First, get them excited about reading. Reading to children should begin at infancy. Later, get them to notice that "written words" are what make up the stories that they love.

Fire up their imagination. Have them make up their own stories. You make up stories for them. Play around with stories that one person starts and another adds to.

Introduce some elements of drawing. They can be practiced in a relaxed fun fashion with crayons, finger paints, or any other readily available medium. The elements are: the straight line, the curvy line, the zig-zag, half-circle (curve), full circle, dashes (dashed straight line and dashed curvy line), and the dot.

Introduce a Textured Alphabet. Cut out letters that have texture, sandpaper works really well. Let them trace with their fingers, color the bumps, paint them etc. You will find that children come up with creative ways to interact with what they are learning all by themselves. The important thing is to let them!

Provide LOTS OF PAPER and CRAYONS. Point out the fact that they are simply putting the above elements together in new and interesting ways. Introduce only one letter at a time, and let them write it to their little heart's content. Be certain to offer lots of praise and display their work!

Celebrate the Little Author. Take a story that they have made up and have them draw 4 or 5 pictures to aid in telling the story, leaving room at the bottom. At the bottom pick one word that represents the picture and help your child write that word with the new letters they have learned. Bind the pages together to make a book, that they can "read" to whomever will listen.

As they get older. Continue story-telling! Provide a strong role model by making it a family affair. Also, introduce journaling, but be certain to respect their privacy. Nothing destroys a child's desire to write and be creative than to have your thoughts and feelings invaded or judged.

The truth is, children are already very excited to learn anything new and to be able to do what they see adults do. We simply need to provide the opportunities, and not squelch the excitement!

Learn more about this author, Mona Brasseaux.
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