4 year losing interested in reading

[Watsonmel]

Natalie did better last night. I just let her guide what we did and helped to feel that she was in control. She asked to do the computer so we went on Headsprout. She got her teddy bear and had the teddy bear point to the answers while I clicked on them. After a while, she clicked on a few and then asked me to do it again. I think that the issue is that she's scared to make a mistake so I put her back on the prevous episode. It did take about 20 minutes to get through 5 minutes of material, but I justed waited for her to be okay with responding. Afterward, I did a quick assessmen with her on sight words using the Dolsch preprimer words. She handled that fine and knew 13 of the 40. Then, we did a scissor activity and that was it. I got through a lot less than I would have like to, but I think that she is telling me that I need to slow down.

Up until October, I was really doing the YBCR cards, but she got resistent so I switched to a phonics based approach. Now, she has forgotten about half of the words. In the end, many of the YBCR words are not the most common words that she will need to know so I am not that worried about it, but it does mean that going back to that won't guarantee that she knows what I show her.

I think that this may just be a phase. She has also been crying more at dropoff for daycare and is having separation anxiety in places where she didn't used to (gymnastics and swimming).

[DadDude]

My 3.5 year old is the same way.  If I ask him to do something that looks like it's reading practice, he resists.

For many months, just to take an example, he was reading some of the simplest history books (the Step into Reading series was great), but then he seemed to be tired of almost anything historical-related we tried.  So we sort of cooled it with the history for a long time.  Lately we've come back to it via the Magic Tree House books and some new presentations (I made a long two-part one that is, believe it or not, the history of the world; it is meant to put dates into perspective).  So in the last few weeks we’ve had some history one way or another, but we have read very few if any history books per se.  I'm sure we'll come back to them.  I think he's getting ready for them again.  His favorite question about any historical topic is: "Was that before cars?"

Dad Dude, reading your comment I question if there are history books for toddlers. I am posting a topic and will appreciate your comments.

I see that I never answered this.  Well, here goes.

Of course, most toddlers could not possibly understand any history book.  The difficulty with history books is that they require a rich stock of concepts that do not appear in most books for toddlers or preschoolers.  Basically, to care about what is going on in history books, I think children first have to have some basic idea of what the time period was like--otherwise it seems just puzzling and extremely foreign (which it is).

I don't know when I read my first history book to H., but I think it was probably when he was two, approaching three.

The simplest and most plentiful truly introductory history books that I know of are in the Random House "Step into Reading" series."  The history books are surprisingly well-written, despite being mixed in with a LOT of Disney and cartoon-based dreck.  For example, on Level 2 is "The Statue of Liberty" and then on Level 3 there is a much bigger selection of history, such as "Abe Lincoln's Hat" and "Christopher Columbus."  As you can see, though, these are American-oriented.

I have some history presentations that provide some basic introduction, but without a lot more of the same (I'm working on the platform for it right now, just be patient!), I don't think these will be enough to prepare kids to get the Usborne stuff.

When he was three, we plowed through a few dozen history-oriented Magic Tree House books.  These are extremely accessible and I am very sure they eased H.'s way into history.  They were possibly the best introduction to world history we could have gotten for that age, because they really don't require much in the way of prerequisite.  They ease the little reader into history by way of fiction, which is a great way to do it.

More recently we discovered the absolutely top-drawer Usborne Young Reading series, which is absolutely full of fantasic books.  And I guess their Series 1 and 2 do include some stuff that isn't much more advanced than the "Step into Reading" Level 2.  But we didn't start reading those until H. was 3.5.  He could have understood some of them a little earlier, but not much earlier.

Just in the last couple months we started another series, the "You Wouldn't Want to Be a..." series.  Right now it's "You Wouldn't Want to Be a Roman Gladiator," which he likes quite a bit.

We did a number of other history books, but nothing really stands out.  "Where's Waldo" has a history-themed book or two that we liked.

