5 Simple Ways parents Can Support Emerging Readers at home

Reading is an essential skill that determines academic success. It has become more important than ever to support your child in developing essential reading and writing skills in the home before they even enter kindergarten. Below, I detail five easy ways parents can help their children on their path to literacy.

Label the room
Label objects around your home with words. Write 'wall' on a sticky note or tape and put it on your child's bedroom wall at the eye level of your child. Do this for many objects in their room such as a dresser, lamp, shelf, floor, etc. Just seeing the words labeling these objects on a day to day basis begins your child's understanding of the purpose of written language to communicate. The signs will spark a natural curiosity for language that can turn into a game of labeling other objects around the room. Read the labels and spell the words, then ask your child to point to the letters as you do this. 

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Keep books accessible
Place books in a bin or basket on a low shelf or on the floor among other toys. Allowing children to choose books as part of their playtime routine makes literacy a part of their everyday life. If you are worried about pages ripping, keep precious books out of reach and teach your children how to turn pages by using board books and old magazines in the bin first. 

Make letters a part of play
Include plastic letters in a sensory bin and play with your child by tracing some letters in the sand. Use trucks to move the letters from place to place and talk about what you are doing. Say something like, "I am moving the 'A' from here to here." Keeping literacy fun and playful is a great way to develop a love of learning.

Find words everywhere
Point to common signs for restaurants, stores, and signs as you drive and say the words printed on the signs. Say things like, "That sign says McDonald's." Your child will begin to recognize that reading is a part of everyday life and begin to recognize these words too.

Play a hopping game with letters
Whether you hop from letter to letter on a printed carpet or mat, or if you make a hopping game with a plastic table cloth and permanent markers, playing games that incorporate movement is a great way to practice recognizing and reading the letters of the alphabet. 

Making letter recognition and reading a part of your child's home life is a great way to get them ready for school. I hope that you found some of these ideas helpful. Let me know which ones you try in the comments!