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Reading game for children ages 2 to 6
Sharing the alphabet with your child helps her begin to
recognize the shapes of letters and to link them with the
sounds of spoken language. She will soon learn the
difference between individual letters - what they look like
and what they sound like.
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When you show your child letters and
words over and over again, she will identify and use
them more easily when learning to read and write.
She will be eager to learn when the letters and
words are connected to things that are part of her
life. |
What You Need
The first reading game activities in the list below work
well with younger children. As your child grows older, the
later activities let him do more. However, keep doing the
first ones as long as he enjoys them.
- Alphabet books
- ABC magnets
- Paper, pencils, crayons, markers
- Glue and safety scissors
What to Do
Try these reading games with younger children.
- With your toddler sitting with you, print the
letters of her name on paper and say each letter as you
write it. Make a name sign for her room or other special
place. Have her decorate the sign by pasting stickers or
drawing on it.
- Teach your child "The Alphabet Song" and play games
with her using the alphabet. Some alphabet books have
songs and games that you can learn together.
- Look for educational videos, DVDs, CDs, and TV shows
such as "Between the Lions" that feature letter-learning
activities for young children. Watch such programs with
your child and join in with her on the rhymes and songs.
- Place alphabet magnets on your refrigerator or on
another smooth, safe metal surface. Ask your child to
name the letters she plays with and to say the words she
may be trying to spell.
- Wherever you are with your child, point out
individual letters in signs, billboards, posters, food
containers, books, and magazines. When she is 3 to 4
years old, ask her to begin finding and naming some
letters.
- When your child is between ages 3 and 4, encourage
her to spell and write her name. For many children,
their names are the first words they write. At first,
your child may use just one or two letters for her name
(for example, Emily, nicknamed Em, uses the letter M).
- Make an alphabet book with your kindergartner. Have
her draw pictures (you can help). You can also cut
pictures from magazines or use photos. Paste each
picture in the book. Help your child to write next to
the picture the letter that stands for the object or
person in the picture (for example, B for bird, M for
milk, and so on).
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