Reading from a Young Age Matters

A picture is the first content of a book that a child can „read“. Thanks to pictures, a child can understand a story without knowing how to read, interpreting the main figures/animals, the environment, and the situations from the visuals. From illustrated facial expressions and body language the child can also tell emotions.

Enjoying a good book raises a love and passion that is necessary for prereading skills.

Letters all around your home

Babies a few months old can differentiate shapes. For them letters are simply another shape like a triangle, tree or a sun. Try to include them in your home as much as possible. How?

Decorate your home with 2 letters, after some time change one for another one.
Arrange letters using carrot or cucumber peels while preparing vegetables with your child.
Draw letters in sand.

Rhyme as much as possible

A large knowledge of nursery rhymes helps children realize that words are made up of separate sounds.

Read illustrated books with your child from an early age – describe pictures, shapes, colours, and emotions.
Find, describe and match objects that rhyme such as spoon - moon, cat - hat, dog - frog.
Enjoy nursery rhyme books such as "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?", "The Going to Bed Book", "The Snail and the Whale", ...

Use baby sign language

Support your child in being an active reader or a communication partner by teaching them baby signs. Baby signs are simple gestures substituted for words. Mastering baby signs helps the child to build self-esteem and increases the joy of being able to express themselves.

Around 1 year, your child will be able to „tell“ you that he/she sees a cat, sun, wants to drink milk or feels pain. ”Baby signers show early signs of loving books and they are able to master prereading skills at early age.“

So, let your child jump onto your lap and read together! Such moments significantly help to develop:

Attention: giving children face to face interaction and being playful helps children pay attention better and longer.
Bonding: learning and memory are enhanced in a secure and loving environment which positively influences the primal parts of a child’s brain.
Communication: loving communication with your child increases their ability to speak and read soon

Lenka Míkovcová – IMSP Primary Teacher Assistant

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

ABSORBENT MIND – A KEY PRINCIPLE IN MONTESSORI

References:

Bright from the start, Jill Stamm, PhD, Paula Spencer, Gotham Books, 2007
Baby Minds – Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn / Bantam Books, 2000

Gallery
Comments

Další články

Let´s pack for a trip with your Toddler

Summer is the perfect time for trips and outings. A backpack of their very own is a great gift for an older toddler or a pre-schooler: It builds their independence and confidence as they actively participate in preparing for each trip, and then carry their necessities by themselves.

Montessori Sensorial Materials Lead to Sensory Awareness

The materials in the Sensorial area of the Montessori classroom are quite unique – they speak to the tactile observer in all of us. When you consider the way humans take in information, you realize how often we use more than one sense to explore. Maria Montessori’s work in the Sensorial environment was designed to take advantage of this tendency. Today, I will discuss the materials featured in the Children’s House classroom (ages 3-6).

The Little Panda

If you’re interested in kids activities or events happening in Prague during the coming weekend or through the year, check out the website of our partner - www.littlepanda.cz.

Toddler life hacks

Toddlers are at a very sensitive age for physical independence. It is natural to want to take care of them, yet sometimes giving the freedom and space to do things by themselves is a gift that not only makes them happy, but also support their overall development, confidence and sense of self.

Dealing with Emotions Through Art

“Social and emotional learning(SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”