaching a 3 year old to read

[snowboarder]

Can anyone point me in the direction of any books or where to start with teaching my 3 year old to read? We have a 2hr 'quiet' time after lunch whilst his younger brother sleeps and we read books/do lego etc but mostly he LOVES to watch tv....I think we could/should spend our time more usefully!! I know children learn to read using a phonics system but am clueless how/where to start. Any pointers?

[fabian's ma]

I'd also be interested in hearing top tips for this? My son isn't quite two but he loves books; chats away constantly and is getting really good with his colours and numbers and shapes - so I thought I should at least know the basics when the time comes. And yes, I was a swot too!!

[Pickle]

Jolly Phonics on YouTube are a good starting point, little rhymes which help with letter recognition and sounding them out. The one you start with is the series with "a, a, ants on my arm".

Be warned you'll get them stuck in your head...

[Monkey]

Is three the right age if there is such a thing as the right age? I did not learn until I was six but that was in France...

[Pickle]

They use the phonics system to gently introduce letters/sounds in school nursery, so from age 3/4ish. The cr?che my kids went to when they were smaller (from 2) also used phonics. No harm in starting young if they seem interested in my opinion, but at the same time it's not worth forcing it on them.

[snowboarder]

All I know is that I could read and write at around 3/4 before I started in reception (teacher mum!) and I know that I was pleased that I could!! I would just like to give him the opportunity - using the right/recognised techniques. Fair enough if he is not interested! Currently he knows the letters that start his and his brothers names and that's it....but randomly can 'sing' the alphabet song! God knows where he learnt that...but it makes me worry for what goes on at preschool!

Can you buy Jolly phonics books?

[etta166]

You can use the synthetic phonics system, and there are Usobrne books that go with it. My son is 3 and likes the wipe-clean flash cards where you can trace the letters on them with a pen (priddy books, I think).

Most of all, my son loves to spot his favourite letters in the words in the books that we are reading, and to tell me the letters that he can hear in the words that I read. I'm not sure if this is a approved system for learning to read, but then I'm dyslexic and read in a very unusual way (and am clueless about phonics unfortunately - I'm hoping to learn along with my kids when they start in reception).

[Helen GV]

You cold also phone the nursery and or schools he is likely to attend and check what they use, stillness infants uses jolly phonics so that's what I got

[nunheadmum]

Jolly Phonics do a dvd of about 8 stories introducing the letter sound groups. A bit basic compared to cbeebies but my eldest loved them. She soon realised I'd put this on at times when I didn't really want her watching MORE cbeebies but as it was educational, she got away with it.

She now seems good at reading - not sure if there's a link or not.

[Fuschia]

There is a big fat jolly phonics book that runs through the sounds ... Plus cd and YouTube films as people have said.

Also ladybird books have several relevant series - all mine have enjoyed an Abc book and another series where they tell the story themselves... Plus some phonics

Snick snack sniffle nose clip clap troll

Will see if I can find links

[Fuschia]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0721422748/ref=mp_s_a_3?pi=SL75&qid=1346856215&sr=8-3

That's the abc

Other good ladybird first steps

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0721422764/ref=mp_s_a_7?pi=SL75&qid=1346856284&sr=8-7

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0721422845/ref=mp_s_a_9?pi=SL75&qid=1346856284&sr=8-9

[Fuschia]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1904351743/ref=aw_d_detail?pd=1&qid=1346856621&sr=8-2

Rhythm and rhyme series

[El Pibe]

THere's a fantastic singing alphabet app that my 2 year old loves and it gently introduces the phonics.

Actually I suspect it's really me who loves it

http://www.bestkidsapps.com/ages-0-4/the-singing-alphabet/

[ClaireClaire]

Hi,

I'm a big fan of this book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reading-Lesson-Teach-Child-Lessons/dp/0913063029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346870179&sr=8-1

... which is called "Teach your child to read in 20 lessons", if the Amazon link doesn't work.

We used Jolly Phonics as well once my daughter started in Reception, but I still prefer this book which takes the old-fashioned approach of starting with words like 'cat', 'dog', etc, and gradually builds up. (I know Jolly Phonics is fun and a lot of kids take to it, but it just seemed like a lot of extra stuff to have to learn! But I'm not knocking it, I know it works for a lot of kids.)

You can buy all the Jolly Phonics stuff online, Amazon has everything as usual. If you know that your son's school uses Jolly Phonics, it's probably no harm making the investment now to buy the pack. (Basically, the workbooks 1-7 and the CD with the songs. There's other stuff too, but less useful imo).

Having said that... having re-read your post, it sounds like he might not be quite ready for these materials yet? If not ready for these, then start with letters and matching letters to sounds. There are lots of pre-school books in places like WH Smith appropriate for this level. Tracing over letters and saying the names, associating objects with the first letter of their names (C is for cat, etc). Also the Cbeebies magazine usually has pre-reading activities like this, and then the kids get all the stickers and toys etc.

hope that helps

Claire

[susyp]

My 4 year old has recently virtually taught herself to read over the summer - moving on from phonics which she was taught at preschool - using the oxford reading tree series.

susypx

[minder]

My own children were a bit older than 3 when I used the Peter and Jane series by Ladybird to help them recognise letters and read.

