5 years old...cant read, please help

[meilengyong]

Just saw this and hope it is not too late.

My son only started talking at 3 and really at 4. He is now 4+. Though his speech is behind, he seems to be able to read. Anyway, I did send him for a speech assessment and they (HK) said he has the level of a 2 years old. That got me panic!!! Then I sent him home for an assessment in Malaysia and they said not to worry, just slightly behind. Anyway, he caught up a lot lately!!!

I guess what I am trying to tell you is to go for an assessment. It does not mean anything. Maybe gives you a piece of mind. I sent mine to St James settlement in Central. They are semi-private. About HKD900 for an hour assessment. Can be conducted in English. I guess the only thing you wanna rule out is dyslexia, ie they sometimes see left to right and the other way round too...so it is complicated and they decided not to read!!!

If everything is fine, then just continue reading with your kids daily. I would actually do away with all those learning to read books. I find them boring and no story line to attract kids. I started reading with my kid very young but I usually just verbalise the story for him and he loves the sounds I make. After a while, when the joy of reading is cultivated, they will want to know how to read and just read one day. I probably read 2-3 fun book and one boring learning to read book during our bedtime story time!!

good luck!

 

[yingie]

I am an international school teacher and my recommendation would be to make sure that reading/writing is introduced as a fun activity, not something that is being "drilled". It is especially important when young children are experiencing difficulty in this area. Starfall is a fantastic website that I often recommend to my parents. There are many readers that encourage decoding/reading using phonics, with simple pictures that provide background information to the text. One-on-one help may also give your child a little push and support in areas that she may be stuck in. If, after a period of time, she is still experiencing difficulty, you can always consult the class teacher and seek professional advice. I hope that helps.