If only that were a real government official act or law established in schools. Some children might not feel so pressured. Yes, reading is important; and starting early is even more important. One thing, however, teachers and parents need to keep in mind is that every child learns at a different pace. This is almost common knowledge.
Reading demonstrates a specific type of learning geared toward visuals and language processing. It’s just a matter of fact that some children are better on an auditory turf; and some still are what are commonly called as kinetic learners, those who learn by touching and feeling or even a better term, experiencing. One thing is for sure: all children eventually learn the importance of reading, one way or another. The key is to allow them the chance to learn at their own pace.
When a child falls behind on the ‘reading level’, panic inevitably sets in. Parents worry. Teachers get concerned. You can see it all around the board, and in looking at adults it’s plain to see that you’d find many perfectly intelligent and capable individuals who simply do not like to read. They sure did learn to read, whatever their pace might’ve been. But they hate it! That’s normal. It’s just as normal as another individual who reads (and also writes) on a daily basis. Those individuals are called ‘writers’. Their gift is in words.
Recognizing that every child is unique, some carrying an inner gift for words and others carrying an inner gift for lines and colors as in visual arts, is essential to the nurturing of young minds. Know that while every child shouldn’t be “left behind” as the law says, every child shouldn’t be shuffled into the same box either. Give our children the freedom to develop reading skills and other skills in education at the pace they’re destined to develop them. Believe it: our children would be much happier. Especially with themselves.