How to get your child ready!

How to get your child ready!
One of the first things I want you to remember is that your child needs to be SEEN and HEARD! Provide your infant or toddler with multiple opportunities to listen to you speaking to other adults. By the time your child is 1 year old, they recognize tone, some sounds, and some words. Children learn to imitate sounds by listening to their parents or siblings. Children who are not encouraged to talk or are not spoken to oftentimes can have a difficult time learning to read. Remember, it is important to talk WITH your infant or toddler not AT them! So, how do you do this?
Sing to them (ABC’s, simple songs).
Talk to them (recite nursery rhymes).
Smile and respond to their coo’s and babbles.
Ask them simple questions:
Where are your toes?
Point to objects they see every day and name them.
Another step in preparing your child to read is to introduce your child to print. During the beginning years, reading to your child is the most effective way to prepare your infant or toddler for reading preparedness. Print Awareness is the ability to know how books and print are used. We read books right side up, from left to right; we turn the page after we are finished reading a page. The more times you read to your child the more opportunities they will have to become aware of print. Children who are aware of print begin to understand that the sounds and words they hear and the words they see are related to one another.
The Basics of Reading
There isn’t one best way to share a story with your child. You can sit on the couch, sit on the rocking chair, or curl up on the floor together. The most important thing you are doing is creating a positive literacy experience with your child. An established reading routine similar to a bath time routine can provide a relaxing and calming experience for your infant or toddler. This can build a lifelong love of reading!
Make it a pleasure! Look at the pictures! Let them tell you what they see or tell them what is going on in the story. Point to the words as you read the story. Make this experience pleasurable! Smile while you are reading and keep a positive tone!

Show Expression! Use sound affects for cars. Give characters voices. You might surprise yourself as to how well you can stay in character while reading! Use your hands and face to illustrate the story! This will remind that child that reading is fun!
Read Often! Make this a routine like any other you might have already established with your child. It is important to remember that their attention may not hold an entire book and THAT IS ALRIGHT! Reading can last 5 minutes to 15 minutes depending on the child. The most important thing you are doing is sharing a rewarding experience with your child!





For more information visit: http://www.nifl.gov