Question: My child is not quite ready to read but making strides there. What can I do to foster that learning curve?

Hello! 

Thank you for asking this question! At Tiny Earth Toys we have a deep love of reading, and we're happy to share some tips to cultivate your child’s interest in beginning to read. The most essential thing may be surprising. To help kids learn to read we can first support their love of reading. Here are a few ways to do that: 

• Read together frequently  
• Chat with your little, and use words that might expand your child’s vocabulary
• Keep books accessible so they can settle in with a good book whenever they please. Even pre-readers can enjoy “reading” the pictures
• Make that reading super nook cozy with stuffed animals, books and blankets
• Make sure they see other family members reading books and magazines 

 

Learning to read is a complex and multifaceted process. While loving reading is an essential part of becoming a reader, there are of course several skills that have to be mastered in order to be able to read.

Without knowing your child’s age and where they are in the process, it will be hard to give specific suggestions. We hope, however, that this excerpt from one of our many learning guides will be helpful. It outlines an important early reading skill and some fun ways you can work with it at home. 

 

When to start?

Each person has their own unique course for learning. Your child will at some point enter a sensitive period for learning about letters and sounds, and you’ll have this information ready to support them in their work.  

 

How will you know when your child is ready to dive in? Your child’s interest is the gauge for when they are ready. When they are showing an interest in letters and sounds, that is a great time to sprinkle some of this early reading work into your play.

 

If you are met with delight when you begin introducing the letters you are on the right track. If your child is spacing out, asking to do other things, or simply refusing the invitation it’s time to step back.  We want our little ones to learn to read, but even more so we want them to have a lifelong love of learning and a positive view of themselves as a joyful and capable learner.  

 

Matching Sound and Symbol

It may surprise you to know that in Montessori classrooms we don't focus on children learning the names of the letters. While the ABC song can be fun, and there is no harm in learning it, it does very little to help your child towards learning readiness. What does help, is giving them opportunities to associate the sounds of the letters with the symbol of the letters.

 

If your child hasn’t done much matching work, you may want to first do a bit of exact matching. You can learn about that here.

 

It will perhaps take a little rewiring for adults, but there are simple ways to help your child learn the sounds of the letters.  One practice is to replace naming the letters with making the letter sound.  When you point to B, for example, don’t say the name of the letter, just make a “b” sound.  Always refer to the letters by their sounds. “This says b” 

 

Letter of the Day

If, and only if, your child is loving letters, you can increase their work with letters by introducing a letter of the day.  Pick a place your child sees every day to be the “letter spot.”  

If you have blocks or puzzle pieces that have the letter on them, place one of them in that place for them to find that morning, with the letter of the day facing your child. If you don’t have something that will work, you can request these kinds of toys in your kits!

 

When your child sees that letter- say the sound. If it is S, you’ll say “Sssssss.  This says ssssssss”.  Have fun incorporating the letter and sound into your day.  Draw it in the sand, make the letter out of sticks or write it on coloring pages. As your child gets familiar with the letter you can write it in different places for them to find throughout the day.  Remember, for now, to make the letters you write look exactly like the one you first introduced.   

And if you're in need of a transformative bookshelf to help store all your books and foster a love of reading, make sure you check out Tiny Spaces on Kickstarter today!

 

Pre-orders will be ready just in time for the 2024 holidays. 

 

 

By Olynda Smith AMS Certified Montessori teacher and Simplicity Parenting Family Life Coach