Preschool

Early Years Birth To Preschool

Last Updated Aug 20, 2008 05:44 AM

EARLY YEARS
Birth to Preschool

The Alphabet Song
Knowing the alphabet is a key to successful reading in later years. When you sing the alphabet song, your voice draws your child's attention to the letters of the alphabet.
What you'll need: You and your child.

What to do:

Make eye contact with your child and begin singing the alphabet song:
"A-B-C-D (pause) E-F-G (pause) H-I-J-K (pause) L-M-N-O-P (pause) Q-R-S (pause) T-U-V (pause) W-X (pause) Y and Z. Now I've sung my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me?"


You can sing this song very slowly or you can sing it fast.
You can also change your voice and sing it with a high, peeping voice (like a bird) or with a deep, dark voice (like a bear)


Funny Sounds and Words
Reading to your child is important for many reasons. It gives you time together. It tells your child that reading is very important. It also lets you share your knowledge and ideas with your child.
What you'll need: A favorite book of stories.

What to do: Choose a story to read to your child. As you read the story, use your voice to draw attention to a special, new word. You can say the word in a funny way, sing it, say it loud or soft, and even make funny faces when you say it.

Show your child how to use the word throughout the day. The next time you read together, choose a new word.

The Name Game
Knowing the names of things is important to learning about the world. Children learn the names of things mostly from their parents and teachers. One of the first things children can learn is their own name.
What you'll need: You and your child.

What to do: Ask your child, "What's your name?" If your child answers correctly, say, "Yes, that's your name. Your name is Calvin." If your child doesn't know his or her name, say, "Your name is Calvin. What's your name?" and repeat it until your child says it correctly.

Once your child knows his or her name, you can have fun with it. Look at your child. "What did you say your name? Calvin? I thought your name was Snicklefritz." You can also say, "My name is Mother Goose. Is that my name?"


Your Story Ending
An important part of reading and listening to stories is learning that they have endings. Sometimes the end of a story is a surprise, and sometimes it is not. Once children become familiar with stories, they can help create their own ending to a story.
What you'll need: A story your child does not already know. A pencil and paper.

What to do:

Read the story to your child. When you are close to the end of the story, stop reading. Ask your child how he or she would complete the story. Let your child say the words to you as you write the ending. Then finish reading the story. Talk about how the story's ending and your child's ending for it are different or the same.

See also Preschool 332 1 - 7