I have mixed feelings here. My first child learned to read very early with very little help. I read to her every single day in two sessions. At some point I began to slide my finger under words as I read. Then she began to ask me how to spell words and I would write them down for her. She was two and a half or so then and could read hundreds upon hundreds of words before three with no program, no flashcards,no computer games etc. so I didn't really need to teach her, plus she didn't like to be taught. She is very independent. My other daughter is a different story. She is a very bright kid too, but has a different mind for reading. She is might even be better than my oldest is with letter sounds, and can sound words out, but her reading level is nowhere near my first child's was at 4, but that isn't a fair comparison since my first was very verbally gifted. The first would see a word once and "own" it. I think about working with my younger daughter on her reading, but she doesn't really want me to do it, so I just let it be. Compared to kids at her preschool, she is quite far ahead of schedule, but we have a warped perspective based on our first. If she were interested in having me write things down for her, or reading for me, I'd love to work with her and wouldn't think it was anything that was in any way harmful as long as it is in short sessions and isn't negative for her.
