Why a veteran literacy expert wants schools to delay teaching children to read

A veteran literacy expert is calling for the teaching of reading to be delayed in schools until grade two.

Teacher and speech pathologist, Dr Susan Galletly, says teaching children to read in prep is making them anxious and increasing the likelihood they’ll develop learning difficulties.

Press PLAY below to hear why Dr Galletly 

She’s advocating for two years of “play-based learning” before reading is taught at school.

“It doesn’t mean that lots of kids won’t learn to read. Over half of Finnish kids are reading before they start school … it’s more that in terms of when we teach all the kids lets hold off and provide the enrichment they need,” he told Ross and Russel.

“We would reduce the odds of kids having learning difficulties immensely.”