These ABC's of reading can help you to develop your child's early reading skills:

A
Assortment of Books-Provide your child with a wide assortment of books. ABC books, counting books, picture books, story books, nursery rhymes, fairy tales and sturdy board books.

B
Bookmaking-Help your child make her own book. You can purchase blank books from the dollar store or make one yourself by folding a few pieces of paper in half and stapling them together. Your child can dictate a story to you or she can make up a story. Encourage her to use her imagination and help her out if she gets stuck. Your child may even enjoy making her own "All About Me" book. You can paste extra photos in the book or have your child draw a picture of herself and her favorite things. Preschoolers love creating a "Me" book of their own and they'll spend hours examining it once it's completed. Not only is this project fun, it boosts creativity, self-expression and a love of reading.

C
Create-You can also create stories together. Each of you can take turns making up a sentence and you can write the story down. Keep all of the stories in a special folder or binder and read them together often.
Eg:
1.)Jack and Mommy went for a nice walk together. Along the way, they met...
2.)One day Daddy and Jack decided to take a trip. They went.......
3.)The mailman brought a mysterious package to Jack's house. Inside the package was........
Before long your child will be able to make up stories easily. He will be very proud of himself and gain confidence in his own creativity. Your child may ask you to read the stories over and over. Do it willingly. He is becoming aware of the permanence of words and is practicing his memory skills. After a few repetitions, test his skills by leaving out a word or saying a totally different word and see if he catches the change. He probably will.

D
Discussions-Discuss the books you read. Talking about what you read is another way to help your child develop language and thinking skills. You don't need to plan the talk, discuss every story, or expect an answer. Read slowly and pause occasionally to think out loud about a story. You can speculate: "I wonder what's going to happen next!" Or ask a question: "Do you know what a palace is?" Or point out: "Look where the little kitty is now." Talk about the characters in the book, what the characters are doing, what is happening throughout the book, and talk about what parts of the book your child likes best. You can add a little fun by making up a different ending to a well known story.

E
Errands-Take your child with you when you run an errand. You can read and point out signs, billboards, license plates and street signs. Your child can help you write and read your grocery list, sort coupons, and find products on the grocery shelves. These experiences enable your child to see the importance of reading in an ordinary, everyday situation.

F
Fun-Parents play a crucial role in their child's early reading skills. Keep reading fun and show your enthusiasm for books and reading. Create a fun and literate environment for your child to learn and grow. Reading a story can involve more than just reading the book and talking about it - you can extend them through extra activities such as baking gingerbread cookies after reading "The Gingerbread Man". These fun experiences in your home can make a difference in your child's reading development.

G
Good job!-Praise your child for the progress he makes. Don't worry about mistakes, your child is learning a new skill and it takes time. By creating a supportive and nurturing environment, your child will be learn to enjoy books and reading.

H
Habits-Habits are formed early in life. Help your child develop the habit of reading.

I
Interesting-Make reading interesting. Have a variety of books around the house. Books about pets, dinosaurs, colors, shapes, etc. If your child shows an interest in a particular subject, take her to the library and look for books on that subject.

J
Join In-From time to time, invite other adults or older children to listen in or join in reading aloud. The message is: Reading is for everybody.

K
Knowledge-
How often have you heard the phrase, "Knowledge is power?" Knowledge comes from reading the written word through books, comics, magazines, newsletters, newspapers, journals, and yes, even on the internet.

Read, read, read
The more you read the more you know
The more you know,
the more you grow
So read, read, read.

L
Library-�Visit the library and help your child to build reading habits that will last a lifetime. Get a library card in your child's name and buy or make a special library bag. Let your child select a few age appropriate books. For a young child, you can pick out a few books and let your child choose from those. You can also start your own home library. Designate a book case or shelf especially for your child. Encourage your child to arrange the books by some method - books about animals, fairy tales, counting books etc.

M
Magazines-A subscription to a children's magazine is a worthwhile investment. Children enjoy receiving their very own magazines in the mail and will be excited to read them.

N
Nursery Rhymes-It is through repetition that your child will learn nursery rhymes and begin to recite them on their own. You can even make up a nursery rhyme using your child's name.

