Not a picture book either - it was one of those early readers with actual paragraphs. He came up to me after dinner asking for help with a word and I realized he'd been doing it mostly on his own for like 20 minutes. Sat there the whole time trying not to interrupt him. When he finished the last page he looked up at me like he'd just landed on the moon lol. Best moment I've had as a dad in a while.
That moment hits different. Congrats! We had the same thing with our 6yo and I literally teared up when I realized he was just... reading. No looking at pictures for clues. Just reading the words.
Which reader series is it? Because some of them are actually pretty engaging even for adults. My son is crushing through the Elephant & Piggie books right now and honestly they're funny.
Just wait until he discovers books he actually WANTS to read for the plot, not just because he can. That's when it gets really magical. Like he'll be reading instead of asking for screen time. It changes everything about bedtime.
The early readers slap when they finally get it. My son went from looking at pictures to actually trying to sound things out and I swear I got more excited than when he was born lmao. Make sure you don't go overboard pushing harder books or you'll kill the momentum
Dude this is huge. That moment when you realize they actually learned something and you weren't even watching? Gets me every time. Which series? My 6yo is stuck on the Biscuit books rn
This is the coolest dad-win. Better than any toy or achievement because it's his thing now. He figured it out on his own with that one word question. Frame that moment honestly.
wait so he was just silently working through paragraphs on his own before asking for help?? That's actually wild. Shows he's confident enough to try before giving up. That's bigger than just reading.
This is literally the best feeling as a parent. Congrats!! The fact that he came to you for ONE word shows he actually understood almost everything. That's the sign of real reading not just memorization
so did he keep going after you helped with the word or did he stop? I'm paranoid that if I help too much my kid will think he needs me for everything. But sounds like yours is independent about it which is cool
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This is what everyone says reading is supposed to feel like for parents. I'm over here with a 7yo who refuses to even try and your post is making me feel behind lol but genuinely happy for you. That's a W