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My KidSource - ToddlersSample of our Daily Parenting Newsletter |
This is a sample of our parenting newsletter for parents of toddlers (ages 1 to 3). It will be sent via e-mail to registered subscribers. It's free and easy to subscribe. For another sample - see A Parenting Tip
Reading Activities To Do With Your Toddler
Helping Your Child Get Ready for School
However busy we are as parents, there are lots of things we can do to help our children get ready for school--little things that make a big difference. Many of them cost little or nothing and can be done as you go about your daily routines.
The single most important way for children to develop the knowledge they need to succeed in reading is for you to read aloud to them--beginning early. Here are some reading activities for you to do with your toddler.
What you'll needWhat to do
- Good books
- A children's dictionary (preferably a sturdy one)
- Paper, pencils, crayons, markers
The ability to read and understand makes for better students and leads to better job opportunities and a lifetime of enjoyment.
- Read aloud to your child every day. You can get her used to the sound of your voice and used to seeing and touching books.
- To start out, use board books with no words or just a few words. Point to the colors and the pictures and say their names. Simple books can teach children things that will later help them learn to read. For example, they learn about the structure of language--that there are spaces between the words and that the print goes from left to right.
- Tell stories. Encourage your child to ask questions and talk about the story. Ask her to predict what will come next. Point to things in books that she can relate to in her own life: "Look at the picture of the penguin. Do you remember the penguin we saw at the zoo?"
- Look for reading programs. If you aren't a good reader, programs in your community like Even Start can provide opportunities for you to improve your own reading and to read with your child. Friends and relatives can also read to your child, and senior citizen volunteers are available in many communities to do the same.
- Buy a children's dictionary--if possible, one that has pictures next to the words. Then start the "let's look it up" habit.
- Make writing materials available.
- Watch educational TV. Programs such as "Sesame Street" and "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" help your child learn the alphabet and the sounds they represent.
- Visit the library often. Begin making weekly trips to the library when your child is very young. See that your child gets a library card as soon as possible. Many libraries issue cards to children as soon as they can print their names (you'll have to countersign for them).
- Read yourself. What you do sets an example for your child.
For More Information:
For more activities: Helping Your Child Get Ready for School
For a list of great books, including a list of books for toddlers:
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/getready.html
Timeless classics
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/timeless.html
Source:
Nancy Paulu
U.S. Department of Education
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