The best possible time to teach your child how to read is when she is still a baby (under 2 years of age), reports Child-Central.com, as this can help her learn quickly and enjoy school more when she starts attending. By introducing the written language in a large enough format for your baby to be able to see, you can teach her how to read in a way that feels as natural to her as learning how to talk. It is important that your baby enjoys learning how to read, however, so do not force her to do so. Instead, approach it with a sense of fun.
Step 1
Cut poster boards into 22- by 6-inch-long strips. Buy the poster board from an office supply company in packages. Take these packages to a place like Kinko's, where the staff will have the equipment to cut as many as 100 poster board sheets at a time.
Step 2
Write simple words on the cards in large enough letters using a wide tip (at least 1-inch) marker to do so. Begin by writing words that your baby hears a lot, like mommy, daddy and her name. Create as many word cards as you can think of. Choose categories for your words, such as color words, animal names or types of foods.
Step 3
Select the first five words you would like your baby to learn. Put them into a set. For example, a color set could include: red, black, white, blue and pink.
Step 4
Sit facing your baby with a set of five word cards. Enthusiastically announce to your baby that "you are going to learn how to read now!" You can also hold your baby in your lap to read the cards to her.
Step 5
Show your baby the cards, reading the words aloud as quickly as possible to hold her attention. Try to do all five word cards in a set within five seconds. Encourage your baby as you show her each card.
Step 6
Put the cards away somewhere and resume your normal routine. You can bring the cards back out in an hour to have a second reading session as described in steps 3 through 5. Do one set three times per day at the most.
Step 7
Start showing your baby a new set of cards the following day.
Step 8
Begin creating new card sets.
Step 9
Buy some large, colored block letters that you can use to spell out simple words for your baby to be able to see the process of spelling out a word. Examples of words you can spell include cat, bat and rat. Have pictures (from books or ones that you draw) to be able to show your baby what each word signifies visually.
Tips and Warnings
- You can create more engaging card sets by incorporating words you have observed your baby trying to say. You can also create card sets that introduce your baby to the words used to describe things that are always around her. For example, your set could include: table, chair, couch, carpet and lamp.
References
- Child-Central: Teach Baby to Read
- Doman, Glenn; How to Teach Your Baby to Read; November 1, 1993
