Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Denver, CO

I have probably bragged about Declan's reading skills on this blog before. Reading is his thing. He just picked it up early and ran with it. Just like some kids pick up a football and go.

But the funny thing is, once it was time for him to start reading "Chapter Books," meaning books that are longer and are broken into chapters, he just wasn't into it. He was fully capable, he just didn't want to. And the funny thing was, all his classmates were completely pressuring themselves to have the ability to read chapter books, to have the skill, and here Declan had the skill but he did not have the interest. Go figure.

What I learned?

Kids will just do some things when they are ready.

For example, we were chatting with one of our good friends the other day, whose daughter is one of Declan's best friends, and who is about 6 months younger than Declan which puts her in Kindergarten while Declan is in First Grade. Declan's friend is bright and inquisitive, and apparently has no interest in reading. Her teacher is just pretty much stumped right now. And as we chatted more and more about it, we all agreed that Declan's friend would just decide one day was her day to turn of for reading.

Just like what happened for Declan and chapter books.

All of a sudden, just a few months ago, it just clicked for him. Now he loves reading chapter books. He loves the ability to get through a chapter and put his bookmark in and pick up on his adventure next time. He loves the feeling of being immersed in a bigger and broader story than he was used to.

And he just decided he was ready.