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Early Years (2-6)
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Most children usually don't begin to read until they are in kindergarten or first grade. However, there are many fun and simple exercises you can do with children before they even enter preschool that will help them when it comes time to start reading on their own. You've probably developed daily activities. If not, consider introducing a few into your routine, because they can help your child develop phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate sounds within words. For example, it's just as important for a child to recognize that "hat" starts with "h" as it is to know what the "h" sounds like. Research shows that children who have a phonemic awareness prior to learning to read are much stronger readers in the long run. Another skill your young child can develop long before she actually reads is an awareness of the concepts of print, a basic understanding of which direction print flows, what spaces between words mean, etc. Whether you have a baby with a 2-minute attention span, a 3-year-old who likes to hear the same story over and over, or a 5-year-old who's eager to read on his own, here are suggestions to help get the process started. Take time to rhyme "Phonemic awareness is a strong predictor of eventual reading success," says Dr. MaryEllen Vogt, president-elect of the International Reading Association and a professor of early literacy at Cal State Long Beach. She says one of the best things parents can do to promote reading in their home is to introduce a child to nursery rhymes. "All the silly poems and rhymes are incredibly important, because they help children understand that words are made up of component sounds." Even though classic nursery rhymes may sometimes seem a bit old-fashioned, the benefits they bring to your child's reading development are anything but outdated. Even a quick rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to a sleepy infant helps open the doors to phonemic awareness. Children enjoy the rhythm and rhyme of these poems, and as they get older you may even notice that the rhyming words are the first ones they memorize. As your child's vocabulary increases, there are other opportunities for rhyming games. Maybe you've see the current TV commercial that recommends reading the grocery list with your child and coming up with rhyming items. You can create your own lists according to the activities you enjoy: a walk to the park, a trip to the zoo, naming family members, or even baking cookies. You might be surprised how many things sound like "sugar," according to a 4-year-old. Play along the way One of the key skills emerging readers need to polish is the ability to compare, match and sort. However, they can master these skills in lots of ways that don't even involve the alphabet. In fact, by looking at daily chores and activities in a "playful" way, you can kill two birds with one stone. For example, Vogt suggests having your preschooler help you with the laundry by pairing up all the socks. "This is a good skill for them because they have to look carefully and compare. That's what they need when they're looking at words and seeing patterns," she says. Even putting away the groceries, (learning to recognize labels), or watching for common signs (like McDonald's) as you drive around on daily errands can help a child learn to read. It's called an "environmental print." Like pictures, easily recognized signs and labels provide clues your child depends on when he begins reading by himself. It's not always rude to point Even when you read aloud to very young children, you can help them understand how books "work" by pointing as you go. Point to the title as you read it; after all, it signifies the beginning of the book and it's a concept that your child needs to know. Point at the pictures that correspond to the print. Again, they are clues to what the words say. Even if you don't have perfect hand-eye coordination, moving your finger along the text as you read it will help your child recognize that there are spaces between words as well as punctuation at the end of sentences. Again, again and again Babies, toddlers and preschoolers all like repetition, so it shouldn't be a surprise that they want to hear you read the same book over and over. Even though they may know "Good Night Moon" by heart, and it may sound like a broken record in the back of your mind, go ahead, read it again. Repetition is very helpful, according to Kathy Burns, a reading content specialist for the Costa Mesa School District. When your child is reading by himself, Burns says to continue the repetition if your child likes it. "Reading a story through two or three times helps in several ways," she says. "It helps a child feel more comfortable, helps their fluency and intonation, and helps them recognize punctuation." Practice what you teach One of the best ways to help your child learn to read is to be a reader yourself. Do your kids see you read the paper in the morning, or a magazine in the evening? If you think reading is fun and interesting, your kids will pick up on that and want to try it themselves. Finally, even when they can read by themselves, don't stop reading aloud to them. Not only is it a great way to help them build their vocabulary and understand the context of more challenging words, it stimulates their imagination and best of all it's a great opportunity for bonding. Michele Piazzoni is a freelance writer and mother of three living in Folsom. She is a regular contributor to The Early Years and Getting Started. To reach her: mpiazzoni@hotmail.com. |
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