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ernie · 09-09-2009, 02:19 PM

You quite simply don't need to anything but read to your kids on a regular basis and if you want do some learning while playing (alphabet bath toys that sort of thing). Our nearly 3 year old daughter gets at least 3 stories a night and stories throughout the day if she wants and has since before she was 1. She loves stories. The consequence is that she recognizes many words when she sees them and she certainly has many books memorized based on the picture on the page.

It looks impressive to outsiders when she picks up a book and "reads" what is on the page but ultimately all she is doing is repeating the words we read to her off a visual clue (the picture). She's not really reading and she certainly is not sounding things out to figure out words. It's no surprise that the books she "reads" are her favourite ones she has heard over and over again.

Not that it is a bad thing for her to recognize words just that it's quite a leap from recognizing words to being able to recognize strings of words and actually read them.

Her brother on the other hand can't sit still long enough to read the shortest of nursery rhymes. He'd much rather climb something. Complete opposite to his sister who has always loved to sit in a lap and read stories.

Over the past few weeks as she has started part-time daycare she is being taught a little more rigorously the sounds letters make (the day home she goes to runs more of a pre-school in the morning rather than simply free for all play time). Again she loves it. She'll be a book worm when she grows up.

Oh the other thing that helps from knowing several kids and how they were raised it seems that if you don't constantly talk in baby talk to young kids they progress more rapidly early on. Talk to them like they are actual people who have thoughts and interests and they'll repay you with the ability to carry on a conversation!

Now all this isn't to say she doesn't watch some TV as she does but a lot of what she gets to watch has some learning (sesame street) and helps reinforce the letters and numbers. And we talk about what's happening on the screen. It seems so simple but reading and talking likely is the best way to develop those skills in your children. Go figure.

09-09-2009, 02:19 PM	#39
ernie Franchise Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Exp:	You quite simply don't need to anything but read to your kids on a regular basis and if you want do some learning while playing (alphabet bath toys that sort of thing). Our nearly 3 year old daughter gets at least 3 stories a night and stories throughout the day if she wants and has since before she was 1. She loves stories. The consequence is that she recognizes many words when she sees them and she certainly has many books memorized based on the picture on the page. It looks impressive to outsiders when she picks up a book and "reads" what is on the page but ultimately all she is doing is repeating the words we read to her off a visual clue (the picture). She's not really reading and she certainly is not sounding things out to figure out words. It's no surprise that the books she "reads" are her favourite ones she has heard over and over again. Not that it is a bad thing for her to recognize words just that it's quite a leap from recognizing words to being able to recognize strings of words and actually read them. Her brother on the other hand can't sit still long enough to read the shortest of nursery rhymes. He'd much rather climb something. Complete opposite to his sister who has always loved to sit in a lap and read stories. Over the past few weeks as she has started part-time daycare she is being taught a little more rigorously the sounds letters make (the day home she goes to runs more of a pre-school in the morning rather than simply free for all play time). Again she loves it. She'll be a book worm when she grows up. Oh the other thing that helps from knowing several kids and how they were raised it seems that if you don't constantly talk in baby talk to young kids they progress more rapidly early on. Talk to them like they are actual people who have thoughts and interests and they'll repay you with the ability to carry on a conversation! Now all this isn't to say she doesn't watch some TV as she does but a lot of what she gets to watch has some learning (sesame street) and helps reinforce the letters and numbers. And we talk about what's happening on the screen. It seems so simple but reading and talking likely is the best way to develop those skills in your children. Go figure. Last edited by ernie; 09-09-2009 at 02:26 PM.