What Age Should a Child Learn to Read, Write and Do Math?
Learning to read, write and do math is always a milestone in kids that parents treasure. However, it is important to note that each child may achieve these milestones at different times. As a result, a delay may not be easy to recognize, but in general, most children learn to
- Read when aged four to five years old.
- Write when aged six to 10 years old.
- Do math when aged six to 10 years old.
What are the reading milestones parents should look out for in their child?
Kids start to have some pre-reading skills by the time they turn four years old. Reading milestones at different age include
Ages four to five years: Learning pre-reading skills
By this age, children learn to
- Substitute words in rhyming patterns.
- Write some letters of the alphabet.
- Pronounce simple words.
- Form vocabulary.
Ages six to 10 years: Learning to read
By this age, children learn to
- Read simple books by mid-first grade.
- Know about 100 common words.
- Read independently by third grade.
- Sound out unfamiliar words when reading.
- Enjoy various types of stories.
Ages 11 to 13 years: Reading to learn
By this age, children learn to
- Read to learn about their hobbies and other interests.
- Understand what they have read.
- Read fiction, including chapter books and nonfiction, including magazines and newspapers.
What are the writing milestones parents should look out for in their child?
Writing is a complex skill that involves more than sitting with a pen and paper. Reading and writing complement each other. Hence, kids learn the foundation of writing when they learn to read. Writing milestones at different ages include
Ages 6 to 10 years: Learning to write
By this age, children learn to
- Write consonant sounds (by the end of kindergarten).
- Write clearly and easily.
- Write stories with a little detail by second grade.
Ages 11 to 13 years: Learning to write
By this age, children learn to
- Use the correct grammar and punctuation most of the time.
- Write varied sentence structures, including simple, compound and complex sentences.
- Write lucidly.
- Use references from different sources to write compositions.
- Write at a good speed.
What are the math learning milestones parents should look out for in their child?
Math also requires a distinctive set of skills. It also involves a variety of concepts and covers a broad vocabulary. Math skills may differ in children. They could be strong in some types of math but weak in others. For example, your child may be a whiz at fractions but slow while solving a situational problem. Here’s how math skills typically develop as kids age.
Ages 6 to 10 years: Learning math
By this age, children learn to
- Count and understand numbers.
- Identify basic shapes, such as triangles and squares, by first grade.
- Understand fractions and word problems by fourth grade.
- Tell time and understand the value of different denominations of money.
- Count to 100 by ones, twos, fives and 10s.
- Do basic addition and subtraction up to 20.
Ages 11 to 13 years: Learning math
By this age, children learn to
- Solve beginner’s algebra and geometry.
- Work with easy fractions, decimals and percents.
- Perform more complex math problems with multiple steps.
- Understand concepts of weights, measures and percentages completely.
