Re: early start?
Asked by tweezas

Question:
 

hello my little girl is turning one soon and i was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what things i could do so my child can enjoy starting to read and things like that

we read alot but she doesn't seem that interested what can i do to get her interested if there is thank you i just want to give her a good start

My Advice:

Hi, I am in the same boat, my boy has just turned one and I have another bub on the way.  As a high school English teacher (who has also taught primary school) I obviously value and enjoy reading and would like to pass that on to my children. 

It is important to remember very young children can have short attention spans or become easily distracted even if they so desparately wanted to read a book three seconds ago - so short books are best.  Textures, pic-a-boo/flappy books, books with sounds, books with images of babies are all good.  Multi-sensory books can help to stimulate curiousity, interest and imagination and they also make it easier for children to learn and remember.  You can even try and link what you have read in a book to something you encounter together elsewhere and then go back to the book to reinforce it.  Try to go with what she is interested in  (e.g.  my boy loves cars and dogs otherwise known as brmm brmms and woof woofs).  Make it fun.  As they get older get books that relate to things in their life.

Don't force her to sit still and read a book through to the end if she is not interested.  But that said, persevere with reading regularly to her and allow her to see and observe you reading.  Even include her spontaneously when you are reading something and read a bit to her.  Point out signs and labels in everyday incidental life and explain them to her.  Have books hanging around so that she can play with them and 'read' to herself.  I often catch my son doing this.  It's very cute.  Also sing the alphabet and other such language songs, vowel songs, phonics.... and use toys that encourage reading and teaching these things.  Make your own books for her.  Make ones with bright colours pictures of her, other familiar people and mirrors in it.  cover the pictures with flaps and play pic-a-boo.  (Where's daddy?  There he is). 

When reading always run your finger along the word you are reading (if you can) and also point to the image - make the connection between words and images - don't just assume she knows this word represents this interesting, bright picture.  Asking questions as you read is also a highly reccommended technique that I have heard of.  (e.g.  Where do you think she is?  What is going to happen next?  Can you find the cat?  Is he a happy boy?  How can you tell?  Can you tap your toes?) ....  again that multi sensory thing.  Also I have heard on tv ages ago that apparently if you ask those questions about emotions/social situations and how characters are 'feeling' it will assist your child in developing emotional intelligence and will lead to them having more empathy/social skills (though you will have to do your own research into exactly how it works). 

Try to have only a few good books and repeat, repeat, repeat.  I know it's really boring when you have just read the same book five times in a row for the past five weeks but truely little kids love this.  You can usually pick up from them the ones they prefer.  Remember reading is a lifelong pursuit and teaching, modelling and providing opportunities for reading needs to continue right throughout your childs' life - not just when they are very young.  I think this is why so many older kids get disillusioned with reading...they are not encouraged enough.

I have just purchased the 'your baby can read' series by Dr Titzer.  You can find it on the internet.  I haven't used it much yet so I can't verify whether it works or not.  Although my son can already respond to a couple of the directions on the starter dvd (open your mouth, arms up, touch your nose) so I think it could work.  It's expensive but apparently there are other such reading programs available on the net.  To be honest I'm not sure they are all that necessary if you are prepared to put the research and work into teaching reading yourself then I think it's possible.  I don't want a baby genius or to 'hothouse' him I just want him to have a good start and to enjoy reading the way I do which is probably why i've had a sporadic approach with the Dr Titzer thing.  Don't expect miracles overnight.

Also remember to look into other things that are valuable to teach to give your child a good start in early years...things that don't even occur to most parents such as being able to interact with other children, use manners, sit still at pre-school, listen to basic instructions, use an 'inside' voice, use sissors, hold a pencil, colour in, are very important.  It might sound bizarre but a child who has trouble using sissors and cutting out shapes from a worksheet may be left never getting their work finished in time in the classroom and thus 'fall behind' other students.  From what I have seen of early childhood education it is often the children who have not been prepared in these seemingly simple things - for what is expected of them at school - who end up lower than the others.