when I worked I admit it was difficult to find the time to do the "learning to read" reading with my son...   I had two hours with him each night..  there is only so much I could do in that time.

Because his primary school had quite a lot of mum volunteers that would go in and do that kind of reading with the kids during the day.... I was able to do the bedtime story with him.

The bedtime story is different from the learning to read reading.

People want mum's to go out to work when their kids are at school.. then something has to give I'm afraid.

You know it really doesn't surprise me. Most Mums know just plonk their kids down in front of the telly so they can sit about or pass them off to a nursery that they have no idea what they do with their kid all day

My cousin has a little boy who is a year older than mine and he can't even talk. All he does it re enact scenes from his favourite dvd's. It totally creeps me out. We are walking down the street and we all have to stop because he starts to act out a scene

She refused to get any more cos she thought they would all be the same

I used to like the Thomas the Tank Engine books

thats weird

Plonking a kid in front of a video now and then doesn't hurt as long as you do other stuff as well..my oldest watched one video all the time (his choice) which is why at 2 and a half he could re-enact (with all songs) the whole of the Elvis 1968 comeback concert....but he could also write write his name and all his letters by 3 and was reading before he started school.


My 11 year though still oesn' hold his pencil properly (initially may have been down to that being the arm he broke when he was 2)...I used to make him do it properly at home but he just reverted to his cackhanded method in nursery and they never corrected it...his teacher no says he can't bliev they neversord it when he was little cos its too late for him to change now.

See.. I found those dull!

I agree Croc that so long as you do other stuff as well, watching videos or kids tv isn't bad... in fact I would argue that its quite good for the child.

Mine used to play on the nintendo as well...  and I am convinced that helped with hand eye co-ordination.

I know what you mean...mine were completing Sonic 2 at 4/5 when I cudn't even get past level 2!


I taught mine various card games,,,gin, brag, ponton etc....I'm sure thats why they're all good at maths....not to mention the proper scrabble from day one...none of this junior scrabble malarky....