Most children are ready to begin reading between the ages of four and six, especially if they are being exposed to simple words in preschool or kindergarten class, and on educational television. Here are some steps which you can take to inspire kids to explore the reading process:
- Read. Reading books to children sparks their interest. Choose books with large, bold print, so kids can easily distinguish among letters and words. As you are reading, stop periodically and ask the child to sound out and recognize small, basic words such as "it," "the," "and," and "we."
- Act it out. When you read, use different voices for different characters. Act out the story with the child by sharing the parts. Kids will then feel more connected with the words.
- Before bed. Let children stay up a little later with the understanding that they spend that time reading in bed.
- Play with words. Create some flashcards with colorful pictures to help them learn some basic words.
- Write a letter. Ask the children to contribute various lines to a letter for grandparents or other family members and friends.
- Post office fun. Have the children dictate letters to themselves. They can send off these letters, and when the letters return they can read what they wrote.
- Special presents. Give children books as gifts. Choose books with lots of color and easy words, so that practicing reading is fun.
- Books on tape. Parents can make video or audio tapes for themselves reading a story slowly. This way, children can look at the book on their own while hearing the actual words out loud.
- Never punish. Do not force a child to read or write for a set amount of time. Encourage them to take an interest in reading, but don't make it a chore.
- Remember: Reading skills and, more importantly, a basic interest in reading, are all built early in life. If you help a child develop that interest, you can swing wide open the doors to the entire world for that child, a gift which will last a lifetime.
From the June, 1994, issue of The Teddy Bear.
