At what age should a child be taught to read: the opinions of scientists and psychologists

There is a belief among parents that if a child learns to read earlier, they will be more successful in school. Does this really affect their child's future academic performance, love of reading, and is there even a "right age"?

The answers to these common questions were given by children's writer and journalist Valentyna Vzdulska in her post for Read.

1. Is there a right age to learn to read?

First of all, it is worth noting that the ability to read is the result of the accumulation of a number of competencies that a child develops literally from the moment they are born. In the first weeks of their life and even before birth, babies are able to perceive and analyze the sounds they hear. They can recognize familiar voices, sounds, words, and sentences.

Typically, most children learn to read at the age of 6-7, after entering first grade. Many children begin this process even before school, and some master literacy at all at three or even two and a half years old.

It is believed that the earlier a child starts reading, the better their academic success will be. Is there really a so-called right age to learn to read? Experts say there isn't.

“The brain is not naturally wired for reading in the same way it is wired for speaking or listening,” says Bev Brenna, a professor of education at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, in an article for Today's Parent.

Despite the 6 or 7-year-old mark that is common in the education system, there is no convincing evidence that children should learn to read at this age, says Carol Leroy, director of the Reading and Speech Center at the University of Alberta.

Key skills that indicate a child's readiness to learn to read and write

Professor Anne Goulding from the School of Information Management at Victoria University (Australia) notes that children are ready to interact with books independently from 18 months. During this period, they learn to sit and listen, turn the pages of books, look at illustrations and even read.

“Most children in the Western world learn to read between the ages of 5 and 7, when they start school. However, long before we “officially” start teaching children to read, as the brain matures physiologically, children are already accumulating a vast amount of experience necessary for this process.”

Thus, a child's readiness to learn to read and write is determined by 6 skills:

1. Motivation. The child is interested in books and enjoys the stories that his parents read to him.
2. Awareness. The child knows what a book, text, words, and letters are.
3. Knowledge of the letters themselves.
4. Sufficient vocabulary.
5. Phonological awareness. Understanding how words are structured, the ability to play with sounds.
6. Basic storytelling skills.

If a child has not mastered the “basics,” then early learning to read will not bring them pleasure and may even be harmful.

Should we encourage reading earlier? Experts say that the so-called norm at 5-7 years old appeared for a reason. Preschoolers are able to memorize the written word, but they mostly rely on other markers.

“<**>If children are not specifically taught to recognize text, by the age of 5 they prefer images and show no interest in written lines. However, this soon changes naturally,” shared psychologist and philologist Natalia Kulikova.

2. What factors influence a child's reading competence?

How quickly a child can learn to read and whether they can acquire adequate reading skills in school depends on many factors: the level of family wealth, the competence of the teacher, and even DNA.

However, experts say the most important factor is a supportive environment at home. If parents read aloud to their children from the time they are in their diapers, it helps toddlers develop better vocabulary, says Margaret Merga, a senior lecturer in the Department of Education at Edith Cowen University (Australia).

Children also need to engage in daily reading-related practices: family conversations, discussing what they have read, "reading" illustrations, playing games based on stories they have heard, etc. And most importantly, children should not be forced to read!

The main task of parents and teachers is to arouse in the child a desire to interact with books, which arises from the realization that reading brings pleasure.

Scientists are sure that teaching strategies can help develop reading skills for one student and be ineffective for another.

“So the trick is to more accurately determine each child’s reading skill level and then find a way to tailor the curriculum to each student’s individual needs,” the researchers note.

Source: Freepik

3. Tips for parents who want to develop their child's reading skills

These recommendations are aimed at parents who have children under 3 years old and want to help them easily "pay their bills" in the future.

1. Create a “chatty” environment

Talk to your child about any everyday topics. This will help them develop their vocabulary. At the same time, they should be an active interlocutor, since passively listening to other people's conversations will not have an effective effect.

2. Use rhythm and music

Surround your children with music. Play rhyming games, sing songs, read poems, listen to songs. Repetition, rhyme, and rhythm help them remember new words and master the rhythm of language.

3. Read the image

Look at picture books, family photo albums, paintings, and postcards with your children and discuss what you see. The ability to read and interpret pictures will help your child develop storytelling skills and understand the structure of the text.

4. Pay attention to the printed words around you

Try to constantly focus your child's attention on the textual information you see around them in everyday life. This will help them learn the alphabet faster.

5. Read books

Reading together helps relieve tension, brings parents closer together, and develops cognitive abilities. The choice of books for reading together is diverse: there are tactile, traditional, and toy books. It is recommended to combine reading with play.

Useful tips were formulated by Karen Boardman, Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education at Edge Hill University (UK).