5 Tips: Teaching Children to Read Naturally

Please don't be stressed that your preschooler isn't reading! Of course, it is wonderful to share books with your child and for them to see you reading. Your enthusiasm for books is contagious and extremely helpful for children to develop a curiosity and love of books. But they may not be ready to focus on the letters, or be interested in flashcards, or expensive phonics' programs. Let them be children, learning with their five senses and movement, and they will learn naturally with some easy inexpensive involvement and encouragement. 

When my grandson went grocery shopping with his mom, he pointed and yelled, "K-R-O-G-E-R. That spells grocery store!" He didn't know the name of the store, but knew those letters symbolized groceries. Be excited when children notice and recognize letters and words. 

5 TIPS TO ENCOURAGE A LOVE OF READING: 

• Begin early reading books to your child. It is never too early to read to a child. Even small babies find pleasure in language. They enjoy being sung and read to, and they like it when you tell them stories and rhymes. They enjoy sitting on your lap or snuggling while sharing the bonding experience. 
• Read together every day possible.  I recommend three or more books a day. They should be exposed to books that rhyme, beginner's reading books with just a few words on each page, non-fiction or science books with wonderful photos, nursery rhymes, songs, and traditional and modern stories. But the main point is that they are interested in the book, so expose them to a variety and read the same one over and over if that is what they enjoy. Memorization is a beginning step to reading.
• Share a love of reading. Use animated facial expressions and voice when you read to children. Let them see you reading books, magazines, shopping lists, electronic gadgets, and signs. We are surrounded by words in our environment. Point to signs and make it a game (what letters do you see?). The first words they may recognize are their name, stop from a stop sign, or a sign in front of a store or fast-food place that you frequent.

Children love to participate and experience books by touching,
listening, repeating words, or filling in rhyming words.

• Buying a phonics program is not necessary.  Buy or make an alphabet book with relevant pictures and emphasize the first letter of words - drawing out the sound as you point to the letter. Keep encouraging your child until they comprehend that letters have sounds (phonics), sounds blended form words, and they recognize some sight words.
• The 5 Rs of Reading are Relevancy, Repetition, Rhythm, Rhyme and Routine. Go on a Scavenger Hunt and have your child cross off words as they find favorite objects. Borrow library books, buy books cheaply at garage sales, or make your own. Free beginning reading books that children can color are listed on my sidebar. Children love their name, so teach them how to read and write those letters. Teaching the most frequently used letters first, rather than teaching from the letter A through Z, increases relevancy and interest - and words can be learned more quickly (fat, cat, rat, sat, hat, mat...). Establish a reading routine at bedtime and you will cherish the bonding time.

Scavenger Hunt Ideas on hands on as we grow

If you, or your child, are too tired, ill, or stressed, do not make it a power struggle to have reading time. It needs to be enjoyable, relaxing, fun, and of interest to the child. Turn off the gadgets and just enjoy one-on-one focused time with your child, listening and answering their many questions, and extending their comments as you increase their vocabulary. This simple routine time will save you money on therapy when they are teenagers and prefer peer time.

The gift of reading continues throughout a lifetime. Parents, siblings, grandparents, great-grandparents, babysitters and teachers can be a part of wrapping a huge beautiful gift that when opened will unleash a lifetime of learning. Something about everything can be learned from reading. It is inspiring to know of people who were denied an education, but given the opportunity they learned to read in their senior years. The desire to read is phenomenal and is not quenched until achieved.

Living Montessori Now

There is more treasure in books than in all the
pirate's loot on Treasure Island.~Walt Disney

  

Would you like a glimpse into Kindergarten? See Kindergarten: Tattle-Tales, Tools, Tactics, Triumphs and Tasty Treats for Teachers and Parents. Moms of Preschoolers - let a mom and a teacher help save your sanity, one project at a time, including the child development explanations and age appropriate activities in The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Both are bestsellers and also available on Barnes & Noble and Kobo. The ebooks are only $3.99.

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