What Age Do Kids Learn to Read?

Children begin learning to read at an early age. By age two, they are reciting words from their favorite books and often answering questions. By age four, they typically recognize half of the alphabet and recognize some words by sight. By age five, they have begun matching letters to sounds and reading a few words in sentences.

Pre-reading skills

One of the most important pre-reading skills for kids when learning to read is vocabulary building. The first step towards developing this skill is to read together with your child daily. When reading together, talk about the pictures in the book and engage in conversations.

Phonological awareness

Phonological awareness is an important skill to develop as kids learn to read. This skill involves the ability to recognize and distinguish individual sounds and patterns of sound. When a child develops this skill, they will be less likely to have trouble reading. It also sets the stage for advanced literacy skills.

Spelling

At age five, a child can begin to learn to spell simple CVC words. They will also begin to recognize and use a variety of vowels and vowel combinations. As they progress, they will be able to learn new words and their meanings.

Semantic rules

As kids learn to read, they will often face difficulties in understanding words they don’t understand. These problems are often due to a semantic deficit. This deficit can develop years before a child learns to recognize the alphabet.

Explicit instruction

The use of explicit instruction is a proven way to improve children’s reading ability. It helps them make the connections in their brains between different types of language processing. This can happen quickly or slowly, depending on the child’s learning style. Children who do not receive explicit instruction often don’t make these connections at all.

Learning to read milestones

Learning to read milestones are very important for your child’s development, and should be approached in a consistent and fun manner. Children learn differently, so they may be further along in some stages than others. Nevertheless, you can use these milestones as a guideline to track your child’s progress.