A child's journey to literacy is learning to speak, listen, read, understand, see, draw, and write. Literacy is within literacy and is a very important step in the development of children. Next I am going to explain some of the literacy activities so that you can do with the children from home.
Speaking, singing, playing games with sounds, words, reading and writing and even drawing… these are great ways to establish literacy in children. Daily activities such as going to shops, libraries, going to a museum ... they are opportunities for literacy development to be used with children.
Every day you can find activities to enhance reading, and it is that many activities aimed at younger children are still suitable for older children, You just have to try to make those same activities a challenge with different objectives to achieve.
Many parents feel that they do not have time to work on literacy activities, but you don't need a lot of time, the reality that 5 minutes several times a day is more than enough. The key is to use different opportunities that the day offers you to help your child learn at home. These activities can range from things like taking a trip to the local grocery store or creating a bedtime story.
Talking and singing
Talking and singing are activities that go very well for the beginning of literacy, since children will begin to learn about sounds, how they sound and how they come together to form language. By teaching games and songs, the child will improve his language, something that will help him develop listening skills and he speaks, essential to be able to learn to read and write.
Activities for preschoolers
- Word rhymes for them to learn
- Sing lullabies or songs to go in the car or walk
- Repeat sounds that children or others make for them to imitate
- Play language games like 'I see, I see… what do you see'?
- Talk about the sounds animals make and imitate them
- Have everyday conversations such as what is cooked, where are we going ...
- Talk about objects outside the home such as when going on a trip to the park
- Imitate sounds of birds, cars, rain ...
- Tell the children stories about the family so they will be attentive
Activities for older children
The games that are used with younger children, if they are modified a little and adapted to the ages of the children, great results can be achieved. Next I will explain other games that are also ideal for the initiation of literacy in children.
- You can play word games that encourage children to learn sounds.
- Ask your child about the words that rhyme and make up new ones. They can be real or imagined.
- Talk about the TV shows your child is watching
- Talk about books you are reading at school
- Talk about the future or things that interest you.
Reading activities from babies
Reading with children helps them develop vocabulary, listening skills and comprehension… all essential for the development of literacy. In addition, doing reading activities with children will help them create a positive attitude toward reading for life.
Activities for younger children (before school age)
- Read with baby - it's never too early to start-
- Sing songs
- Make rhymes with your baby
- Read baby books and encourage him to touch you, turn the pages
- Point to words and items while saying the name
- Ask your baby about the book even if he doesn't answer you
- Visit libraries with children on a regular basis so that they become familiar with books from an early age
These are some activities that will help children get started in literacy because the most important thing in the beginning will always be the motivation towards letters, words and language. Once children feel this motivation for the world of letters, literacy will be a very pleasant learning for them.