The best ways to encourage language development and literacy is by talking and reading to your children. Truly, it’s just that simple! Children are innately born to learn language and are true geniuses in language development. Parents don’t have to spend hours of time practicing language with flash cards or in order to build language in their children. From the words of the book, Einstein Never Used Flash Cards, “ Language gets learned in the context of interaction – in the context of playing and asking for the names of things, not passively looking at a computer monitor.”
Encourage Language Development By:
- Labeling things as children play with them “oh, you have a blue block”.
- Labeling anything that a child finds interesting.
- Talk and sing to your child.
- Do not use baby talk when speaking to your child, use actual words and phrases.
- Play make-believe and make up stories.
Encourage Literacy By:
- Reading to your child
- Don’t just read a book, talk about the story and ask lots of questions
- Point at pictures in books and label them
- Ask your child what will happen next in a story
- Ask about how a person in the story feels or why the did what they did.
- Have preschoolers “read” the story to you using the pictures.
- Introduce ABC’s through sensory tubs and fun games like…
Letter Sensory Box from Trial & Error Mama
Alphabet Hunt from No Time for Flash Cards
Letter B – Blue Balloon Bounce from Mom with a Lesson Plan
Sun-bleached Alphabet Puzzle from Quirky Momma
Activity #19: Make a Reading Nook
Pull out the pillows and favorite books and make a special place just for reading! Kids love cozy places and what a great way to spend some good time with your kiddos!
Tomorrow: Let’s Get Physical with Large Motor Play!
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