It begins early. There are simple activities that you can do to build a strong foundation and love of reading. The experiences that children have at home and school play a critical role in literacy development. Research tells us that oral language skills, understanding of the alphabet and knowledge of print concepts are the biggest predictors of children’s future reading ability. Families can help children build a strong foundation by turning everyday moments into learning. This happens everywhere— the car, walking to the bus, making dinner in the kitchen, going to the grocery store, going to the playground and many more places during the day.
You Can:
- Talk. Talk. Talk. Use back and forth conversation.
- Ask questions about what your child is doing, seeing or hearing.
- Extend your child’s language. When they say car, say the red car.
- Make a rhyme (the cat is fat, or the hat is on the cat).
- Sing aloud.
- Read or tell a story aloud.
- Point to an object, name it and put a label on it.
- Get down on their eye level and talk or play.
- Snuggle up with a book in a nook.
- Repeat sounds and words they say.
- Describe the color, shape and texture of what you see (the carrot is orange).
- Smile, laugh and have fun together.
- Play I Spy the letter Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff and so on.
- Visit the library as a family.
- Put the ABCs all around.
Create a language and print-rich environment at home that fosters a love of reading and learning. Make it fun!