Yesterday we started a topic whose objective is to offer Ten tips and guidelines to bring children letters and words in an entertaining way, reading being a vehicle to do something entertaining and avoiding learning to read is something boring that causes children to end up detesting reading and consequently books.
We offered five points that served as an introduction, explaining to begin that it is important to lead by example (to see us read, to see us look at books, to consult them, to read them with them), and to offer some ideas to lay a foundation before To start reading, they are none other than knowing the letters and knowing how to name them.
This is not done with a notebook, sitting at the table as if we were in class (it sounds even boring just saying it), but with alternatives, with magnet letters, cut out or made at the time, whatever, but as part of a game, creating words that you know so that the matter doesn't seem overwhelming. In fact, if you get overwhelmed, I would leave it for later.
Today we are going to continue with some tips that are aimed at bringing the world of words closer to their lives and, therefore, to help them learn to read, if they want to learn.
6. Let's start with the capital letters
One of the big doubts when it comes to teaching children to read is this: Do you start with uppercase or lowercase? I have already given you the answer, start with capital letters. The reason is simple, since it is a matter of practicality and ease: the capital letters are more straight, have less ornaments, are separated from each other and are therefore easier to remember. As the last thing we want is for the child to get tired learning the most logical thing is to make it as easy as possible and increase his level based on his desire to continue learning.
Once you distinguish them and once you are reading some things they themselves will integrate the lower case letters, because in our environment there are many things to read in lowercase print. If not, there are also lowercase stories, of course.
7. Buy the stories of the movies you see
Children love watching movies over and over again, as well as reading stories over and over again. It is his way of learning things, words, concepts, and in a way the way of absorbing knowledge (thanks to repetition). When they watch a movie, for example in the cinema, they often ask to see it again, being a problem because returning to the cinema to see it it's a roll for parents, that we already know the history and an expense we have already made, so that after a few days, they will still ask us again for the same movie.
An alternative, a way to offer a repetition that quenches the thirst for living the experience again can be buy some movie book. There are for several ages, and for children there are usually books with the summary history, even with stickers or drawings that are mixed with the phrases, which are perfect for us to explain the story and to see the letters and words that tell the story that they liked so much in the cinema and that they still like it on paper.
8. Play track games
This is the game that has been the most with our son Jon, because we started making these games about three years ago, just as fun and we discovered that it was a perfect way to read and write, because now he is the one who Leave clues to us.
The game consists of hiding a surprise somewhere (a toy, something to eat, whatever you want, which does not have to be something new, because the fun is not the end, but the means) and make clues to get to him. If for example we hide it in the first drawer of the bedside table in our room we can make a series of clues, with post its, starting at a place where we say “What is this? Ah! A clue to find a treasure ”, showing him a post it stuck in any place where we read (for example) "THE YOGURES EAT WITH ONE ...", and a drawing of a map to the side, to make it more fun.
The answer, of course, is spoon, so there will be a new clue in the spoon drawer that will take us to another place (for example: “I WOULD LIKE TO CALL GRANDMA”, a phrase that will take us to the phone, where there will be another clue ), and so on until the last clue says "THE FIRST DRAWER OF THE NIGHT TABLE".
A few are spent post its, plus those that your son will spend later when he wants to play the game to you writing, but you have fun with the riddles, you make him think and what is better, just trying to read what you put in each post it.
9. Put the DVDs with subtitles
When the DVD arrived, with a capacity of 4.3 Gb, the definition of the films could increase because the capacity was very high, being able to also carry audio in other languages and subtitles. This made each DVD a great element to learn languages (I usually watch English movies subtitled in Spanish, to get something) and a great tool also for children to learn to read.
The first time they see a movie I do not put anything, enjoy the movie quietly, but when they ask to revise it, I do add subtitles in Spanish (not always, when I remember) to see it and, if they want, read it. My 3-year-old son Aran doesn't pay attention, logically, because he still can't read, but Jon, who is almost 6, is reading them.
10. Get a karaoke
As you can see, the idea is that children read, but almost without realizing that they are reading, that is, that they do it naturally while doing something else they enjoy. After track games and movies with subtitles, another great way to reinforce reading in a fun way is by using karaoke. Both the previous advice and this one are intended for children who are already reading some things, more than for those who start, basically because in the movies and songs the text is happening more or less quickly.
Karaoke, by definition, are made to read. Most people, even if they know the song, are reading it to see when each syllable plays and the children do the same. Microphone in hand they are reading the letter while they are singing it. Again, explaining our case, Jon escapes some words, but he hunts some phrases of songs whose lyrics he does not know and puts them where he can, having fun while mom makes her the female voice (from “An ideal world” of Aladdin, for example).
If you do not want to buy a karaoke you can always look for any of the solutions offered by today's consoles, with games that come with a microphone (we have the Disney Sing it Family Hits on the Wii, for example) or download a program online Karaoke and find songs that you like.
There is no hurry, they are children
Again, before finishing, remember that there is no hurry. The rhythm has to be marked by the child, since we are teaching him because he wants to learn. As you have seen in no time I have commented anything of fifteen minutes a day, or sitting with the child at the table to read one page per day. I have only offered resources for children to read without realizing, while playing. In case it helps or reference, Jon knew the lyrics with two and a half years and started reading with four and a half, I think I remember. That is, it took two years to read complete sentences, which is neither too much time nor too little time, it is simply the moment when he really wanted to know how to read.
Photos | Roxeteer, Arrathoonlaa on Flickr (CC)
In Babies and more | Not by learning to read before, he will be a better reader. Should children start reading and writing at age six? Do I teach him to read?
