Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Age or Ability Specific Forums Pre-school Milestone charts - are they for real?

We just got an information booklet from our ped on Caring for Your Five to Seven Year Old. Here's a bit under Starting School:

"By age 6, children often recognize and name letters of the alphabet and their sounds. Early reading begins with blending letter sounds to make words. Ability to read 15 or more common words and write letters and words is typical. Most children are reading by age 8."