by Jesica Dark

Created on: February 25, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

For many parents, teaching your child to read is as daunting as it is rewarding. We know that reading is the foundation of the rest of our children's educational life, but we don't always know how to help them learn to read. Pre-reading skills are often taught in preschool, but not all children attend preschool, so what can we do to provide the much needed brain nourishment and ready our children to read?

As soon as our babies are born, we sing to them. Silly songs, sweet songs, lullabies, and nursery rhymes grab our children's attention. They learn every word, memorize the tune and melody. One of the best parts of being a parent is hearing those angelic voices sing. Once your children are old enough to pay attention for short periods of time, show them books that go along with the songs. Point to each word as you sing it. Change the words and your child will correct you. This aids in word recognition, a key element in pre-reading.

Of course, read to you child. If you read to your child 45 minutes a day from the time he or she is born , by the time they hit kindergarten, they will have received 1,368 hours of brain food. To put that into perspective, at a full day kindergarten program, not subtracting for play time, PE, music, art, etc provides 1,260 hours, assuming your child never misses a day. You will be amazed at how much they learn during this time with you.

Show your children how to write their names, let them practice on their own. Each letter will become "theirs" and they will notice it more in street signs, storybooks, even on trips to the grocery store. Once the recognize all of the alphabet, encourage them to spell things. What letters are on the STOP sign? the juice box? the dvd case? This will help them make the connection from letters to words and from words to reading.

Work on sounds with your child. Start again with his or her name. The "C" in Caleb is the same as the "C" in cat but not the "C" in chair, etc. Vowels can be tricky, but if you're feeling bold, go for it. How is kite different from kit? Dog from dig?

Lastly, there is no better pre-reading companion than Dr. Seuss. The words are short, familiar, and they rhyme. Your kids will love them as much as you did growing up, so don't be surprised if your four year old reads "Do you like green eggs and ham?" well before kindergarten.

Learn more about this author, Jesica Dark.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.