“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Quincy focuses intently. He grabs his chin with his thumb and forefinger like his dad does when he thinks. A huge smile breaks across his face and he lights up from head to toe. He points his finger in the air, “I know! I could be an astronaut!”
Who hasn’t had a conversation like this with a child they know and love? As parents, we all want our children to be successful in life and accomplish their dreams. Studies show that the home is the biggest factor in a child’s academic success. What can parents do to prepare their children for school?
Early childhood literacy sounds like something only a professional could handle. However, parents are every child’s first teacher. The building blocks of literacy are simple and so easy, anyone could use them. Here are some tips from Pacer.org to help encourage listening in order to prepare your child for reading. Listening helps children to focus on details and follow a story.
Encourage Listening
Respond to your infant’s cooing
Talk to infants and toddlers
Increase vocabulary by naming things in the child’s environment (i.e., body parts, colors, clothing, food, toys)
Sing songs and recite rhymes daily
Make sounds of the animals you see in books
Give simple directions to your child
Listen to music, and move or clap to the beat
Read stories and talk about illustrations (Pacer.org)
Teaching children to listen is as easy as fun songs and bedtime stories. It may take effort to start these early literacy building habits, but in no time, you will be a pro.
