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index cards to label things around the house. Say the words to your child then have him/her tape it to the object.

*Create a picture/label shopping list on index cards. Tape a picture (or label) of a needed item on the index card. Write what it is underneath. Give two or three cards to your child at a time while you are shopping. Let him/her find the objects for you. Yes this does mean you'll spend more time in the store but you child will be engaged in helping you shop thus fewer tantrums. Won't that be nice?

*Have your child draw a picture then tell you a story about it. Write down what they say. Keep all the stories for later when he/she can read them on their own. Have him/her read them to you.

*Board games are a great choice. For very young children Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and memory games build pre-reading skills. For children who are learning the alphabet and beginning to understand that letters aren't just lines and squiggles but form sounds and words, try Scrabble Jr., Clue Jr., and other games that reinforce that connection. You may even be brave enough to create a game or two of your own! Classification, patterning, memory, and identification are your goals for building a strong foundation for your reader.

I now have a family of my own and this list, while not exhaustive, was a great start toward introducing my children to reading. I think often of those parents from my teaching days. Most of them loved the new packets and we continued to offer them every week of each school year.

I want to mention here that it is never too early to start reading to your child. While pregnant, try reading aloud while rubbing your stomach. Remember to keep your voice pleasant no matter the reading material. Read to your baby using tactile books with simple texts. Try black and white pattern books as well as brightly colored books. Your baby will let you know which he/she prefers. Also, let your child decide when he (or she) is too old to read with you. My two youngest are now nine and eleven. We still read together often. Sometimes my teenager even listens in.

Learn more about this author, Merlynne J Parker.
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