[mysterio]

Basically, I think the most important thing you can do for your child is make sure they know how to read by the age of four or so. That's what my parents did for me, and it put me years ahead of other children in that area. My parents are both teachers, and pretty good ones.

[Madame Dufarge]

Basically, I think the most important thing you can do for your child is make sure they know how to read by the age of four or so. That's what my parents did for me

Bingo.

But, of course, I grew up in the Paleolithic Era, when parents actually took this as a given.

[SuziQ]

Not all kids learn to read at the same pace. Our #1 son read, but struggled and wasn't interested until about 4th grade, and it was Dungeons and Dragons strategy books that did the trick. Our #2 son was reading highway signs when he was 3 1/2, and is a terrific reader. Our daughter read well, and by 3rd grade was reading well above grade level. #3 son was similar to #1 son, in that he just wasn't interested; still isn't much, but does read above grade level.

We always read TO them, even when they were up into middle school. We'd choose books that were a little above their reading level and would have interesting vocabulary to stretch that skill as well.

[HungarianGypsy]

Basically, I think the most important thing you can do for your child is make sure they know how to read by the age of four or so. That's what my parents did for me, and it put me years ahead of other children in that area. My parents are both teachers, and pretty good ones.

I used to think this way too. Especially since my oldest read at 4. But different children learn at different levels. My daughter had such a hard time and only started to really read this year at 8 years. I was ready to get her tested for dyslexia. Don't know why, but she started reading well all at once. A few months later and she now reads better than he older brother at her age.