Now he's able to follow and appreciate some (not all) of the Young Reading Series 3 history books.  (The fiction is considerably easier than the history, at least for H.)  Having read a lot of the history from the above series, he is now fairly well able take on board stuff that is actually history--not just stories from history or historical fiction.  But we're still definitely in the hand-holding stage, and I still don't think he'd be interested in Susan Wise Bauer's "History of the World" series yet, but...soonish, maybe.

[TeachingMyToddlers]

DadDude-Very informative post about introducing history, karma to you!

Re: introducing history- This isn't exactly what you were looking for, but I have been eying this homeschool groups' materials for a while. I just ordered their $10 Cycle 3 (Ancients) memory work CD with powerpoint presentations to try it out. If I like it, I will buy the rest of the set. It's clearanced because it's last years version, my DD is too young to care.  Dr. Jones speaks highly of CC in general and that's how I learned about their group, but the classes don't start until 4 or 5 I think.

Anyway, they also have the audio CD's which I am very interested in getting. I really like to hear a sample but I have looked everywhere online with no luck. We'll see how I like the resource CD first and if the quality is good, I am going to get the audio cd's next. History set to songs & music....while it's not reading from a book, it seems like it might be a gentle introduction.

[2010BEBES]

...Of course, most toddlers could not possibly understand any history book.  The difficulty with history books is that they require a rich stock of concepts that do not appear in most books for toddlers or preschoolers.  Basically, to care about what is going on in history books, I think children first have to have some basic idea of what the time period was like--otherwise it seems just puzzling and extremely foreign (which it is).
...

DadDude, thanks for your answer, your comments are most apprecciated. I think that if kids are interested in books we have to try exposing them to differente topics and not just fiction.
Some months ago we came into a colection in spanish named 'Encyclopedia of knowledge' by Julia Bruce Editorial LIBSA. It has a few books that deall with certain topics as animals, nature and two that give an insight into history.
The ones I like the most are:
1) Ancient Civilizations
2) Our ancestors, every day
My husband enjoys reading it and showing our grandson images of:
Vikings
the crusades
Medieval castle
Middle Ages
China,
America before Columbus,
pirates
Captain Cook
Indians
the Wild West and others.

The interesting thing is that he realizes his grandfather enjoys these topics very much and when we see a pirate like Pablo from Backyardigan he says to me 'pirates... papapa likes them'.

I recomend this books for kids.

[MSant]

I also used YBCR in combination with the Doman materials.  When my son (2.5) started to lose interest I went back to something that had worked before:  Making the books myself, a la the Doman method.  The difference was like night and day!
 
 Use your own photos-- of family members, places you have been, etc. etc., and make simple sentences for each photo.  Keep the type fairly large-- an inch and a half high, and not too many words on a page.  Typically the photo goes on one page and the sentence goes on the page facing it.  How you make the book is up to you.  I know people who do them on MyPublisher, where you electronically create the book and they print it and send it to you (and its not that expensive).  Or you can make the book by hand-- print the photos and paste them onto pages (actually clear packing tape is best- prevents the edtes from peeling).  For pages I used the blank 12'x12" cards that you can get from the Doman website.  The advantage of making the book by hand is that you can use photos from anywhere-- last year's calendars, second hand books, old posters, etc. 

I'm not sure why this made such a big difference.  The obvious explanation - using images that are a part of his own environment-- may be part of it, but not all of it.  My son vastly prefers the books I've made regardless of subject.  Doman focuses a lot on type size and so forth, so that may be part of it as well.

Another thing that helped -- making my own DVDs. VERY simple, just little 5-minute setments- set up the camera and go through the flashcards as if your child were in front of you, (Doman method/made my own flashcards). I guess it may sound a little silly, but I work full time and doing this also served as a way to connect with my son.

Hope this helps!

[Watsonmel]

I also used YBCR in combination with the Doman materials.  When my son (2.5) started to lose interest I went back to something that had worked before:  Making the books myself, a la the Doman method.  The difference was like night and day!
 
