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by Catherine
Kirk, The Arizona Republic, September 21, 2003
QUESTION: With all of the emphasis on
reading, what should I be doing to help my preschooler learn to read?
ANSWER: There are so many activities
you can do throughout the day.
Preschool children are always so eager to investigate and explore. The
most obvious way to involve children is to read to them aloud. You can
read magazines and books together. Talk about what you are reading and
encourage retellings. Take turns "reading" favorite stories to one
another. Keep it simple and enjoyable.
Immerse them in literacy. Play rhyming games in the car. The reading of
signs and labels is an exciting stage as your child grows as a reader. Cut
out pictures of these and create an "I Can Read" book. Write family
stories using photographs.
Reading and writing go hand in hand, so it is important to model this for
children. Involve them in writing shopping lists, "to do" activities and
notes. Preschool children can imitate you writing these lists. Place
little notes in their backpacks or on the refrigerator. Write down their
words to send messages to others.
Avoid the "drill and kill" approach. Keep it informal and positive. You
want to provide ongoing opportunities to help your preschooler develop
positive attitudes toward reading in the future.
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