You, Yes You, Can Prepare Your Child to Read

Here at the Everett Library we love to read and we love helping your child learn to love reading as well.  However, the best teacher for your child is you! Many of the activities you do every day with your child can  actually be great teaching opportunities.  You don't need a Master's degree in Education to learn how to prepare your child to be a successful reader.  If you just do the five things listed below (many of which you are probably already doing) you will be preparing your child for success!

TALK: Children learn language by listening to parents and caregivers talk.  They hear new words and what they mean.  

* Make sure your child talks with you, not just listens to you talk

* Repeat what your child says and elaborate on it with new words

* Talk as you go about daily activities like grocery shopping, explain what you are seeing and doing

 

SING: Songs are a fun way to learn about language! They help children learn about the different sounds that make up words.

* Sing the alphabet song to learn about letters.

* Sing nursery rhymes so children hear the different sounds in words.

* Clap along with rhythms in songs so children hear the syllables in words.

READ: Reading with your child is the single best thing you can do to help prepare your child to read.  Reading helps increase vocabulary and knowledge   It teaches children how print looks and how words are laid out across a page.  Reading together also helps children learn to love reading, which increase their desire to want to learn to read themselves.

* Read with your child every day.

* Make reading interactive. Ask questions about what is happening in pictures and predict what will happen next.

* Use books to teach new words. As you read words that may be unfamiliar to your child talk about what they mean.

WRITE: Reading and writing go together.  Children can learn pre-reading skills through writing activities.

* Writing starts with scribbles and other marks.  Encourage this by providing many opportunities to draw and write

* Children can "sign" their names to drawings, which helps them understand that print represents words

* Talk to your children about what they draw and write stories together.  This helps connect the spoken and printed language.

PLAY: Children learn a lot of language through play.  Play helps children express themselves and put thoughts into words.

 language by listening to parents and caregivers talk.  They hear new words and what they mean.  

* Give your child plenty of playtime.  The best kinds of play are unstructured, when children can use their imagination and create stories about what they are doing

* Encourage children to make up stories using stuffed animals.  This helps them develop narrative skills.

* Pretend to read a book. Have your child tell a story based on the pictures in the book.  This develops vocabulary and other language skills.

*The information in this post was gained from Every Child Ready to Read @ your library.  More information can be found by going to www.everychildreadytoread.org or talking to the children's librarians at Everett Library.