 Use your own photos-- of family members, places you have been, etc. etc., and make simple sentences for each photo.  Keep the type fairly large-- an inch and a half high, and not too many words on a page.  Typically the photo goes on one page and the sentence goes on the page facing it.  How you make the book is up to you.  I know people who do them on MyPublisher, where you electronically create the book and they print it and send it to you (and its not that expensive).  Or you can make the book by hand-- print the photos and paste them onto pages (actually clear packing tape is best- prevents the edtes from peeling).  For pages I used the blank 12'x12" cards that you can get from the Doman website.  The advantage of making the book by hand is that you can use photos from anywhere-- last year's calendars, second hand books, old posters, etc. 

I'm not sure why this made such a big difference.  The obvious explanation - using images that are a part of his own environment-- may be part of it, but not all of it.  My son vastly prefers the books I've made regardless of subject.  Doman focuses a lot on type size and so forth, so that may be part of it as well.

Another thing that helped -- making my own DVDs. VERY simple, just little 5-minute setments- set up the camera and go through the flashcards as if your child were in front of you, (Doman method/made my own flashcards). I guess it may sound a little silly, but I work full time and doing this also served as a way to connect with my son.

Hope this helps!

All wonderful ideas. I did make a book out of some YBCR cards, but it was a photobook and kiind of expensive. I haven't tried the other kind of book. I'm also not sure I have the tech savy to do my own DVD.

After only a week, my daughter seems back on track. I just backed up in the curriculum and she stopped fighting me. So, we are basically doing review and her confidence has increased. I think she is enjoying the success so I'm going to slow down with her.

[Lisac]

Hey guys. I'm not sure what to do with my son. I started a full reading program with him in august and he was all into it. But now he is not focusing and not that into them anymore. But he loves EK bits, learning to tell time and stuff like that. Should I back off to doing the reading more incidental(like he still seems interested In reading flashcards if posted on the fridge or if I randomly point to them in books) and focus more on teaching other things like time, classical music and EK knowledge. And ideas would be helpful.
Thank you

Here're a couple other ideas to try.
Every night my son chooses a bedtime story for me to read to him. If he wants a second story I tell him sure but I'm kind of tired so you'll need to help me read the next one, then I read aloud pointing to the words  -- when I come across a word I know he knows or a word I want him to learn I'll say  'your turn' and he reads. I do this with as many books as he wants.

Another thing I have found works well it to have a conversation with someone when my son is within hearing distance, nearby playing. The purpose of the conversation is to enforce some positive behavior. For example my husband and I will be talking and I'll say something like 'Something  happened today that I really liked." My husband will say 'Oh what was that? Then I talk about whatever the behavior was that I want to praise whether it was good manners, reading or some ohter new ability - After doing this my son generally somes up with the idea 'all on his own' to do more of what ever it was that we praised.   

 
 
 

[waterdreamer]

Hey guys. I'm not sure what to do with my son. I started a full reading program with him in august and he was all into it. But now he is not focusing and not that into them anymore. But he loves EK bits, learning to tell time and stuff like that. Should I back off to doing the reading more incidental(like he still seems interested In reading flashcards if posted on the fridge or if I randomly point to them in books) and focus more on teaching other things like time, classical music and EK knowledge. And ideas would be helpful.
Thank you
Here're a couple other ideas to try.
Every night my son chooses a bedtime story for me to read to him. If he wants a second story I tell him sure but I'm kind of tired so you'll need to help me read the next one, then I read aloud pointing to the words  -- when I come across a word I know he knows or a word I want him to learn I'll say  'your turn' and he reads. I do this with as many books as he wants.

Another thing I have found works well it to have a conversation with someone when my son is within hearing distance, nearby playing. The purpose of the conversation is to enforce some positive behavior. For example my husband and I will be talking and I'll say something like 'Something  happened today that I really liked." My husband will say 'Oh what was that? Then I talk about whatever the behavior was that I want to praise whether it was good manners, reading or some ohter new ability - After doing this my son generally somes up with the idea 'all on his own' to do more of what ever it was that we praised. 

Thanks for the ideas This thread is a year old, and thankfully we have over come this, and my son is now a happy 5 year old who loves to read But I'm sure the advice you just gave will help someone else who reads this and is in the same situation I was in

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