We have a good kind of problem: Since learning to read, Mary (3-3/4) won't be quiet. Previously she could sit through an hour-long Mass quietly. No longer!
Like any new reader, she reads by sounding things out loud. During Mass, she is sounding out the Scripture written on the walls and the words written in the missal. During family rosary, she is sounding out the words written in the rosary booklet: "Hail Mary, full of grace . . . Mama! I found a rule-breaker! 'The, the'!" While we drive down the road, she is in the back seat, sounding out signs. While passing time in the silent waiting room, she sounds out words from magazines and books: "Mama, I sounded out 'Madagascar'! What is 'Madagascar'?!" Yesterday afternoon, during a (rapturous, angelic-sounding!) children's Latin choir performance, she was sounding out words in the program. She disappears into her bedroom and I find her sitting in a chair, sounding out words in one of her children's books.
And when I take away any written material from her in an effort to emphasize that "this is not reading time! be quiet!" she starts saying words from her mind and encoding the letters: "Jaaaaam, jaaaaam, J-A-M! Mama, I spelled 'jam'!" And you know her triumphant announcement is loud, the way children are loud--including during Mass or other solemn moments. I really don't know what else to do because the continual reminders, verbally or tapping her lips, aren't working. I hate to punish her for the exploding joy of learning to read--plus I've done so and that isn't working so far!
Meanwhile, John (5-3/4) is reading well and slightly more advanced than Mary, but hasn't expanded beyond when I tell him to read from his primer. He reads well but isn't yet interested in the fact that reading allows him to "crack the code," to pick up a book that interests him and read it. For now, he'd rather bring Mama or Daddy the book and ask us to read it to him!
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