We all agree on the importance of literacy for every individual. Literacy does not begin in school. It begins at home. Many research studies support the idea that parent involvement is the number one predictor of early literacy success and academic achievement. So what can parents do to assist the beginning literacy process of their children?
Here are some suggestions:
1. Avoid Baby Talk
Although baby talks do sound really cute, and it is tempting to do, parents should avoid baby talking their young children. They gain better receptive and expressive vocabulary when we name objects as they are called.
2. Read with Your Children
Set a time daily to read interesting books and stories with them. Take picture walks and let your children use the picture clues in the book before reading the story.
3. Encourage Prediction
Before you read the book, ask the child what he thinks the story is about based on the pictures on the title page.
4. Point at Each Word as You Read and Model Fluency
When children start learning how to sound out words, it requires mental effort. The more mental effort, the less consciousness there is. Readers who struggle decoding the sounds of words have less comprehension because instead of meaning, their mental focus is on sounding out the word. Pointing to the words during reading will help the child easily recognize high frequency words, which will later on develop to instant decoding and better comprehension.
Young children are like sponges. They model what they see and hear from adults. How you read and pronounce words become ingrained in the child’s mind, so model fluency and correct pronunciation.
5. Be Attentive and Engaged
Enthusiasm is contagious. If the children see that their parents are eager to read, they’ll also develop the love for it.
6. Recite and Sing Nursery Rhymes Together
Reciting nursery rhymes give children oral support and help in the development of their hearing awareness. Nursery rhymes are integral part of children’s pre-literacy skills and one pillar of their cognitive development.
7. Draw with Them
Writing letters over and over again can be boring. One way to help young learners develop a good pencil grip is through drawing and coloring with them. Incorporate writing some letters in your drawing activity. This is a fun way for children to practice writing. You are also developing their creativity at the same time.
Teaching Kit 