Print motivation, defined as a child’s interest in and enjoyment of books and reading, is an important literacy skill for children to develop in order to become successful readers. That’s right; something as simple as making reading enjoyable can have a huge impact on your child’s reading success. One way to foster your child’s print…
Print awareness includes the understanding that print has meaning and the idea that print is all around us. Not surprisingly, it’s a tremendously important pre-reading skill. It’s also a skill that you can foster while you’re going about your busy life. Next time you’re in the car, point out traffic signs and store signs/symbols. While…
The “summer slide” refers to what can happen to kids’ brains when they are idle during the summer months. Experts from the National Summer Learning Association estimate that the equivalent of about two month’s instruction time can be lost if children don’t keep their brains active during that break from school. Reading is a great…
The illustrations in picture books are often times what attract kids to them. So, it makes sense that when listening to you read a story, your child will primarily focus on the pictures. And, when she’s not looking at the pictures, she’s probably watching you as you read—especially if you’re an animated reader. While there’s…
It may seem counterintuitive to help your child learn to read using wordless books (since reading involves words and all…). These books, however, are actually great for developing some important pre-reading skills. Since they show a clear order of events—first, next, then, finally—wordless books can help children develop narrative skills. Plus, even without words, children…
One of the most important things you can do for your child is to instill a love of books at a very young age. Reading to your child often is the best way to foster this affinity for books and reading. It’s important to remember, though, to make reading fun for your child. One way…
I just finished watching Babies on Track, a 14-minute video produce by Best Beginnings, Alaska’s Early Childhood Investment, and it was full of interesting information that I wanted to share with all of you. The video focused on brain development in babies and young children and discussed ways that parents and caregivers can stimulate brain…
For most, when we think about reading to youngsters, we think about reading fictional picture books. Reading these books to your kids is fantastic and extremely helpful for your child’s development. I would, however, like to suggest adding to that. When your child is only a couple of years old, he is already starting to…
When was the last time you and your children had a good, old-fashioned sing-a-long? Now, even though I, personally, love to sing loud and often (something my family and friends don’t ALWAYS love…), I do understand that it’s not everyone’s favorite pastime. I will say, however, that the benefits of singing with your children might…
As parents of small children, I’m sure “again” and “more” are words that have haunted you in your sleep at some point. Children love repetition, and they aren’t shy about making that known! Though reading the same book over and over (and over, and over, and over…) becomes more than a little monotonous for adults,…
