Being able to read is a vital part of a child’s development. It allows them to broaden their vocabulary by learning new words, exercising their brain as well as exploring their imagination.
When it comes to reading, there is no rush as each child learns at their own pace, but what if there are signs of your child reading earlier than expected? Is this a sign of intelligence?
What Age Should A Child Learn To Read?
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There is no set age a child will start reading as every child is different, however, you will generally find children beginning to learn between the ages of 4 and 6. At this age, they will have gone to school and reading will play a big role in their curriculum.
Depending on the individual, some children are known to learn faster than others. It is also known that gifted children are more likely to be early readers, starting to read earlier than 4 years old. However, gifted children with these abilities are hard to come by.
Why It Is Good For Children To Read
Reading is a great way to stimulate the mind and promote imagination whether a person is young or old, but for a child learning to read is very important.
Reading not only helps to stimulate the mind but is vital for healthy development. There are many benefits to children reading including:
Strengthens Parent Or Child Relationship
To help a child with their reading, it is highly recommended that parents sit with their children either to read alongside them or read to them at night.
By doing this, the parent is allowing the child to become more confident with reading and turn it into a casual yet fun activity. Not only is this great for enhancing a child’s ability to read but it is also great for strengthening the relationship between parent and child.
Reading like this gives both the parent and the child something to look forward to, allowing a strong bond to form.
Develops Emotion
Children learning to read is a lot more complex than simply learning words. They are learning how to escape reality and delve into the fantastical world of fiction, connect with characters and view different perspectives other than their own.
This allows a child to explore their emotions such as empathy which they can use outside of reading in their everyday lives. This is a vital part of a child’s development as it teaches them people skills and allows them to socialize with others.
Allows A Deeper Understanding Of The World
Books can transport you to different places, introducing you to cities, towns, and countries. They may talk about different cultures and foods and because of this, children are able to have a deeper understanding of the world around them.
All a child knows is their own surroundings, so it is important to know that there is more to life than what they know including different countries, races, cultures, and people.
Is Early Reading A Sign Of Intelligence?
To read takes a lot of skill and dedication. You are having to exercise the brain which is difficult to do when the brain is not fully developed, so to be able to read at an age earlier than average is highly commendable.
The average child will learn to read between the ages of 4 and 6 as their brain is strong enough to take in words and understand vocabulary however to be able to do so earlier than this shows signs of intelligence.
Many who can read at an early age generally have a higher IQ and some even go as far as to be classed as gifted. If your child is reading early, then it is likely that they will go on to achieve much more.
How Can You Make Your Child Read Earlier?
There are some people who want their children to read earlier in order to develop their skills and prepare them for the future.
By reading early, you will be stimulating your child’s brain, allowing them to enhance their intelligence, but it is still important to go about this with care.
You do not want to pressure your child into doing something that they can’t do as this can lead to frustration or them not enjoying reading. You instead want to make this an enjoyable experience that everyone can thrive from.
It is very possible to help your child to read earlier and it only takes a few simple steps:
Be A Positive Influence
Children are prone to mimicking the actions of their parents, so it is important to set a good example in front of them. If you want them to take a liking to reading, then you should be reading as well.
Pick up a book and read in your spare time showing your child that this is a positive experience. Your child will likely be interested and want to join in and read themselves.
Let Your Child Choose
It is important to not take on all the control and let your child have the freedom of choice. Instead of picking books out for your child to read that you think will be good for their intelligence, you should let them decide what to read.
By doing this, you are making their reading experience much more fun.
If you are keen to teach your child to read from an early age ( you can start as early as 2 years old), then the Children Learning Reading Program will help and guide you to start correctly. Our Review of the Children Learning Reading Program covers the pros and cons of the program.
If however, you are busy parents and spare time is not something you have in abundance, then the Homer Learning App may be better suited for your family. Starting from the age of 2, your little one will learn the foundations of reading, math, creativity, and more within the app. Find out more about Homer Learning App here
Read To Your Child
If you want your child to be an early reader, then it is essential that you read to them. Read them their favorite bedtime story every night. Get them to read along with you. Read to them during playtimes.
Provide A Variation Of Books
In order to develop their minds, it is a good idea to provide your child with a variety of books including story books, comics, and magazines. This will widen their perspective and heighten their reading ability.
Final Thoughts
Reading is great for a child and should be enjoyable. Get your child reading early by following our steps and broaden their imagination.
