So. What do you think about a child reading ahead?

[Mama Anna]

Okay, this is one of those, "I feel guilty. Am I doing something horribly wrong?" threads.

 

Dd5 is a good reader. She loves to read. I'm doing science and history (SOTW) a la WTM with lots of library books. We make a weekly trip to the library where I pick up the "school" books and then some others for fun. By the end of library day, she's finished all the fun books (except for longer ones like Boxcar Children, etc.) and is wanting more to read. (I usually end up with 1 or 2 chapter books and then 6-8 picture or board books beyond "school" stuff in order to bless dd2 as well.) Until now, I've been keeping the "school" books out of reach until we go over them in school just so that she doesn't have everything memorized when we get there and I miss out on the lightbulb gleam in her eyes. Is this selfish?

 

I told her at the beginning of the year that I didn't want her to read through the KF First Animals Encyclopedia on her own because I wanted to go through it with her. Of course, we won't be studying every animal in there during our time on Zoology - I'm planning to let her have a field day with it when we move on to the Human Body. Meanwhile, I feel guilty about limiting her available information. But OTOH I'm pretty sure she would read all day long if I let her. I mean, no playing outside in sunny weather, little relating to her sister (except for irritation when dd2 bothers her), and little imaginative play with her toys. These other things are happening now because I'm limiting her reading, to some extent.

 

So, where's the balance between allowing/encouraging self-directed reading and encouraging/requiring physical activity/interaction with people? How do you balance encouraging information gathering on the part of a grammar-aged child with the need of a kid to be a kid. (The funny part is that dd5 is really people-oriented. She's just as much or more of a bookworm than I was through grade school.)

 

What are your ideas/experience?

 

Mama Anna

[JennW in SoCal]

Well, yes you are being a bit selfish in limiting her reading, and yet there is nothing wrong with having a book or two that are special books to share together. You don't need to worry so much about carefully planned lessons at this point, especially with one so happy to read. Enjoy this "sponge" period, let her have at it with what ever books she likes. You can always talk with her about the books, and take turns sharing what you find interesting. These casual conversations are the beginnings of narrations. She may even love "teaching" you all that she has learned, or she may like doing copy work out of her favorite chapters.

 

There is nothing wrong in making sure non-reading time is planned each day for family time or outdoor time. Perhaps you should decide how much non-reading time you'd like each day, and let her read the rest of the time.

 

My oldest son didn't engage in typical imaginative play at 5 either. I don't know if that is characteristic of gifted kids or not, but thought you'd like to know there are others out there like that. I also wanted to share that through the years he and his brother have picked up more history and science by just following their interests, never seeming to absorb as much through my carefully planned lessons. It was a bit humbling and frustrating to acknowledge this as I enjoy planning school like many others, but it has taken until high school for my planning a course to really be worth my while.

 

So really, the advice from this long time homeschooler is to let your child read whatever she wants. You've got years and years ahead to stick to your carefully planned lessons and book lists!

[AnneC]

There's a huge developmental gap between 2 and 5 years. My oldest dd doesn't really like playing with her little sister either.

 

Personally I'm inclined to tread reading like computer time. My kids self-regulate anyway and eventually they'll move along and do something else. At this stage I'd rather my dd read all day than half the night in bad light, which was what she was doing before she realised that she was allowed to read during the day;)

[Scuff]

Set aside certain time for playing outside and certain time for playing with sister. Let the rest of her free time be free. DS likes to read ahead also. I *like* that he does. Don't want to squelch that love of learning ;)

[Mama Anna]

Thanks for your input! What I'm understanding is that I need to let her read ahead as far as she'd like, within reasonable time restraints that will allow her time to be a kid in other ways, too.

 

Okay, off to figure out the ramifications! (Which I generally spend too much time doing with everything . . . :))

 

Thanks again!

 

Mama Anna

[Cindyg]

I think it's fine to tell the child that she can't read ahead in her SCHOOL books. I have to do that myself! (My son's in the 5th grade.) For example, we use Life of Fred, which is a story-format math book. If he sits down and inhales the story in one 30-minute gulp, he won't be motivated to do the math on schedule. I have to put sticky notes over the next story installment because he can't keep his eyes from roving ahead! But he understands.

 

But I would not limit her overall reading. See, you said she's reading all her fun library books in a single day. IMO, you need seven times that many fun books for her. Sure, if you have to shoo her outside a few minutes a day or insist on another activity once in a while--OK. But I, personally, have no problem with a 5YO who wants to read all the time. Such a problem to have! LOL. Count your blessings. It will be a rich road for her.

[lighthouseacademy]

I think in addition that it is great that you have a voracious reader. I have allowed my son to read anytime whenever he wants. I find he started to go in spurts where he reads books and books and books and then he will spend time doing Legos and playing with his sister. I do have to kick him outside sometimes to run around and ride his bike though. But then again, no matter how many times my parents kicked me out of the house to get me in the sun and stop reading, I would take that book outside and read it outside anyway.

[Garga]

I read non-stop. While I'm brushing my teeth, drying my hair, eating my breakfast, waiting for the computer to come up.

 

I've always been this way. I used to do my schoolwork as fast as I could in school, so that while the other kids were finishing up, I could read another page.

 

I have heard of parents not letting their kids read as a punishment and that seems like cruel and unusual punishment to me.

 

I would give her tons of books and let her have at it.

 

For her physical health and imaginative growth and sister relationship building, I would insist on time during the day to devote to playing and relating. But any other time of day, I'd let her read to her heart's content.

 

I would be miserable if someone told me I had to stop reading. It'd be like saying you can't use your arms today. I mean, I can't stress enough how miserable I'd be if I could read a page or two here and there throughout the day (can't read more than that because I have the kids, but once they're in bed, then I read a lot). I think you need to let her do this.

Edited November 22, 2008 by Garga_

[Amber in AUS]

Yep, i'd be getting more books too. We can borrow 10 per person and we do.

[MeanestMomInMidwest]

Will she read to her sister?

[Kuovonne]

Ditto - get more library books.

 

I ended up buying a folding cart specifically for library trips.

I also got a nice wooden "book box" for the living room to store library books at home.

 

We normally get 30+ books from the library.

Most of the books are not related to school - they just look interesting.

I try to throw in a few early chapter books in hopes of hooking DD5, but it's mostly picture books.

 

I no longer hold back any library books. I found that if I held back books, I'd never get around to reading many of them to DD. Plus, when I do get around to reading some of them to DD, she still loves the snuggling and enjoys the experience, even if she's read it already.

 

As for the reading versus active play - I find that DD5 naturally regulates herself. She mostly reads when there is no-one else to play with. If DD2 is around, she might read or play with DD2. If friends are over, the books are forgotten. Often, reading is simply more fun that running around by oneself.