We read a lot to DD and I know preschool does a lot more with letters and stuff. DD just occupies herself writing letters and words over and over at home, there's no real need for me to 'teach' her. I've started doing a short workbook on letters (Wow! I can read - I got it from preschool) and the like since she loves writing so much, but it's a page at a time and it sits there to get used about once a month when we're stuck inside and DD is antsy before dinner.

I only started on a couple of small things after one day last year when we drove into the shopping centre and DD (aged 3) piped up from the back seat, "Look Mum, that sign says c-o-l-e-s". For her, it's just something she likes doing and I'm following her lead. Same as she knows how to spell and write the names of most of her friends and gives me things with other words I completely don't expect and have certainly never taught (love, for one). She asks me to tell her the letter for words she doesn't know and I answer, but no more than that.

I think pencil grip is a developmental thing. DD had a tri-grip before she was two, but she was highly unusual. I've noticed in DD's preschool class that most of the girls have it perfectly but some of the boys not so much. DD just loves to write and draw, always has. And believe me, it has nothing to do with intelligence - one little boy can count well into the 100s and can barely write his name. It just isn't his 'thing'. It's a fine motor skill. I think you're better off encouraging his fine motor abilities with things like playdough and it will come to him.

I personally don't remember learning to read and I'm fairly sure I could read either before or pretty much as soon as I was at school. My Mum always took us to the library so I doubt I ever had an issue with not getting readers that I liked, I picked what I wanted. I do this for DD too. She can pick out whatever books she likes there.