By Weng Yiyao
Senior Educational Therapist
Jurong Point Learning Centre
Do you know you can start reading to your child while your child is learning to decode words? To become readers, children need to learn what they say is connected to print on the page. Children can take in more sophisticated concepts and language through listening than through their own reading. In addition, reading helps develop vocabulary, increase general knowledge, build listening skills and more! In addition, reading can be a fun and imaginative activity for children that opens doors to all kinds of the new world to them. Yes, both of you, Mommy and Daddy, are the most important educators in your child’s life. You can make a difference! It is never too late to start reading with your child!
BEFORE READING…
You can introduce the title, author and illustrator. You can point to the title of the book. You can also tell your child where to find the author’s and illustrator’s name. Point to the pictures and let your child guess what the book is about. Try and activate their background knowledge by giving cues and hint. These may include, ‘Why do you think the cows are gathered together?’, ‘Where do you think you can find these animals?
In addition, to make it more fun, you can try and invert the book and get your child to ‘teach’ you how to identify the front and back of the book, and where do you begin reading.
DURING READING…
Is your child able to read a sentence from left to right? After your child reads the last word in a sentence, get him to use her fingers and in a sweeping motion, sweep as fast as he can to the next sentence! To ensure your child is reading, et your child to point to the word. If it is too boring, you can always replace pointing with any stick or material that appeals to your child! When he is done with the current page, get him to bounce his fingers to the next page! Do you know you can start reading to your child while your child is learning to decode words? To become readers, children need to learn what/ they say is connected to print on the page. Children can take in more sophisticated concepts and language through listening than through their own reading. In addition, reading helps develop vocabulary, increase general knowledge, build listening skills and more! In addition, reading can be a fun and imaginative activity for children that opens doors to all kinds of the new world to them. Yes, both of you, Mommy and Daddy, are the/ most important educators in your child’s life. You can make a difference! It is never too late to start reading with your child! You can also highlight the following:
- Upper and lower case letters
- What is a sentence, phrase and a word
- Meaning of different punctuation
- Spacing in between words
Do you recall how you felt when you watched a movie that had no build up or a climax? Reading is the same! Monotonous reading may not excite your child as compared to reading with a ‘rise and fall’ tone. Your child will not judge you if you take on the character’s role. Be silly, be grumpy, be fierce, be gentle, whisper softly, do anything you want to bring the story to life! Don’t forget to stop and ask questions! To make it easy for you, remember the 5 Wives and 1 Husband (Who, what, when, where, why and how) questions. Who are the characters in this story? What did Farmer Brown find in the barn? Where are the animals? Why do the cows leave messages to Farmer Brown? How did the cows type their message? Encourage and prompt your child to respond. You can initiate to start the sentence and guide your child through the questions.
AFTER READING…
At the end of the session, try to get your child to recall what happened in the story. Children can try to relate the story to their personal experiences. Ask your child what is his favourite or least favourite part of the story, and if given the chance, how would he change the story? Let them express their opinions, ideas and creativity!
It does not matter if your child is a beginning or a fluent reader. You play an important role in keeping them interested in reading! Take time To find out what interests them and find books that are engaging. More importantly, spend time to read to and with them!
Book source and images: CLICK, CLACK, MOO Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
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This article was published in FACETS Vol 1 2019 read it here!
