| Many parents are looking for activities that will | | | | members together. Have your child dictate the |
| help to boost a child's early reading skills. Here are | | | | letter to you, and then holding his hand, help him |
| the top three favorite early reading activities | | | | to trace out the letters for each word. |
| which will not only help you build your child's early | | | | As your child begins to understand that the |
| reading skills, but will also help you build his | | | | letters you are having him write are actually the |
| confidence. Each of the following early reading | | | | words he is saying, they'll quickly begin to cement |
| activities should be done together with your child, | | | | in his mind, and you'll find that he'll actually begin to |
| and can be made even more effective by | | | | attempt to write certain words on his own after |
| involving your entire family. | | | | a while. |
| Create Picture-Text Flashcards Together | | | | Alphabet Memory and Matching |
| One of the most important things about | | | | An alphabet memory and matching game is a |
| reinforcing your child's early reading skills is being | | | | great way to help your child improve his early |
| able to help him to understand that there is a | | | | reading skills and to bolster his self-confidence in |
| correlation between words and pictures. A great | | | | those skills. The best way to do this is to have |
| way to do this is to create picture and text | | | | him help you create two sets of index card with |
| flashcards together with your child. | | | | the letters of the alphabet printed on the back of |
| The best way to start is to collect several old | | | | each one in bright colors. Have him name each |
| magazines and have your child go through and | | | | letter as you help him to form it. |
| identify several pictures that he likes. Clip these | | | | Once you have both sets completed, lay one set, |
| out, and help him to glue them to 3x5 index | | | | letter side down on a table in front of your child, |
| cards. As you glue the pictures to the cards, have | | | | and the other letter side up. As your child turns |
| your child name each picture and show him how | | | | over a single card from the upside down pile, |
| to print the name of the object on the back of | | | | have him match it to its mate on the other side. |
| the card. | | | | You can also help to boost your child's memory, |
| To play, first have your child name the object on | | | | by placing both sets face down on the table, and |
| the front of each card, and then show him how | | | | having him attempt to find pairs one set at a |
| to sound out the word on the back. As your child | | | | time. |
| gains more confidence, he'll begin to identify the | | | | Always remember that with any sort of activities |
| words on the backs of the cards more easily. As | | | | for boosting your child's early reading skills that it |
| he does, begin showing him the words on the | | | | is important to be generous with your praise |
| backs of the cards first to see how many he can | | | | when your child does well. By praising your child |
| identify and sound out without first seeing the | | | | each time he correctly identifies a word, you are |
| pictures. | | | | helping to further cement that word into his brain. |
| Writing Letters Together | | | | Not to mention that the more praise he receives, |
| Another great way to bolster your child's | | | | the more he will try to truly commit to heart the |
| confidence is to sit and write letters to family | | | | words and letters in your early reading activities. |