The basic skills that affect children’s education at school are reading and writing. Moms could easily teach them how to read and write at home. Let’s refer to the following efficient steps bellow:
Teaching How to Read
Most children learn to read well between the age of 4 and 8 years old. But introducing them to reading can be done since birth. The technique can be done through the following steps:
Step 1. Make sure that Moms read them stories every day. Follow the children’s rhythm: let them decide the number of books and the duration of reading. For older children who have better concentration, provide at least 20 minutes a day to read books together.
Step 2. Ask the children before, during and after reading. This will encourage them to interact with the book and improve their ability to understand the story.
Step 3. Moms must often sing a song for the children, right? Well, include the alphabet song to be sung together with them.
Step 4. Use a tool such as alphabetical smart card, point out a random letter and ask your children. Do not expect them to be able to answer correctly, tell the right answer if they are wrong. By doing this, children can associate the letters with the written from.
Step 5. Moms could make or buy a smart card with pictures on one side and words that describe the pictures on the other side. Show it to your children and ask them to tell about the picture. Turn the card over and name the word describing the picture.
Step 6. Write a word on a piece of paper. Read it and ask the children to repeat it. Make them to one by one mention the beginning, middle and end of each syllable. This will make them understand that vowels can represent various sounds.
Step 7. Read your children a book that is suitable with their age and ask them to mention the words in it. Gradually, use more complex books as they grow older. Here are some book recommendations according to the children’s age:
- 0-1 year: lullaby song, picture board books, fabric books with various textures, song books.
- 1-3 years: Rhyme books, song books, short story board books.
- 3-5 years: alphabet books, song books, picture books, rhyme books.
- More than 5 years: picture books (more complex), child encyclopedia, song books.
Step 8. Giving an example is the most telling way for the children to be interested in books. So even though they have shown interest in reading but they don’t have any role models, they interest may decrease. So, walk the talk. Show them how fun reading is. If Moms are not the types who like reading, spare a few minutes every day and read in front of the children so they can see it.
Teaching How to Write
Step 1. Show the children how to properly hold the pencil and ask them to do it.
Step 2. Create a simple image on a piece of paper, for example: a circle or a cross. Ask the children to copy the image next to the existing one.
Step 3. Write a capital letter. Ask the children to follow the trail of the letter then tell them to write the same letter. Repeat this process with lowercase. If they make mistake, tell them right away in a way that they can understand. Children will be able to quickly understand if they are corrected immediately.
Step 4. Write a sentence or paragraph with the proper upper/lower case and punctuations. Ask the children to follow your writing and encourage them to write the same sentence or paragraph.
Step 5. Ask the children some questions and tell them to write the answer on a piece of paper. If they are wrong, tell and let them to correct it.
Step 6. Praise and reward them when they are able to write correctly.
The process of learning to read and write can be started early. But remember that children need a long process and time to be able to read and write. Enjoy the process and let them manage the learning speed by their own selves. No need to compare their development with their peers. Good luck, Moms!
EN
