What age should kids learn to read?

Daily reading...one book or a few...before bed or as a special daytime activity...does more for your child to learn to read than anything. And it doesn't take a whole lot of effort...more patience than anything...the child at first loves it because they get to cuddle up to you and have special one on one time, then they get interested in the pictures and figuring out what is going to happen...so don't just read, ask questions, look at the pictures that go with the text, let the child turn the pages, as you are reading follow the words with your fingertip to let the child know that the text is what has meaning...as they get older and draw pictures you can ask them what their picture is about and write THEIR story to go with it...all good ways to let he child know that words have meaning and the pictures go with the words, etc. etc. At least shoot for one book a day at this age. Also visiting the library for story time is a good thing.

NOTE: preschools do teach letters and sounds---but we usually only have the child for a FRACTION of the time they are awake and alert and ready to learn. Teaching is a partnership between the school and the parents, and one cannot succeed without the support of the other.