Reading 3 year old wanting more of a challenge

Gingham_Ribbon

LittleTinker wrote: »

Fluent reader who is bored of picture books?

Fluent in pictures then?

I dont understand. Is she fluent in recognising what each picture is so therefore you think she can read the words?

Clearly. Bylromarha's son is able to READ. As she said, his reading age is several years older what would be expected of a child that age.

And as a reception teacher, I think it's ridiculous and insulting that you are on here trying to suggest she doesn't know the difference between a child who can read and a child who likes looking at the pictures in books.

'Picture books' are short stories with only a short amount of text on each page. This is usually suitable for a child of reception age, but a confident reader needs chapter books - more text, less picture.

The problem is that there isn't much age appropriate material available. Much of it has humour that they're too little to understand, scary stuff that 8 year olds might love but would give a 4/5 year old nightmares, references to things they haven't learned about yet etc.

It is not common that a child will teach himself to read, but it happens more than people realise.

Gingham_Ribbon

For example.

helen81_2

My DD was reading Harry Potter at an early age,around 7 or 8, she is now 11 and in year 6 and is at the level of a year 8. DS is a great reader too, progressed very quickly through the chip and biff books in reception. He's now in year 1 and finished the ORT books. He's on level 17 on reading 360 upstarts books. Not heard of them before but they are alot more challenging for them,which he seems to enjoy.

sarah_elton

OP - congrats on instilling a love of books. I adore books, and had a reading age of 15 at age 11 (not sure what it was at age 3 as I don't remember lol, but I did know recognise colours at x months old before I could talk - my mum loves telling that story - health visitor didn't believe her so she'd go "Sarah give me the red crayon... give me the blue crayon..." etc). Reading helps so, so much when it comes to vocabulary and the ability to write fluidly and coherently later on. I got an A on A-Level General Studies having not been to a single lesson, simply because I could structure an essay and write my side of a debate well.

I don't have any specific book suggestions, but do you think you could take DS to the library with you, and start getting him into choosing books? Mum did that with me as far back as I can remember. At first you'll want to guide him toward certain things, and maybe it is a bit early if you're worried he'll pick out scary books, but I'd definitely try and do it as soon as you feel comfortable. Also what I would say is, kids love being scared. Don't let him at the Stephen King section, but maybe get a version of Grimms Fairy Tales or similar. As an adult you realise they're downright terrifying but kids don't seem to take them the same way. Pick out the least scary one, read it together and see how he takes it.

I grew up in a little village and would go to the library by myself every Saturday (from the age of about 8) to pick out my next set of books. I loved browsing and the village librarian never would have let me take any of the adult books.

mrcow

bylromarha wrote: »

Liney-my mum binned all my Storyteller stuff! BOOOO!!!!!! No Gobolino and the creepy Chinese pig farm for DS (or me!)

After reading this thread last year, we ordered Gobolino from our library. My son really enjoyed it, but he's older than yours (he's 7) - I'd not realised how long the book was to be honest (aout 400 pages iirc?), but once I ordered it I thought we'd give it a go. I think it took a couple of nights to read but he did enjoy it.

The Hobbit was also read, but he found it tedious. I think I'd forgotton how slow it is as a book (I read it when I was 11 so was a little more mature). Swallows and Amazons was also a hit, but again, maybe in a couple of years as there is a lot of boat-talk etc in it and it was longer at about 500ish pages odd.

When he was 5, he loved the Happy Families series. They are about 30 pages so won't take very long to read but are good (clean) stories. !!!!!! King Smith also has quite humorous stories.

By far his most favourite books have been the Mortimer ones by Joan Aiken. I guess nothing beats a naughty (cheeky) crow causing havoc and doing all the stuff that some little boys only dream of! My boy can't even relay the plot of these books back to me without hiccuping with laughter. I'd say they were suitable for a 4 year old.

Have you tried Roald Dahl yet? The Magic Finger, Enormous Crocodile, The Twits and Fantastic Mr Fox are the easier ones. The stories are timeless and funny whatever your age. If he likes to read things in one go, then you can with all these or he can do a bit at a time if it's more his style.

The other ones we've discovered are the Series of Unfortunate Events as they are quite easy to read (he can do one book in an evening) but they are quite black so maybe in a couple of years for you.

Beastquest and Astrosaurs series both get a good airing too. Beastquest is very simple to read, the monsters look scary on the front covers but aren't really if you see what I mean. The hero Tom is quite likeable too. Astrosaurs is quite funny and I like them as the plots are more involved. The author Steve Cole also wrote Cows in Action series which gets laughed at out loud at.

Dinosaur Cove has also had good press. I think we've been through the whole series and the stories are pretty balanced if you like dinosaurs.

We're currently working through the Mr.Gum books and the Spy Dog series. They are fairly sound books. tbh I just pick ones I like the look of from the synopsis and then let him chose which ones he wants.

I still say that it was the Mr Men that made the breakthrough for us. He read the series when he was five and it was noticable how his use of expression and writing changed. I think they are great for children of any age.

bylromarha

Mr Cow-lots of suggestions. Thanks. Glad your little one enjoyed Gobolino-Storyteller magazine that Liney and I fondly remembered had an extract in the magazine over 5 weeks so I never read the book. I agree the Hobbit will be tedious-I found it dull-but OH thinks he'll enjoy it, so why not? If he gets bored, he'll show us by not rushing into his bedroom half wet after his bath to pick it up-like he currently does with Faraway tree!

After this thread last year, I managed to find most of an entire set of Mr Men + Little Miss at a car boot for £3 (and batted him down to £2!). DS read them in a few weeks and goes back to them when he feels like it.

He's read a couple of Roald Dahl, but didn't really engage with them, which surprised me as The Twits is great fun.

I've not heard of most of the other sereis' of books you mention. I shall get to the library and vet them and see if his 4 year old mind is ready for their themes.

Thanks again.

bylromarha

malli wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Although she is a fluent reader in stage 10 ORT in Reception, we have to cajole her to sit to read she just wants to play . Apart from her reading book, we don't even read anything else. Also she hates to be different, she wants book with few words like rest of her friends:rolleyes: Just to please her, the teacher kindly sends an extra little book with few words

Sounds like a typical active 4 year old!

If you haven't already tried-Short sharp bursts of reading are best. 5 minutes a day better than 20 minute sessions. Before school better than after (less tired). If she's on Stage 10 in Reception, there's really not much to worry about. 2 pages a day of those books is more than enough at her age if she doesn't like sitting.