Let's learn about the important reading milestones on your child's journey to becoming a good reader.

As your little one grows up, he or she learns new things in life, doesn't it? Learning to read letters and read books is also very important. However, not all babies learn these things at the same speed. Some little ones grasp letters very quickly, while others take a little longer. This is very normal. The most important thing is that if you have any doubts or questions about your child's reading journey, ask a doctor, the child's teacher, or a reading specialist at school. Because helping children with reading difficulties at an early age is a great strength for their future.

Parents and teachers can find resources to help their children. Sometimes this can start as early as preschool. Good daycare centers, good preschool programs, and a home environment filled with language and reading can go a long way toward helping children successfully reach these reading milestones.

How does a child begin their journey to becoming a good reader?

Simply put, learning to read doesn't happen overnight. It's like climbing a ladder, one step at a time. These milestones are small stops that your child reaches along the way. But remember, these are typical milestones for children at this age . Your child may be a little further along than this. Don't let that be a problem.

The most important thing is to support the child with love and patience, and to help him develop a good relationship with books.

Now let's see what kinds of things children demonstrate as they age on this reading journey.

From birth to about a year: Your little one's first glimpse into the world of reading! (Infancy - Up to Age 1)

This is when babies take their first steps towards communicating with those around them. You can watch for these things in your little one:

• They try to say what they want with their hands and feet, one by one. That means they are gradually understanding that they can express themselves through gestures and sounds.
• When you talk to him, he responds. Maybe he looks at you, smiles, or makes a noise.
• They start to focus their attention on someone or some toy.
• They can understand about 50 simple words like "mom", "dad", "baby", and "milk".
• When I see books with beautiful, colorful pictures, I reach for them and try to turn the pages with your help.
• When you tell a story, show pictures in the book, they respond with small sounds, sometimes gently tapping the pictures with their hands. They listen with great interest.

Even though they don't "read" books at this age, this is how they form their first connection with books and stories.

How to make mischievous toddlers (1-3 years old) friends with books (Toddlers - Ages 1–3)

At this age, little ones are a little older. Their world is getting bigger. Books are starting to be more fun for them. Look at what they're doing:

• If you show a picture in a book and ask, "Where is the cat?", they will point to the cat. If you ask, "What does a dog make?", they will also try to say "boo boo." This means that they can answer questions about things in books and identify animals and things in pictures .
• They begin to name things in pictures they often see.
• If you tell them to point to something in the book, they'll point to it with their finger.
• They pick up a book and act like they're reading, just like adults. It's such a cute sight!
• If it's a book you read regularly, they'll say the last words as you read a sentence.
• They grab a piece of paper and start scribbling . That must be their way of "writing"!
• I remember the names of books and recognize them by the pictures on the book's cover.
• The pages of board books with thick pages start turning on their own.
• They may have a favorite book of their own, and they will ask you to read it again and again.

Since they spend a lot of time with books during this time, it helps a lot in developing their vocabulary and language skills.

At 3 years old: Reading skills of the preschooler (Early Preschool - Age 3)

By now, your little one is used to doing other things on his own. Books are no exception.

• They like to pick up books and turn the pages on their own .
• I listen attentively, even if the stories are a little longer than before.
• If it's a story you hear often, I try to tell it again. Maybe the words are a bit off, but I try to convey the point of the story.
• The song "ABC" will start to sound a little bit tikk with your help.
• They draw symbols that look like they are writing.
• Recognizes the first letter of their name.
• I understand that writing is different from drawing pictures.
• It's like imitating reading a book aloud.

At 4 years old: How your child learns more in the last years of preschool (Late Preschool - Age 4)

At this age, little ones become more interested in letters and words. They also begin to pay attention to the signs and symbols in their world.

• They recognize common signs and labels, such as street signs and shop names.
• Recognizes rhyming words, such as "ge", "be", and "le". This is very important for reading skills.
• Be able to name several letters of the alphabet (usually it would be good if you could name about 15-18 capital letters).
• Recognizes the letters in their name.
• Trying to write their name.
• Trying to say what the first sound is in words.
• Some letters begin to match the sounds associated with those letters.
• You become aware of the sound levels in a word, that is, the parts (syllables) that can be broken down into a word.
• They try to write words using the letters they know.
• They understand that letters are written from left to right, top to bottom.
• They try to retell the stories they were told in their own words.

