Children should learn first about the more important things in life

IT’S NOT uncommon for parents to try and give their children a headstart by teaching them to read before starting school.

Whether it’s simply learning the alphabet or actually reading simple sentences, the thought is that the children will have an easier time in the classroom.

But one mum has now spoken out to explain why she’s deliberately not teaching her son to read before he starts school.

British stand-up comedian and writer Crystal Lowery ( below) wrote a lengthy post on Facebook explaining why she’s focussing on developing her five-year-old son’s creative, explorative, and communication skills instead.

She reads to her son a lot, but is not yet teaching him to read because “he’s too busy learning other things”, she wrote. “He’s learning how to be a good sport. He’s learning how to build.

“From blocks, to sticks, to Legos, he feels the weight of the different materials in his little sausage fingers, and examines the physical integrity of the various structures he has made.

“He’s learning how to exercise. He chases the dog, plays tag, climbs on playground equipment, dances (well), and practises karate (poorly).

“He’s going to need his body for a long time, so he builds his muscles through activity instead of sitting at a desk all day.”

And Lowery went on to explain how her son is learning how to take care of things, how to be creative, how to apologise, how to forgive and “that the key to happiness is to focus on his blessings rather than complaining about what he doesn’t have”.

Lowery believes that her approach will mean her son arrives at school with lots of important other capabilities.

These inclde: “The ability to try new things without getting frustrated.

“The ability to make friends, even though friendship can be a messy business.

“The ability to listen to others and follow instructions. “The ability to problem-solve. “And the ability to concentrate on a task.”

Lowery points out that much of what children learn can’t be measured by a test, but she isn’t concerned with teaching him academics yet.

“Today he has more important things to learn.” – The Independent