Literacy is everywhere

There are many things that you do every day, probably without even thinking about them, which promote early literacy at home.

Research shows that when families support their children’s learning, they are more likely to succeed in school. What can you do to help the development of your child’s literacy skills? Here are some ideas:

• Read aloud to your child every night. Make it part of the bedtime routine.
• Go to the library and encourage your child to select books.
• Create an alphabet book using a notebook. Start by writing the letter Aa at the top of the page. Invite your child to look through magazines and/or catalogs for things that make the /ă/ sound. Assist your child, if necessary, with cutting out the pictures and gluing them on the Aa page. Continue until you have completed the alphabet.
• Sing the alphabet song on the way to school.
• Tell stories about when you were a child.
• Play a rhyming game with your child: Ask her to say a word. Try to think of a rhyming word, and then alternate saying rhyming words with your child.
• Listen to children’s stories on CD while running errands.
• Provide your child with writing supplies, such as pencils, pens, paper, and stencils. These can be stored in a shoe box that is easily accessible.
• Encourage your child to look at a wordless picture book and narrate a story.
• Have a letter scavenger hunt: Show your child the letter Ee, and then encourage him to find as many Ees as he can.

At Kiddie Academy, reading together is an essential part of preparing children for school and for life. Come join the reading adventure and get lost in your imagination during our Storytime LIVE! event on August 29. For a list of participating locations, or to register for the event, please visit www.kastorytime.com. The event is FREE and open to the public.