Did you know only 1/3 of American kids are reading at grade level?
So what’s a doting parent to do to help their children read at an appropriate level?? Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool has some easy to implement ways to get your little one starting school on the right foot.
Speaking & Observing
The simple act of talking to your baby is the first step to early reading. Sounds easy, right? In the first year of life, the foundation of learning words and subsequently reading comes from a child’s interaction with their caregivers. The National Institute For Reading reports children who hear an abundance of words and sentences in their first year of life are already on the right track towards reading when they enter school. You don’t need special training or materials, just talk to your baby! Dictate what you’re doing at any given time and use specific words when describing an object are easy ways to talk to your baby. Not only will baby speak sooner, but it promotes their social development.
Books & Day-To-Day Reading Opportunities
Reading to your child frequently is foundational in their language development and then later, reading by themselves. But reading to your baby shouldn’t stop at just books.
Everyday items are great opportunities to introduce your child to reading as well. Say you need to go grocery shopping, read your list aloud as you’re making it, then at the store, show how the labels on items at the store match what you have on your list.
In the car? Roadsigns are perfect for early literacy practice. Saying words slow and annunciating their syllables help develop strong language skills too. Car rides are also another perfect time to talk with your children. Point out interesting things on your drive or have them tell you what they see.
Get Hooked On Phonics!
What are phonics anyway? Connecting the words we hear and say to the words that are read or seen is the easiest answer. So how would you average parent do that? Easy! Besides reading to your children, singing songs, reciting poetry and nursery rhymes are perfect for introducing your baby to the way letters and words are pronounced.
Writing and Spelling
Remember when your baby was young and everyone was concerned with fine motor skills? Well if you didn’t get a chance to work on those skills before now, don’t fret! Learning to write is the perfect activity to “fine tune” these lifelong skills. Things as simple as having your child write their name on their art projects, to even simple coloring can help prepare younger children for writing. And while you are practicing writing words, remember that writing promotes reading, and reading promotes writing. A two for one special!
Finally, take heed mommas, if you care enough to research how to prepare you kiddo for a successful school life, you’re already on the right track!
