Becky Wollenslegel

Hi there Candice in OK, mother of Abigail!
you wrote:

"she is asking me when I am going to start teaching my dd to read."
BELIEVE that you don't have to "Teach" her to read. If she wants to read
she will when she's ready. She doesn't need to read at 2 when there are so
many other things to be doing and she has you and Kevin to read to her. If
she wants to, great, but why should it be a big deal? My older 2 (now 20 &
18) were both late readers and then when Cody was younger I saw all these
signs of "early readiness" and I was so excited thinking he would be an
early reader - but no, he still has those "readiness" signs, but the reading
hasn't clicked. He's 7 1/2 and I guess he's going to be like the other 2
and we still have a year or 2 before it does. Aren't there a lot more fun
things you and Abigail can be doing that don't involve flash cards!

My niece was a very early reader - but she was not gonna' use that potty!
and she didn't have any hair so my sister has pictures of her at about 4
reading to her twin bro and sis - so cute - "3 babies" sitting on a couch
reading together! Then she didn't do anything very different with the
twins, in fact probably did less since she was busier - and sure enough, Amy
starts reading even sooner than her sister but Tom still wasn't reading when
he stared school. Same household, same opportunities, but he wasn't ready
so he didn't "teach" himself.

I don't know how you gently relate to your mother and grandmother that their
great acomplishments of "teaching" you and your sister to read were really
YOUR OWN acomplishments! Hmm - probably better leave that alone!
But do try to believe that you don't need to teach Abigail to read now. If
she wants your help she will let you know, and there's plenty of time before
reading independently becomes important to her - I'm sure she would much
rather snuggle up with you and a good book (or maybe 20 good books)

Relax! Becky

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In a message dated 8/15/99 9:49:25 AM EST, beckycraigw12@... writes:

<< Aren't there a lot more fun
things you and Abigail can be doing that don't involve flash cards! >>

Yes! Thank you! I would much rather spend my time with her watching bugs
crawling on our back steps or playing her newest version of "baseball" (which
involves a huge inflatable yellow ball and her plastic shovel as the bat!) --
or whatever else she is excited about at the moment. If only the rest of my
family saw the value in these "lessons" as well -- maybe in time.

Candice in OK