A few years back, we taught our toddler dd to read. She was book-obsessed from an early age. She was also teeny and not growing fast, so dh tried to amuse her in the high chair so she'd stay longer. It started with the words on the cereal box. He then started adding words with a Sharpie, and it quickly progressed to the distinction between though, thought and through. Her language skills (reading and speaking together) took off just around her 2nd birthday, and never stopped. She reads many books, and she reads them very, very quickly - her speed surpassed dh and I at about age 4yo.
She is now 12 yo and her reading has let up just a bit as her interests have broadened - although she may still seemingly effortlessly fit a couple of 300 page books into an otherwise busy day if she is in the mood.
Did we hothouse? Okay, if you want to call it that, fine. But given her lifelong love of reading, I have no regrets.
