| I am back with more information regarding early | | | | new readers I have ever taught, from tinies to |
| reading. | | | | older people who were learning to read for the |
| My second article dealt with the alphabet and how | | | | first time in their lives, have all loved identifying |
| to teach its sounds. In this one I will show you the | | | | sounds in shops, especially those banner headlines |
| importance of games to stimulate interest and | | | | advertising specials and sales. |
| empower the learning process. | | | | Bear in mind there are only twenty-six letters in |
| Never stereotype children, babies included. They | | | | the alphabet and children are sponges in the |
| are as different as snowflakes. They can have an | | | | learning game. |
| awareness belying their tender years, a great | | | | In a role reversal, let your child test you. Stumble, |
| boldness, build an instant rapport with strangers, | | | | get a few wrong, allow yourself to be corrected, |
| fit instantly into their new world, and hug for the | | | | children love it. One parent actually resisted this |
| Olympics. They can understand the power of | | | | saying she would not lie to her child. Remember it |
| their demands and consign the notion of gradual | | | | is a game, many games require bluffing, the |
| development to the bin. Or, they can be the | | | | difference with this game is that it has future |
| antithesis of all these remaining squarely within | | | | issues of overwhelming importance to your child. |
| varying shades of each and every one. | | | | A game children enjoy is to place the cards they |
| But whilst every child is his or her own little | | | | know on the floor in a spaced line. They become |
| person, there are at least two issues where all | | | | stepping stones in a river. Go carefully along, |
| children become stereotypical. They all love | | | | stepping on each stone and not falling into the |
| games and they all hate being force fed anything. | | | | water. |
| Sit a child down and teach him and he will resist | | | | Or your line of cards can become a Formula One |
| learning possibly forever. Play learning games with | | | | track, if you miss a letter you hit a hay bale, if |
| him and he will embrace learning, possibly forever. | | | | you complete the circuit, the laurel crown (a |
| The continuous development of his learning skills | | | | winter hat) awaits. |
| will depend on your influence, your approach. | | | | The cards can be stuck to a door which then |
| You have printed the letters of the alphabet one | | | | becomes a beautiful apple tree. Holding a small |
| letter at a time, on postcards in red felt pen. | | | | basket or bag, your child picks every 'apple' she |
| When your child has mastered say the 'a' 'b' 'c' on | | | | reads correctly. |
| his bedroom walls and the 'd' 'e' 'f' on the door of | | | | Fairies and elves, a game where the child hides |
| the fridge, swap them around. You can place | | | | under a table (mushroom) and answers each card |
| them in surprising places, one on a gumboot then | | | | in a fairy or elf voice. Giants hide behind a rock |
| ask "What on earth is this cheeky 'a' doing on | | | | (chair) , robots stride along the carpet and all |
| your gumboot Simeon?" The tray of the | | | | answer in the appropriate voice. You and your |
| high-chair, a place-mat, pinned to a curtain, in the | | | | child can probably think of many more characters |
| sock drawer, the back of a chair, on a door, are | | | | to assume. These games are fun, fast and enable |
| all admirable spots. In fact any strategic and | | | | your child to learn brilliantly. Later they can be |
| unexpected place where a young reader can see, | | | | adapted to the synthetic phonic sounds, they cost |
| identify and have a good, indignant laugh at these | | | | nothing and all children love them. |
| cheeky sounds that move around so much. | | | | Just keep your child laughing and you will keep him |
| Particularly important is that you move them | | | | learning. |
| around and introduce new sounds for a continuous | | | | My next article will deal with the importance of |
| development and complete familiarization. All the | | | | reading every single day. |