At 5 years old: Reading skills of a child who is ready to go to big school (Kindergarten - Age 5)

By now, little ones have learned a lot. As they prepare to go to school, their reading skills will improve even more.

• They can make up and say rhyming words that end with the same sound.
• Some spoken words can be matched with written words.
• You can write some letters, numbers, and simple words.
• If they see a place where a few words they know and see often are written, they will recognize them.
• While reading a story, we try to guess what will happen next .
• Identify the first sound, the middle sound, and the last sound in short words.
• When speaking, they try to recognize even the smallest sound fragments in words and change them to say them.
• Understands concrete definitions of some words.
• They can read simple words on their own (e.g., reading the word "dog" after seeing it) and read those words when they are in a sentence.
• They can tell the main idea of ​​a story, give details of the story (who, what, when, where, why, how, etc.), and tell the events of the story in order .

In first and second grades (ages 6–7): Reading books is even more fun! (First and Second Grade - Ages 6–7)

In the first and second grades of school, children become more skilled at reading books. This is a very enjoyable experience for them.

• They enjoy reading stories they have read before and know.
• Words with unknown letters are read aloud (sounded out) or decoded by combining letters.
• To understand unknown words, use the pictures in the book and other words in the sentence (context) as help.
• I'm gradually learning and using things like punctuation and capitalization when writing.
• If you make a mistake while reading a book aloud, you try to self-correct the mistake.
• After reading a story, they draw pictures to show how they understood it.
• When writing, you start by writing details in an orderly manner, like a story with a beginning, middle, and end .

In Second and Third Grade (Ages 7–8): How to See the World Through Reading (Second and Third Grade - Ages 7–8)

At this age, children become more adept at reading books on their own. They learn a lot about the world from what they read.

• They can read even longer books on their own .
• When reading aloud, read with proper emphasis and expression to suit the context of the story.
• Use the context of the story and pictures to help identify unknown words.
• Understand what paragraphs are and start using them when writing.
• Punctuation is used correctly.
• Able to spell many words correctly.
• I start writing things like little notes, phone messages, and emails.
• You can understand the humor in a document.
• They use the new words and phrases they hear and read in their everyday speech.
• They look back at what they have written, revise it, create their own stories, and even draw pictures for them.

Fourth Through Eighth Grade (Ages 9–13): A Young World of Knowledge and Fun Through Reading (Fourth Through Eighth Grade - Ages 9–13)

By now, children are approaching adolescence. They gain knowledge and have fun through reading.

• Read, understand, and explore different kinds of texts, such as biographies, poetry, and fiction.
• We try to understand expository texts, narrative texts, and persuasive texts.
• Like a science book, you read it to find out some specific information.
• Understands the relationships between objects.
• Recognizes grammatical parts of speech and language features such as similes and metaphors.
• They correctly identify the main elements of a story, such as time, place, plot, problem, and solution.
• They read and write about a specific topic for fun. They also understand what writing style is appropriate for that occasion.
• Analyze texts for meaning.

What if your child is late to meet these milestones?

Imagine that you think your child is a little later than other children in reaching some of these milestones. Don't worry. First, remember that every child is different. However, if you have any serious concerns or fears, it's best to talk to a doctor, your child's teacher, or a reading specialist about it.

They will be able to accurately assess your child's condition and guide you on what kind of help to provide, if needed. The sooner help is received, the better the outcome.

If we put these conversations together (Take-Home Message)

So, now you have a clear idea of ​​what the journey of a child learning to read is like. It's a long journey, but a beautiful one.

• Every child is different: Don't compare your child to other children. They learn these things at their own pace.
• Encourage, don't force: Create an environment at home that makes your child want to read books and learn letters. It's much more effective than forcing them.
• Read books together: Reading books together with your child and looking at pictures from an early age is a great way to instill a love of books in them.
• If in doubt, ask for help: If you have any concerns about your child's reading ability, don't hesitate to ask a doctor or teacher. It's important to identify and help early.
• Make reading fun: Make reading to your child feel like fun, not a burden.

With your love, support, and patience, your little one will one day become a great reader. Best wishes on your journey!

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