3 y.o. DS "reads" books -is that normal or advanced?

[DevilDuckie]

This is a very common thing in three year olds.

 

[brergnat]

It's one thing for a 3 year old to "read" a book that he has memorized.

It's quite another when you hand your 3 year old a book he has NEVER seen/heard, and he is able to read it on his own.

My son did the second, after we began to suspect that he could read and spell just after he turned 3. We gave him "Go, Dog, Go", which is a first grade level book with about 60 pages. The first time he opened it up, he read the first 20 pages on his own, and the only word he did not know was "around". He pointed at it and said "what's that word?" We were floored. Needless to say, that is not normal.

Our son is autistic, though. I have a feeling as he gets older, he'll be classified as an Asperger's Syndrome kid. He taught himself the alphabet before he was 2 and has a fascination with numbers as well. He can do 2nd grade math and can spell and write some very complex words.

I am happy that he has these skills, but it would be nice if he could wave "hello" and "goodbye".

 

[dogluva]

Do a google search for hyperlexia.

Hyperlexia is often associated with autism. It sounds like this boy is memorizing stories. My oldest son did it. He learned to read when he was six.

 

[pepperderr]

I think it sounds normal. As another poster said, I would keep an eye on it and see if he can read things he hasn't seen before. My 8yo was put in the gifted class at school but only because his 1st grade teacher recommended that they test him because his vocabulary was so advanced. When I talked to the school counselor, and thought he didn't qualify for the gifted class, she said he did but they would never have known to test him if his 1st grade teacher didn't recommend it. He is our first child so we had nothing to compare to really. We didn't know he was that advanced except he was saying Pennsylvania plain as day at 2yo. LOL

 

[juliana_sd]

My son did the second, after we began to suspect that he could read and spell just after he turned 3. We gave him "Go, Dog, Go", which is a first grade level book with about 60 pages. The first time he opened it up, he read the first 20 pages on his own, and the only word he did not know was "around". He pointed at it and said "what's that word?" We were floored. Needless to say, that is not normal.

That's the same age and the same book that I first read! How funny.

To the OP, that does sound advanced to me... for that skill. OTOH, my son can't write very well, or read yet (at 4.5 - which is fine) but he's more advanced than his peers on other skills. So I think they each have their own things that they are good at. Some kids have more things than others, and they are considered "gifted" or whatever, but I don't think any parent would say their kid wasn't advanced at something.

 

[zoemurr]

Memorizing and reading it to you is part of the process of learning to read.

To experiment, give him a simple book that he has NOT been read from before, and see if he can actually read.

I started reading at 2. Picked up a newspaper and started reading it to my mom. Freaked her right out! THAT was early (and my eyesight certainly paid for it b/c I'm a voracious, won't look away from a book until it's done, reader), but if he's "just" (ha ha, "just", it's a big deal!) memorizing the books I would say that's on the normal side.

Although I also must say that the process of reading can take a long time. People talk about reading before kindergarten sometimes, and I've read posts elsewhere by people very pressured for kids to learn to read before any school, but really, some kids learn much later, and it's just fine.

My DD could also read at 2.. read Little House series at 4 the summer before preschool. We compare her to an alcoholic.. always needs her next fix and reads every spare second of the day. (she's now 9.) Anyway.. her eyesight is terrible, and I always wondered if she didn't develop properly with all the reading. Did someone tell you this? I am the only mother in town who says, "Put that book down and go play something!"

I remember trying to read a long book to kids one night when I was babysitting and skipping paragraphs. It was a no-go 'cause they had memerized every last word.

 

[collcass]

I am the only mother in town who says, "Put that book down and go play something!"
QUOTE]


I say the same thing to my 10 yr old. In 4th grade her teacher called me numerous times to tell me she had her book hidden in her desk and would take it out at times she should have beeen doing school work SHe read all the time. She was actually considered jsut average in K/1 w/ reading. It wasn't until about 2nd grade that she really got it.

Her brother, a year behind her never had to "decode" He just started reading at about 3 1/2. When he was 4, we were visiting Sesame Place in PA. He was at the top of one of the water slides and turned to my Dh and said "dad, you can see to Philadelphia from her". Dh asked him how he knew that and he pointed to the sign that said it. D almost fell over.

Funny thing is -- he's nine and although he is a good reader, does not like to read at all other than atlases, sports books, lists and trivia books.

 

[DVCJones]

My DD did this too. She was about 2.5 yo. She continued her love for "reading". Her 5th birthday is today and she has been able to read small words for a couple of months now. (cat, hat, dog, etc.) I think your DS may read early if he continues "reading". hey, It can't hurt!!!!

 

[awaldo]

I think it sounds great. I'm no expert, but I know plenty of families that don't even have books for their kids, or they don't look at them. I'd say anytime a three year old has interest in books and words beyond eating the pages, they're well ahead of today's curve. Our DD loves her books, but isn't quite to that point yet. She mostly makes up her own version of the story after we read it to her. Anyhow, encourage the reading and interest. It can't hurt!

 

[HeatherSue]

I am amazed by the number of people saying that all 3 year olds do this if they are read to often!! I worked in day care and as a nanny for 11 years before I had kids. We read to the kids a LOT every day. I only came across 1 or 2 kids that could do this at 3 years old. Sure, they could repeat "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" word for word, but not more complex stories like the Little Golden Books!

You are definitely right in thinking that your son is advanced in this area!!!!

 

[GraysMom]

I think it sounds great. I'm no expert, but I know plenty of families that don't even have books for their kids, or they don't look at them. I'd say anytime a three year old has interest in books and words beyond eating the pages, they're well ahead of today's curve. Our DD loves her books, but isn't quite to that point yet. She mostly makes up her own version of the story after we read it to her. Anyhow, encourage the reading and interest. It can't hurt!

I think it's great your DD doesn't feel "locked in" to telling the story exactly as it's written/read. She's using her imagination by looking at the pictures which is a very helpful skill to have.

 

[awaldo]

Thanks Grays! Sometimes I think that much imagination isn't going to be good, but then I think of Walt, and Figment, and I guess an active imagination can be a good thing. In my opinion, to go along with the topic of this post, any book interaction is a GREAT thing. I'd be tickled im my DD could even "pretend" to read. I think that's awesome!

 

[npmommie]

My 4 yo ds started doing that when he was 3 yo. and I think he is brilliant
we read a lot here too. I think it is normal and I bet he will learn to read very easily.

 

[WantToGoNow]

My ds6.5 learned all of his letters and sounds by the time he was 2.5. But he could not grasp the concept that the sounds went together to make words. He's in first grade now and reading just a little ahead of many of the first graders. I thought he would be an early reader but he wasn't.

My dd4 shows no interest in letters or books. We do "force" her to listen while we read to her and she can repeat parts of books that are read often. She's just now learning a few of her letters. Do I think she's going to be behind when she goes to Kindergarten? Probably not. My ds was bored to death in Kindergarten because they spent most of the year learning those letters and sounds that he had known for years - atleast she'll have something new and exciting to do.

 

[dougsmom98]

I think that your son is advanced for his age if he can "read" you the stories at such a young age.

 

[notsosnowwhite]

The simplest term used by educators is that your child is showing an aptitude for reading. Just as some children walk earlier or get teeth earlier, others show more aptitude for math or reading. It's ok - be proud!!!!

I love your slacker comment and can completely relate...although my husband and I both have degrees and I am a teacher, I never went overboard with structured lessons or focused skills. My son read fluently at a fifth grade level by the time he was four, as I like to say in spite of his mother. Now, if we could only get him to catch a football...