It is never too early to decide that you want your little one to start reading. Most parents will read to their children at the youngest of ages. Even though the child may not even be of a level where they can understand basic words, it’s a great way to familiarise books and writing to them. Eventually, as your child gets older, you’ll notice that they’ll show interest in the pages of the books and memorise the story by page. So, what better than to start their reading off? Here are some top tips from a nursery in Knightsbridge on teaching your child to read.
- Use songs and nursery rhymes. Children naturally enjoy the sound of music as it connects them to the feeling of happiness. This is also a way for children to learn the sounds and syllables for words which will later help them to read. Build phonemic awareness by clapping rhythmically together.
- Buy or make a set of vocabulary cards. Start with small three letter words and play a game where your child chooses a card and has to guess what’s written on it. Break up the word into parts and allow them to take guesses on what the letters are. This will help them build confidence in sounding out letters and build decoding skills.
- Play word games. Games are one of the most engaging ways to teach your child skills as they stay focused and pick things up easier than if it were to be given as something uninteresting.
- When out and about, point to posters and signs that are easy to read. This will help your child become familiar with words and buildings or words and roads. Having the skill to make this connection will make learning to read that much easier.