A major milestone most parents look forward to is the day their child begins to read and write. In our academically oriented society, literacy is highly valued and parents want their children to begin gaining literacy skills as early as possible. The best way to encourage early literacy is not to quiz children with flashcards, but to make literacy fun and relevant by including it in daily life.
Step 1
Read to your child daily. Encourage her to turn the pages, look at the pictures and ask questions about the story.
Step 2
Sing songs and read poems to your child, particularly those that involve word or phrase repetition and rhyming words.
Step 3
Talk to your child throughout the day. Every new experience has new vocabulary that comes with it, and your child will learn and absorb these new words.
Step 4
Provide ample time for your child to draw pictures and pretend to write. This will strengthen the fine motor muscles he will need to grip a pencil in later years.
Step 5
Introduce the alphabet in a fun and engaging way. For instance, put alphabet magnets on the refrigerator, cut letter shapes out of sand paper and sing different variations of alphabet songs.
Tips and Warnings
- Try not to hold your toddler to unrealistic expectations. Cognitively and physically, the average toddler is not ready to be fully literate. However, encouraging early literacy skills is always beneficial.
- If you have a question or concern about your child's cognitive development, consult your pediatrician.
Things You'll Need
- Children's books
- Paper
- Crayons
