At four years of age, most children are just beginning to understand the concept that letters make words, and words tell a story. The mechanics of reading are yet to be learned. However, there are skills that the pre-reader must master in order to progress to reading. Here are some ways to encourage those skills:
• Make sure your child is exposed to books and has every opportunity to read.
• Read to your child every day to promote that reading is fun.
• As your read, point out the words. This helps your child relate words to pictures.
• Have lots of conversations with your child to develop his love of language.
• As you read a story together, ask your child questions about the book. This helps develop listening skills.
• Play games that involve matching. Learning to read involves recognizing shapes, letters, and matching them to a sound.
• Practice writing the ABC’s. A pre-reader should have the ABC’s memorised to start learning to read.
• Make sure your child is exposed to books and has every opportunity to read.
• Read to your child every day to promote that reading is fun.
• As your read, point out the words. This helps your child relate words to pictures.
• Have lots of conversations with your child to develop his love of language.
• As you read a story together, ask your child questions about the book. This helps develop listening skills.
• Play games that involve matching. Learning to read involves recognizing shapes, letters, and matching them to a sound.
• Practice writing the ABC’s. A pre-reader should have the ABC’s memorised to start learning to read.
