I have nothing against teaching a child who WANTS to learn to read at an early age. The key being if the child wants the help. Just to keep in mind that it might be slow going at first and that it isn't a big deal if a child doesn't read until they are a bit older. I like the suggestion that you keep a book to illustrate the progress she has made.
But I have seen many parents who PUSH their child to start reading at a young age who aren't interested, and schools that push reading earlier and earlier to no major gain on the kids part. I had numerous parents in K want to know what "magic" I did to get my son to read. And I really didn't have a good answer.
YES!
I almost think the developmental burst that allows school to teach a child to read is not in some innate ability to read, but the maturity (or whatever you want to call it) to learn what someone else wants to teach when the child has no desire to learn it themselves. I'm sure that there is some reading-ability change as well, but the motivation behind the teaching (adult or child request) makes all the difference in the world.
