Ready to Read?... 5 Ways Help Your Preschooler on the Path to Literacy

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Yes, I know... it's still summer.  But, school is just around the corner!  And whether you have a bright-eyed 5 year-old ready for her first day of kindergarten or a "Daniel Tiger"-loving 3 year-old who would rather make mud pies, there are a few things YOU can already be doing to encourage the development of your chid's early literacy skills.  

​Here are just a few...

1. Be EXCITED about books!  
I have to admit.... this was a tough one for me when I had 3 kids under the age of 5.  Because I was TIRED... all. the. time.  And let's be honest, sometimes trying to read a story book to a 3-year old is like nailing jello to a tree.  But, do it anyway! Or go somewhere where somebody ELSE will do it (I kid!... sort of).  Here in Colorado Springs there are some great read-aloud programs/events at our local libraries.  And pick up some of these recommended books for toddlers and preschoolers while you're there!

2. Encourage Print Awareness  
Now that you've picked up some of those great books at the library.... Here are some things you can do with them to help your child understand that printed letters represent words that are spoken.  ​

• Let your child handle the book and turn the pages
• Read books with LARGE BOLD PRINT (see what I did there)
• Use your finger to point out words as you move across the page
• Point out signs in your environment.... this is a good one if you were smart enough to name your child "Max" (think about it... OfficeMax, CarMax, and my personal favorite, TJMaxx)

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3. Encourage Phonological Awareness 
These are some ways to help your child understand that words are made up of smaller sounds. 

• Identify initial sounds in words ("What begins with the /n/ sound?... nest, nose, necklace, NAP-TIME!") 
• Sound to sound matching ("Do 'net' and 'nap' begin with the same letter?")
• Rhyming ("What words rhyme with 'nap'?")
• Phoneme counting ("How many sounds do you hear in the word 'nap'?")
• (Don't underestimate the power of suggestion)

4. Introduce New Vocabulary 
 Label things!  Any book will help with this, but choosing ones with words not used in daily conversation and nonfiction books are especially helpful.  But, don't limit yourself to books! Grocery shopping is my FAVORITE thing to do with toddlers and preschoolers (are you sensing my sarcasm?)  But seriously, take a few extra minutes walking through the produce aisle and ask your child some questions.... 

• "Do you see a green fruit, a red vegetable?"
• "Do you think this lemon is sweet or sour?"
• "Does this grow on a tree or in the ground?"
• "Can we eat this raw or should we cook it?"​
• "Does this fruit have a peel?"
• Pick a new exotic food and take home and try!

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5. Practice Narrative Skills  

• Have your child describe things and events and talk with them about what YOU are doing.  This is great to do while you're cooking or folding laundry...

"Look! Mommy's folding your shirts again... just like yesterday... and the day before."  

• Read stories with a beginning, middle, and end and ask them to retell the story with prompts like, "what happens next?"  
• Ask “Wh-” questions that cannot be answered with a simple “Yes” or “No”.  

"Who are the people in this story?", "Where are they going?", "Why did they do that?"
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These are just a few things YOU can do EVERYDAY to encourage the development of your child's pre-literacy skills.  Now get going to the library and get some books!
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Well... maybe after nap time.
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