While it is true that some gifted toddlers seem to learn to read by themselves, they need to be exposed to the alphabet and books consistently in order to develop this all-important skill. Parents can assist the child in learning to read by providing the basic ingredients with a minimum of direction. If she is ready to begin, she will let the parent know by her actions.
Teaching the Gifted Toddler the Alphabet
Flashcards with letters and numbers are a good starting point for introducing the letter and number systems to the gifted child. An even easier approach is through television shows (for example Sesame Street) that are aimed at the very young child.
Once she becomes familiar and can identify letters, she is able to learn the sounds they represent. Some very precocious toddlers will learn letters at about the same time they begin to pronounce words. The child's ability to pronounce syllables is on par with his ability to learn to identify letters.
Let the Child Progress at his Own Pace When Learning to Read
A child who can learn to identify five or six letters of the alphabet, who is truly gifted, can learn all twenty-six. Note that a parent could teach a normal child to rote memorize several letters, but that does not indicate that child is reading-ready. The child who learns the alphabet song because he has heard it so many times is not necessarily reading letters.
The gifted child will progress on his own, learn letters and sounds rapidly and will often have an intense desire to look at picture books, associating the names of things with the words. Once real reading begins, he will devour books in a voracious manner. True, he will not understand all that he reads at this point, but a parent who works closely with the child can significantly enhance his reading experience and early vocabulary.
Some gifted children are not as ready to read as others and will develop vocally at a slower level. This is fine. If the child seems disinterested and would rather tower blocks or play with other toys, wait a few weeks on the letters and try again. Not all gifted children are focused on reading at a very early point in their development.
Keep in mind that spontaneous or self-taught early readers are almost always gifted children. However, the reverse is not necessarily true. In other words, a child who does not learn to read early could still be gifted, since early reading is only one way to identify a gifted child, and all of them are not early readers.
In summary, introduce the toddler to the alphabet with television and flash cards. If she is not excited to learn, wait a month or so and try this again. If she begins to learn letters and read spontaneously, give her additional materials, cards, books and help her develop the new skill. Never push a child to perform in this way or the parent will risk developing a negative association with reading, the opposite of what is desired. Always take learning cues from the behavior elicited by the child.
Was this information helpful? Please see Resources for Parents of a Gifted Toddler.
Reference:
Child Development Institute, Resources for Parents of Gifted Children. Child Development Info (accessed July 11, 2010).
Therese Haberman - With a MS degree and 25 years in HR mgmt, in 2005, Ms.Therese began a writing career specializing in children and HR.
Join the Conversation