The Preschool Times

Continuing with our series by our guest author Sharon Alm

Over the years of opening the world to your child, there will be so many things that you can do to connect the books you read, to your child’s reality:

I’ve mentioned the plastic magnetic letters for the refrigerator.  One of the most important first words on the refrigerator should be your child’s name!

Using the letter M as my example, you can conveniently think of lots of words, beginning with that sound, as you go through your day.  Emphasizing the letter sound, as you say and shape the words, connects them in your child’s brain.

Find that visible letter as you shop or ride in the car:  Mommy, morning, and M at the local McDonald’s, of course.  Use capital letters, including words that you create on the refrigerator.

Write your chosen letter for your child in soapsuds at bath time in the tub; make it from PlayDoh as he/she grows into that activity.  Create a collage of a few pictures from magazines that show M things in your child’s world. Post it where your child will see it to point out M pictures during a diaper change, for instance.  (Don’t let your child see you cutting up a magazine for this, however.  Save that for later, when you can teach scissor-cutting and the chosen old magazine to help with the posters.)  Remember those lessons on respect for printed materials.

If your book is about a farm, you can visit a local petting zoo, when your child is old enough to handle the experience.  Repeat this type of activity by visiting: an annual fair, the beach etc.  Each experience connects something new in that little brain.

Find incidental ways to remember things from books your child has read over the years.  These don’t have to be “dog and pony show activities.”  Just a quiet walk in the park can recall trees or fences or fountains seen in a story.  Little things mean a lot when they are discovered in the average day.

As you read the same books over and over, you’ll remember certain parts to recall at the opportune time for silly moments, too!  Dr. Seuss often creates those times with “I do not like them (or that), Sam I am.”  This can be a silly reminder of a funny story, and can also correct some behavior that is unfavorable to you at the time.

I would also like to recommend two books for you to read.  Both cover the subject of reading aloud to your child, but are written in delightfully different ways.  Each book contains lists of suggested books for various ages.  The books also make great gifts for new parents!

Reading Magic:  Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives

Forever by Mem Fox

Mem Fox is also the author of several wonderful children’s books!

Read to Me: Raising Kids Who Love to Read by Bernice e. Cullinan

I hope you will delight in watching your child grow and blossom with the reading aloud of wonderful books.  Making your child a book lover will be one of your greatest achievements as a parent.   Reading aloud bonds parents and children in so many ways.  Don’t assume that your independent reader won’t want read-aloud time with you.  Chapter books provide wonderful opportunities for some great reading—only without as many pictures to explore. Your child will be older, and chapter books can provide age-appropriate life lessons, too.

Peace & Light,

Grace