The books are a bit vintage now I suppose but my children really enjoyed them. I was often asked by their teachers at primary school what I had done to help with their reading/writing.

[The Nappy Lady]

Hmmm I asked when O started nursery & they said "leave it to us, it's what we are here for"!! I think with phonics it's important you understand the way it works. Otherwise I'd focus more on instilling a love of books - they did a great course at my girls school about reading and how to approach it - a snippet - cant pass it all on - let your child choose the book & ask them why / what made them choose it (cover, pictures inside etc). Read the blurb on the back if there is one. Discuss the cover and/or images inside and the characters, what they think might happen. Read the story & then discuss themes etc. ask questions to check the child understood the story.

As they get older & are reading to you when you flip through before starting to read point out any potentially tricky words & discuss so they can hopefully deal with them when reading to you later. This is when the questioning at the end matters even more as reading without actually taking in the story / understanding it can be a common problem. I think the approach can work for any age adapted accordingly & it does seem to change the dynamic when you actually start to discuss books in this way. You get some really interesting & unexpected answers!

Pre school I think I'd focus on numbers 1-10 - ensure they recognise all numbers & also know what number comes before or after each one too. This is something quite easy to teach that you can't really go wrong with.

With phonics it isn't always entirely straightforward and I think (may be wrong) that there is potential to cause confusion so the reading to instil the love of books & maybe simple things like being able to write their own name are less daunting areas to focus on (or maybe I'm just a lazy, bad, bad Mummy who is good at coming up with random justifications for it!!). LOL.

[Mens]

Peter and Jane books are good for words that need to be recognised (rather than sounded out) such as LIKE and THE.

For phonics I like the Dandelion books, you can get them at www.phonicbooks.co.uk

My 3 year old taught herself to read so I don't think 3 is too young. She did spend 2 years watching her sister figure it out which helped.

[Fuschia]

NL: I think as well as a love of books, starting to recognise the sounds in words (playing I spy something beginning with b) and the parent using the sounds rather than just the letter names, is a useful precursor.

I didn't regard it as my 'job' to teach no 1 to read, he was always so active our time together was always more park/swimming/collecting sticks rather than Anything else, but all the talking, songs, reading together obviously laid the foundation because once he started reception and learnt phonics, he was reading within 6 weeks.

Twin 2, who learnt phonics already (nursery) starts reception next week, and I realised yesterday, reading a cbeebies mag with those little people with sounds written on their tummies, that she can Already sound out/read easy words!!

[BeccaL]

I tend to agree with Molly - I felt that as I didn't know anything about phonics better to leave that to the experts (nursery at school)(though maybe this is lazy working mum justification!!). Agree good to encourage looking at bits of books and discussing what happened.

[crystal7]

Think Nappy Lady is spot on. Reading with children is so important and there are so many amazing books out there. It's nice to share poetry and non fiction as well as stories. My 3 year old loves Michael Rosen and the Oxford First poetry books. There's nothing wrong with talking about letter sounds (schools focus on this before letter names) especially if mini sb shows an interest. E loves spotting letters everywhere, road signs shops etc and numbers in front doors. We have some magnetic letters and and board (ELC) that E likes to 'write' her name with and sometimes she finds a letter and we say the sound. Jolly Phonics is not used in all schools but it's worth looking at the you tube clips. The problem is lots of schemed reading books are pretty dire! Apparently the Ministry of Letters is a good dvd, not tried it yet though.

[snowboarder]

Cool thanks - just to be clear I'm not really into hot housing him - it's more that we have this 2 hr period when we are in after lunch and I thought it would be worth a try - otherwise I get pestered for Ben 10 on tv!!

Yes, numbers are a good start - that's easy enough!!

[LizzieF]

We've started to use a game for the computer called Big Cat Phonics. Not sure if it's widely available to be honest as my teacher mother gave it to us. 3.5yo loves it. Also loves reading so agree reading together is the most important at this age. Alphablocks is brilliant though!

If you're interested in buying learning to read books, I work locally as an independent Usborne rep selling Usborne books. At the moment I have a really fantastic offer on the Very First Reading box set. Usborne's reading program follows the synthetic phonics as taught in school and slowly builds up as the child's ability and confidence grows starting with the Very First Reading series.

The Very First Reading box set is 15 books, number 1 starting with the first sounds working up to the point where the child can read on their own. Retail is ?74.85 but I have it at the moment for ?29.99. It's a really beautiful set too. Poster attached and do look on the website for more info.

PM me if you're interested, I can deliver free locally or indeed show you a sample set before you buy. Don't buy on the website or you won't get the special offer!

http://www.usborne.com/catalogue/catalogue.aspx?cat=1&area=vfr&subcat=vfr&id=4618

[mima08]

Hiya, here is a website which I find quite fun to look at (and then only do about 1% of what it recommends):

http://www.brillkids.com/ They sell rather expensive software (I tried the free trial, it was fun but in 10days with a 9months year old, what did you think the results would be like? :)) Anyway, there is a forum & a fair few free resources, which are quite good. When I was little, my mum used lots of games build into normal days to get me learning stuff, e.g. having numbers "races" while walking the dog, etc.

mx