Reading is a life-changing hobby for many, and a survival skill for others. In all cases, everyone should learn to read at an early age, and even start to learn other languages. The question that most parents face is: when should we start teaching our child how to read?
While many wait for their kids to go to school and start learning around the age of six, many others decide to give their children a head start and take it upon themselves to teach them at home. Teaching your child to read can be a challenging endeavor if you don’t have the right tools, so, in this article we shed some light on the when and how. It is actually extremely crucial to know when to start reading to your children as this affects their development in a big way.
The Perfect Age
The earlier the better! Even though you may feel that when they are very young, they may not understand what you are saying to them, the habit and association makes a big difference. When you start reading to them at set times every day, they grow to know the value of the time spent reading, and will have it as a norm of their daily routine for years to come. Specialists say that you can help your child identify with letters and their sounds at an age as young as a few weeks. This is why many parents choose to read a bedtime story for their kids, even when they’re still babies in the crib.
Not only does reading time help you build a special bond, it also instills in them a love for books. Associating enjoyment with books is one of the greatest indicators of reading success in school-age children. If kids don’t learn to enjoy reading from an early age, it might actually hinder their ability to master it in the future. This is extremely valuable especially with the current generation as they have so many other mediums to distract them such as television and the internet, so having the importance of book reading instilled from early on makes it much easier for them to continue long after they pass the childhood stage.
The Tools
Most kids need assistive tools in the beginning, and the market is rich with especially designed books, games, puzzles and apps for this purpose. These great tools are aimed to teach your kids to read at home, while having fun in the process. Below are four of the coolest tools available on the market.
1. Children Learning Reading
This is a creative and convenient program that helps parents teach their kids how to read. The system comprises of two e-books that give parents simple instructions on how to teach their child to read. Check out this Children Learning Reading review if you want to know more about this innovative solution that can work for children as young as two years of age.
2. The Original Montessori Phonetic Reading Blocks
These phonetic reading blocks are one of the great tools to teach your kids to read. Kids naturally like to play with blocks, and this method seamlessly incorporates play and learning. The package of blocks makes a total of 80 words, and they help children learn to read as well as rhyme the words.
3. First Words Educational Board Game
This is a vibrant game that gives your child the chance to build words with short vowel sounds using colorful puzzle pieces, with the help of pictures. Once they are able to create the word, they get to learn how to read it. As they later improve along the way, kids learn to build the words without needing the pictures at all.
4. V.Reader System
A higher tech solution that is more on the expensive side, the V.Reader System carries touch screen games as well as video books that help your child learn. You can also expand the features by purchasing different software with different characters to help your child advance even more.
Find it and Stick with it
Just like teaching your kids anything, you need to find the right product, method, and price that works for you and your family. Children have unique personalities, and each one has different needs; the things that appeal to them are not always the same. What may have worked for your friend’s or relative’s child may not be suitable for yours. Once you find something that works, just keep doing it – repetition goes a long way. And just as important, keeping the activity of reading itself fun and interesting is crucial. Be sure to get creative in how you draw your children into the wonderful world of reading so that it sticks with them for a lifetime. Having a room specialized for just reading and stocking up an impressive library keeps the interest alive for generations to come.
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