Bring on the Challenge!

A large struggle people have in working with their kids, is they underestimate what their children are capable of. For example, I've heard so many times from people not even bothering to teach their kids the alphabet until three because, "they aren't ready for that yet." Even worse, I've overheard parents say, they will wait and let the teachers teach it to them, because they aren't a teacher. Please, don't do that!!!

How do you know until you try?

My boys have always kept me on their toes on what they can learn, even when I know good and well that they have continuously learned above typical levels for their age. So even when I may think that they aren't ready for something, I go ahead and try it out. I always up the challenge, and they love it!

When my oldest was two, he was starting to drive me crazy with the alphabet a bit. He had known it for a while along with the sounds and anything ABCs was his #1 toy option for him. He would arrange the alphabet backwards and forwards, and do so much with it. My first thought was, "He isn't ready for sight words! He's only 2!" I felt like a crazy person thinking about it, but I knew I had to try. My teaching instincts kept telling me to push him further, because I knew he craved for more.

So, I printed out a few cards off on colored paper and started off asking him the letters on the card. Of course that was a super easy activity for him. Then I said the word. I said it a few times. I used it in a sentence or make a silly phrase for it. Then I would go on to the next card until I did about 5 cards. Then, I would start again. When I started over, he remembered 4 out of 5 words. I was so proud! I continued on til I did about 15 words and started all over again. He picked up about 70% of those words and knew the rest with a little help by restating the phrase I used without using the word.

The next day I got out the same 15 cards and tried it again. He knew 14 out of 15! Of course I praised him and showed him how proud I was and he was so excited to have a new challenge. He loved the attention and craved for more. We did about 30 cards that day and then video called my parents to show them. That fueled the fire even more.

Make a big deal out of it! It's a wonderful thing!

After he'd master the cards, I'd print more. Before I knew it, my oldest was doing 5th and grade sight words by the time he was 3. I started printing lists of words, and started adding into the difficulty by asking him what the word meant or to use it in a sentence. Of course during that time we purchased a lot of Dr. Seuss board books and prompted him to read the books, since he knew the sight words. We already read a lot to him, but these all had the words he had been learning and would assist in any word he needed. His reading level grew exponentially! Of course I challenged him in other ways too. He knows his planets, states and capitals, and so much more.

My oldest is now 4 and in preschool. He recently started trying the series, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." We got the book from the library, and he picked, "The Long Haul" as his first one. Every day, I sit with him after nap, dinner, or whenever he's ready to read and he flies right through it. Every once in a while I need to better explain a word to him, and he continues on. We are nearing halfway. Scholastic rates the reading level for the book to be Grades 5-8. He keeps his dad updated on what's going on in the story and will tell his grandparents too so I know he is comprehending the material.

Did I expect my kid to be this far by now? Absolutely not. However, because I always added to his challenge and didn't just become content with where he was, he is at a level that has the school in a complete jaw drop. When he gets into the upper grades, reading will definitely not be holding him back, which will open up so many opportunities for him to grow.

Are you ready for a challenge?