Now I Know My ABC’s

By Andrea Jeppesen

Knowing the alphabet is a necessary precursor to learning how to read. Children who know their ABC’s before starting school have a huge advantage over those who don’t. Here is a list of some fun ways to help your child learn. If you have any other suggestions, please share! What fun things have you done at your house?

1. The Alphabet Song – point to the letters as you sing

2. Find the Letters on Everyday Objects – cereal boxes, at the store, around the house

3. Alphabet Coloring Pages – for example, (http://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/mabcposter.html)

4. Letters of their Name - Start by just saying aloud the spelling of their name. If you can come up with a little song for the letters of their name then the learning is usually much faster. For example, if your child has a 5 letter name try replacing the letters of the song BINGO with the letters of your child’s name

5. Tracing Their Name – on paper, or in salt, sand, gel, fingerpaint, pudding, or shaving cream.

6. Tracing the Letters of the Alphabet – use same ideas as above

7. Playdough - roll out and make the letter (or use a toothpick to write the letter on the playdough).

8. Magnetic letters – on the fridge or cookie sheet

9. Matching Games – talk about the shapes of the upper and lower case letters. Are they the same or different?

10. Take your finger and trace the letters on the palm of the hand or on your child's back.

11. Practice using sticky notes and label objects in the house that begin with the letter.

12. Alphabet Stamps – useful for alphabet recognition, making words, and spelling

13. Eating the alphabet – form letters using vegetables, pretzels, potato sticks, and candy. Decorate cupcakes, cakes or cookies using frosting tubes to print letters. Squeeze mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, or jelly letters out of containers to enhance your food. Try Alphabits Cereal for breakfast and name the letters.

Sources:

Anderson, Sheila. Teach the Alphabet: 8 Fun Tips to Teach Your Child the Alphabet, 2009.

Mascle, Deanna. 15 Tips For Helping Children With Learning the Alphabet Letters, 2007.

Beginning Reading to Baby

By Andrea Jeppesen

“It’s never too early to begin reading to your baby.” I tried to read to my newborn, Jonas, but lagged off a little until he was about 4 months old (and I could get my feet on the ground). When I finally began reading to Jonas again, I was surprised at how attentive he was to books.

Here are a few reasons why experts say that “It’s never too early . . ."

from the moment babies are born, they are learning the different sounds of the human language

talking and reading to your baby can help her prepare for later reading activities

reading can be part of a wonderful nap/bedtime routine

a routine early on, will help make reading to your growing baby a natural part of the day

Babies love:

simple, brightly colored shapes (newborns can easily distinguish between black and white contrast)

rhythm

rhyme

repetition

Some of my favorite baby books:

Black on White by Tara Hoban (contrast, simple shapes)

White on Black by Tara Hoban (contrast, simple shapes)

Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (rhythm, rhyme, repetition)

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins (rhythm, rhyme, repetition)

Hush, Little Baby by Sylvia Long (rhythm, rhyme, repetition)

What are some books that your baby has enjoyed?