I'm Unschooled. Yes, I Can Write.: How I Learned to Read and Write

Interesting read. I don’t have kids yet, but the author’s experience seems to come from a time when kids spent more time playing and interacting with each other, not glued to screens. These days a lot of young kids are on devices from a really early age, and from what I hear from friends who do have kids, many parents don’t pay much attention to that. So I’m not sure the idea that kids will just naturally learn to read still holds the same way. The environment has changed a lot

Some kids learn to read (mostly) on their own. Others need patient and systematic help.

My observation is that most reading education is designed for the 2nd group. Makes sense when you think about it.

Author's experience is common but not universal.

Agree, most will pick up when ready in a supportive environment. But what happens if they don't? Do you pull the pin at some point? When? Now you have a 12 year old non reader who you have not supported, with a lot of catching up to do. Likely will struggle at all kinds of academics. Fine if that's not a priority.

We have 3 kids with wide distribution of fluency. We don't regret offering formal reading education for the kids who needed it.