I remember the very first book I ever read — I was four-and-a-half years old, and it was about a dog getting a thorn stuck in its paw.
I was so proud of the fact that I was reading on my own that I devoured books as a five-year-old. But then I burned out, and didn't read as much until I was quite a bit older.
Many people recall learning to read and being overwhelmed at the prospect of having to read every book on their own now.
Some parents even make it their goal to have their kids start reading as early as possible — but not this mom.
In fact, Crystal Lowery isn't teaching her five-year-old son John to read at all. Well, not yet.
In a recent Facebook post, Crystal Lowery wrote, "I'm not teaching my 5-year-old how to read." She then went on to explain exactly why she's waiting to teach him this skill — and it actually makes a lot of sense.
Read the rest of Crystal's post below!
[H/T: Huffington Post]
Crystal writes:
I’m not teaching my 5-year-old how to read.
Don't get me wrong, we read him books all the time. We've imagined ourselves in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, and we're 170 pages into Harry Potter's Chamber of Secrets. We're teaching him to enjoy stories, to get lost in characters.
But we’re not teaching him how to read. Not just yet. He’s too busy learning other things.
He's learning how to be a good sport–how to wait his turn in Candy Land and not gloat when he makes it to the King's Ice Cream Castle before his sister does.
He's learning how to build. From blocks, to sticks, to Legos, he feels the weight of the different materials in his little sausage fingers, and examines the physical integrity of the various structures he has made.
He’s learning how to exercise. He chases the dog, plays tag, climbs on playground equipment, dances (well), and practices karate (poorly). He’s going to need his body for a long time, so he builds his muscles through activity instead of sitting at a desk all day.
He's learning how to take care of his things. Through trial and error (oh, so much error!) he has seen what happens when he leaves a book out in the rain, or a lump of Play Doh on the table overnight. He's learning that you can't rough house with an 8lb Pekingese.
He’s learning how to be creative. How to draw his own picture books full of monsters, and how to construct an imaginary spaceship with Amazon boxes.
He's learning about ecosystems. He looks at bugs, flowers, and thunderstorms. He sees how fauna and flora inhabit the world together interdependently.
He's learning that the key to happiness is to focus on his blessings rather than complaining about what he doesn't have.
He’s learning how to apologize. To overcome his own hurt feelings and to empathize with other kids when there’s been a confrontation.
He's learning how to forgive. To understand that everyone makes mistakes, and that he can love other people despite their foibles.
He's learning important lessons every day.
But he's not learning how to read.
And though he may not show up to his first day of Kindergarten with “advanced reading skills”, he will come to the classroom with so much more.
The ability to try new things without getting frustrated.
The ability make friends, even though friendship can be a messy business.
The ability to listen to others and follow instructions.
The ability to problem-solve.
The ability to concentrate on a task.
There is so much our children learn that cannot be measured with a standardized test. And though someday his hours will be filled with phonics, and penmanship, and fractions, we aren't worried about all that today.
Today he has more important things to learn.
What do you think about this mom’s explanation for waiting to teach her son to read? Please SHARE this article with your friends and family if you think kids have so many important skills to learn!