O
Opportunities-Look for opportunities to read to your child. Read a story during a moment of quiet nursing, keep a few books in the car or in your diaper bag, tie a cloth book to the shopping cart, bring a book along on your next Doctor's visit. Reading to your child 15 minutes a day equals 465 hours of early literacy by 5 years of age!

P
Patience-Reading with small children requires patience. Very small children may want to put the book in their mouth and toddlers may tear pages or turn many pages at once. That's not important. Your goal here is to put the book in the child's hand and encourage an interest in reading. Your child may go through a period when she favors one book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a particular story, and this can be boring for parents. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your child to a variety of books and eventually she will be ready for other stories.

Q
Questions-Children ask many questions about things new to them. Encourage your child to ask questions and take the time to explain the answers. You can provide a time for questions before or after a book is read. Or you can ask a variety of questions which require your child to think about the story.

R
Repetition-Repetition makes books predictable, and young children love knowing what comes next. Pick a story with repeated phrases or a poem you and your child like. Read slowly, and with a smile or a nod, let your children know you appreciate their participation. As children grow more familiar with the story, pause and give them the chance to "fill in the blanks." Encourage your children to pretend to read, especially books that contain repetition and rhyme. Most children who enjoy reading will eventually memorize all or parts of a book and imitate your reading. When youngsters anticipate what's coming next in a story or poem, they have a sense of mastery over books. When children feel power, they have courage to try. Pretending to read is an important step in the process of learning to read.

S
Simplicity-Keep it simple. When reading to babies or toddlers it's not important to read every word on every page. You can shorten a story or skip pages if your toddler is getting restless. As your child gets older, his attention span will be greater. Then it is easier for you to take your time reading to him.

T
Television-Monitor your child's television time. Select worthwhile programs for your child to watch or invest in a few good videotapes. Help your child develop good television habits by limiting the amount they watch and discussing which shows are appropriate and why.

U
Unpressured learning-Don't pressure your child to read words, just encourage them to open a book and teach them to value reading. Remember that every child develops at his or her own pace. There's a wide range of what's normal. �

V
Value reading-Become a reading role model. Let your child see you read. Your child should see you getting into books, magazines and newspapers. It is important for your child to see the different purposes for reading, such as reading for information or pleasure.

W
Writing-Writing is an essential part of the reading process. To encourage your child to write, make available an assortment of pens, pencils, felt pens, crayons and paper for him to experiment with. Encourage your child to write her name, write a letter, sign a card, write items on your grocery list and writing a short story.

X
X-tra attention-Literacy is more than reading and writing. Literacy is meaningful communication in many ways - drawing, acting, reading, writing, singing, speaking, signing, and demonstrating. Literacy skills have a purpose and are social. They are acquired through purposeful and meaningful interactions.

Z
Zest-Zest means spirited enjoyment, gusto, hearty pleasure or appreciation. Children learn what they live. Show a zest for reading, writing, and learning and chances are your child will follow your lead.

Reading with your child should be a relaxed, cozy experience. Sit your child close to you, let him turn the pages, and allow plenty of time to look at pictures.

Let your child's reactions guide your reading. Some days children are restless and may want to rush through a book. That is OK. Just shorten the story or use easier words. Some children flip the pages too fast, some want to read one story over and over, some like you to stop and discuss the story while others get impatient if you do so. Whichever way your child prefers to read, there is no right or wrong. Just go with the flow!

Here are a few suggestions for making the most of reading time:

• Create a daily reading routine. For example, two stories before bed, you chose one, your child chooses the other.
• Have a book day. Choose one day of the week to be "book day" and pick a fun book such as "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle. Read the book together and discuss what is happening in the story. Afterwards, make a caterpillar craft. For lunch have some of the foods the caterpillar has eaten in the book. Then go outside to see if you can find any caterpillars or butterflies. If you prefer, "book day" could be a special trip to your local library once a week.
• Read artfully. Vary the pitch, volume, and speed of your voice. Use dramatic pauses and silly voices when appropriate. Pause and let your child do the "Fe Fi Fo Fum" part in the book.
• Be a reading opportunist. Keep a book in the car for the times you have to wait in a restaurant or doctor's office. Put a book in the pic-nic basket to read under a shady tree when you are going to the park for the day.

Questions or comments? Feel free to email us.

creativewithkids@hotmail.com

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