Early Reading May Be Harmful

04/30/2014

The ultimate test for a leader is not whether he or she makes smart decisions and takes decisive action, but whether he or she teaches others to make smart decisions and take decisive action.
Noel M. Tichy

Speaking at an early learning conference at Oxford University Lilian Katz warned that pressuring children into learning to read before the age of five could hamper their long-term development. Katz observed...

"The evidence we have so far is that if you start formal teaching of reading very early, the children do well in tests; but when you follow them up to the age of 11 or 12, they don't do better than those who have had a more informal approach. The evidence also suggests starting formal instruction early is more damaging for boys than girls. Boys are expected to be active and assertive, but during formal instruction they are being passive not active. In most cultures, girls learn to put up with passivity earlier and better than boys."

Professor Katz's comments follow the [UK] Government's announcement to spend £600 million on improving play areas in nurseries.

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