What could be a more important gift to your children than a love of reading? Family Literacy Day is January 27. Here are my thoughts about ways to help your children love reading and writing:
BABIES:
- Words are the foundation of literacy so talk to your baby.
- Look at books with simple pictures. Buy board books, so they don’t get torn. Babies love touchy feely books (so do I!)
- Let them play with things that help develop fine motor skills such as pouring water, putting things in and out of containers. Occupational therapists are always keen on developing the pincer grasp. Think of the fingers you use to open a clothes peg-these are the same ones you use for writing. Peg boards are good for this.
PRESCHOOLERS:
- Go to the library regularly. Most libraries have story book time-they know how to make it fun. Great for listening skills.
- Make book reading a part of the daily night time routine.
- Choose picture books and let your child tell you the story by looking at the pictures.
- Encourage your child to draw, paint and colour-have lots of washable felt markers and scrap paper around.
EARLY READERS:
- Talk about letters and words. Play rhyming games.
- Allow you child to take books they he chooses out of the library.
- Listen to your child read books with simple words. Continue to read more difficult books to your child.
- Keep encouraging drawing, but now add words to the picture. Have your child print the words or help if needed.
PRETEENS:
- Continue to read to your child or take turns reading great classics. How about Treasure Island or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?
- Give books for gifts or get a subscription to a kids magazine like National Geographic Kids or OWL.
- Comic books are okay-anything that keeps them reading.
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