With all of the distractions kids have to deal with these days, from tv commercials to the internet to cartoons to video games, how can reading compete? How do you get your kids to read and why should you? Well, reading is an important activity for your child’s brain. The act of reading itself causes nuerons in your brain to make new connections, helping your brain to process information faster and clearer, making you more intelligent. Along with that, of course there is the fact that the more you read the more you learn and the more you know. Reading enriches your child’s imagination, and enhances their concentration skills. The act of reading with your kids also creates a bond between you and your child, it gives you a chance to spend quality time with your child and gets your child excited about reading.
My son just turned 3 years old last month and he can read. I don’t mean he will sit down with a novel or anything, but he is able to read and recognize all of the lowercase and uppercase letters of the alphabet (could do this by the time he was 2), he can spell and write quite a few words (including his name, sister’s name, Mommy, Daddy, bus, cat, moon, cow, jump, milk, guitar, goodnight and lots more), he reads words on signs, packaging and in books. He reads and spells his word spelling bee style- spelling the letters first, then repeating the word. At night, before tucking in, I read him a book, then he reads one to me-either Goodnight Moon or Brown Bear, brown Bear, What do you See? I already see the intelligence in him. He understands concepts very well, has a great imagination and an awesome memory. While I have always been a reader and have been passionate about reading and writing my whole life, I ended up sparking that love of reading in my son without even meaning to. I never really intended to teach him to read before he could talk, this all just kind of happened. I’d like to share with you the things that I did with him from birth so maybe you can try these activities with your child.
#1 Sing the ABCs
When my son was born I didn’t know all the words to any nursery rhymes, so I sang him the alphabet song. I sang it to him when he was crying to calm him down, I sang it to him when he was happy and I played games with him, signing the letters as I sang, or making a face for each letter. I firmly believe that this was the number one thing I did for him. We still sing the alphabet song, taking turns as we drive, go for walks, while he is sitting on the potty or if I am cooking. He sings, then says “Your turn, Mommy!” then I sing, and we go back and forth.
#2 Show your child letters
The funnest way to familiarize your child with letters is to get a set of those refrigerator magnets from a toy store or dollar store. Together, line them up in order, and point to each letter as you say the alphabet out loud. Also point to the letter and make the long and short sounds. You don’t have to do this for a long amount of time, just a few minutes each day is really enough.
#3 Point out and spell out letters and words in every day life
The first thing my son read out loud was when he was 1 1/2, he toddled over to his Jeep brand playpen and read “J-E-E-P” on the side. Amazed, I repeated the letters and told him what they spelled “Jeep.” He was delighted, and started pointing out letters wherever he saw them. When you see everyday words- such as “Milk” on the milk carton or “Play” on the vcr, point them out and spell them for your child. Pretty soon, they will do this on their own.
#4 Write together
While your young child may be able to spell or read letters, sometimes motor skills take a while to catch up. Don’t expect them to be able to write their letters right away. What you can do is sit together with paper and crayons and show your child how to write letters. When we did this, my son would tell me a letter, and I would write it. After a while, we did this with whole words. He has just recently gotten up the nerve to try writing himself, and while his letters aren’t perfect, they are comprehensible. When he writes something, even if I know what it says, I ask him what it says and get him to point out each letter for me. Then, I congratulate him on the great job and tell him to keep it up!
#5 Read books to your child
Although this seems like a no-brainer it can be tricky. When children are really small, even babies, they don’t seem to be paying attention to you, but read to them anyway, because they actually are! Read at least 15 minutes a day with your child, if it is hard to find time, start with making it a bedtime ritual- read a few small books as part of your tucking in time. If you are reading the newspaper and come across a child-friendly article, read it out loud. When your child is around 2, you can also get waterproof books, and read to your child in the bathtub, or read books while he or she is sitting on the potty. If someone else is driving, you can read to your family in the car. When your child is a little older, you can start reading chapter books before tucking in- a chapter a night. This is something my mother did with us when we were kids, and I always looked forward to having a little bit of her time to myself at night along with the story.
#6 Purchase books or reading toys for your child
If it is a gift Holiday, or you are going to buy your child a toy, look for something that encorporates reading. Get simple letter blocks or felt letters and a felt board. You can also look for electronic toys that spell words or say letters out loud when you press the corresponding buttons. You can get great interactive reading toys right now. When your kids are a little older, you can get them more advanced electronic toys or Flash cards. Flash cards are great- you can get ones with uppercase and lowercase letters, with full words and little pictures on them, or sets that you put together to spell simple 3-letter words.
#7 Surround Your Child With Books
Give your child his own bookcase and fill it with great books. You can get lots of books for a little price at used bookstores, yard sales and flea markets. Ask for books for gifts. Make sure you have your own books around, too. The more books in the house, the better. Invest in a good set of encyclopedias. Let your child see you reading your own books, newspapers and magazines.
#8 Take your Child to the library
Make the library a regular stop for your family. Whether it is weekly, monthly, or just whenever you have the time, make sure you visit the library with your child. Let your child get their own card (most libraries have youth cards), pick out a few books on their own, and bring them up to the desk. Many libraries have free programs- reading incentive programs, Babies and Books programs, Storytimes, Afterschool programs, Family programs and puppet Shows. Ask your local library what programs they have running and register your child for a program in their age group.
That’s it- that’s what I have done with my son to get him reading- and it really works! Take the time to do these things with your child, and you will not only have a great little reader on your hands, you will be spending more time with your child and forming a great bond!
