Reading and Writing With Children

I read to the children every day and often Dad read to them on weekends.
We attended many, many library programs and the children got cards as soon as they could print their names. At home we had many, many books...some that I had as a child, and others that I bought. Garage sales are a good source of books.
I always encouraged them to learn their ABC's early. In the car we would look for the letters on signs and billboards. At home we used the computer paper that Dad brought home, tied it into a book, and on each page printed a letter (upper and lower case). Then we encouraged the children to find and cut pictures from magazines or catalogues that began with the letter, and pasted it on the appropriate page.

Today, I remember that every day between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. was story time before naps. There were bedtime stories sometimes too. Plus, our children knew that both their parents loved to read...books, newspapers, and magazines, so we were teaching by example too. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of books in the home....I give my grandchildren books that I find now at Goodwill, thrift stores, and Big Lots...I keep books that I can read to them when they visit. I have Christmas books for the holidays, and I give out Halloween, Easter, Valentine, and patriotic stories as the season indicates, if I have them.

Pre-school children can "write" stories or sentences by dictating to you. Have them draw a picture. Then ask them about it. Print their description of it at the bottom before you
display it or send it to Grandma. Point to each word you have written and help them "read" it.

In your home, with your young child(ren), label familiar objects (door, pillow, window, chair, etc.) by printing its name on an index card and taping up the card on the object. Have the child look at the card from time to time, say the word, and spell it(with help, if necessary).

When learning ABC's, try to always say the consonant sounds and have the child repeat it.
Remind them that familiar names of things or animals, or people, begin with (?)....you can do this with an infant or toddler as well....it is important for them to hear those sounds often.

Back in the day of the "giant" computer paper, Donald brought home enough "bound" good sized "books" that each child was able to have one. At least every other page was blank, if not more, so they were ideal for the children to draw and color in. Being able to have space to draw, write, and color is essential for good eye-hand coordination, and fine motor skills are something that need to be developed, ideally before kindergarten. Today there are newsprint tablets available for a reasonable price, chalkboard paint can transform a space into a drawing area, sidewalk chalk is fun outside, you can use copy paper or even blank sides of scrap paper for drawing, coloring or writing!

More on "learning" later......