Part 1: Birth Through Preschool Reading Skills

• Early Efforts To Write

Writing and reading go hand in hand. As your child is learning one, he is learning the other.

 You can do certain things to make sure that he gets every opportunity to practice both.

When he is about 2 years old, for example, give your child crayons and paper and encourage him to draw and scribble.

He will have fun choosing which colors to use and which shapes to make. As he holds and moves the crayons, he will also develop muscle control.

When he is a late toddler or early preschooler, he will become as eager to write as he is to read. (For more ideas on how to encourage your child’s desire to write, see “As Simple
as ABC,” page, and “Write On!” page.)

If your child’s first language is not English, he can still become an excellent English reader and
writer.

He is on his way to successful English reading if he is beginning to learn many words and is interested in learning to read in his first language.

You can help by supporting him in his first language as he learns English.

Talk with him, read with him, encourage him to draw and write. In other words, do the same kinds of activities just discussed, but do them in your child’s first language.

When your child first enters school, talk with his or her teacher. Teachers welcome such talks.

They even have sign-up times early in the year, though usually you may ask for a meeting at any time.

If you feel that you need some support in meeting with the teacher, ask a relative, neighbor, or someone else in your community to go with you.

When you do meet, tell the teacher the things that you are doing at home to strengthen your child’s
speaking and reading in her own language.

Let the teacher know how important you child’s reading is to you and ask for support for your efforts.

Children who can switch back and forth between languages have accomplished something special. They should be praised and encouraged as they work for this achievement.

For a list of multiple-language books, see Resources for Children, page.

You May Also Be Interested In:

Sign Language For Babies And Beyond

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*How to promote early communication and language development in your child
*How to use sign language to develop reading skills
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*The benefits of utilizing sign language in children who have speech-delays or special needs.

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Related Articles:

Part 1: Birth Through Preschool Reading Skills

• Teaching Reading To Your Preschooler - Page 1
• Teaching Reading To Your Preschooler -Page 2
• Becoming A Reader
• Talking And Listening
• Reading Together - Page 1
• Reading Together - Page 2
• Learning About Print And Books
• How To Choose Books For Your Preschooler
• Preschooler Booklist/Reading List
• Early Efforts To Write
• Reading In Another Language

Part 2: Birth Through Preschool: Activities For Developing Reading Skills in Your Preschooler

• Baby Talk
• Books And Babies

You may also be interested in the following:

Testing First Grade Reading Skills