Helping prepare your child for a lifetime of success begins earlier every year. Parents can no longer take a back seat to their child’s learning. In fact, your child’s academic success can be listed as one of your top priorities as a parent. Along with potty training them, teaching them how to use their manners, and in general giving them the confidence they need to enter the educational arena, you also have the obligation of preparing them for reading too. In fact, kindergarten now focuses a lot on reading. You can foster this learning milestone by taking some necessary steps before your child enters school and while they are in school.
One of the primary steps you can take with your child would be to read to them even when they are infants. You may feel silly as you read a book to your baby because you know that your infant cannot understand the words you are saying. However, studies have shown that babies who are exposed to books, words, and literature in infancy often go onto become avid readers later.
As your kids grow older, you may also foster this skill by letting them explore educational sites on the Internet. Sites like Miss Humblebee’s Academy, PBSKids.org and NickJr.com have learning links that help kids learn how to read basic words like “cat”, “dog”, “pat”, “sit” and “go”. Learning Sight Words is another great tool for reading success. When your child can understand, recognize, and even spell Sight Words, he or she will have a head start on other children in the class. Click for Miss Humblebee’s Academy Free Sight Words Flash cards
Along with letting them explore safe and pre-approved sites on the Internet, you might also teach your children reading skills by spelling out loud to them as you go about your normal routine. When you are opening a can of vegetables, for example, you can spell the word “can” and explain to them what letters are in the word. Your children will remember this lesson and take it to school with them.
Another skill to practice is spelling their name. Parents can work on this before their children start school and also once they have started school. Some kids do not know how to spell their names and must rely on the teacher to teach them this necessary skill.
By reading this article, you are already showing your interest in making sure your child succeeds in learning to read. Hopefully these steps can help your child learn to read in kindergarten. Fostering a child’s love for reading begins at home, get started reading today. For great book ideas, check out the top Books for Kids list to get you started.
