Early Reading Practice for Preschoolers
Preschoolers don’t need a rigorous program and tons of worksheets to become strong readers. A love for (and an aptitude for) reading can come from playful, sometimes silly, frequent, and shared reading experiences. The crux of the research is this: when the adults in a child’s life read, talk, sing, and play with them, early literacy skills blossom. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading from birth finding that it strengthens language, cognition, and social-emotional development—and it’s fun, too!
We love reading here at Lily Pad Childcare! From board books to pictures books and then on to some shorter chapter books, we adore reading with our students and treat it like the foundational part of early childhood education that it is. Call today and come by for a tour to see our cozy reading corners and to ask our teachers about their favorite book recommendations!
Looking for some extra ways to encourage and boost reading in your home, childcare, daycare, or classroom? Check out these preschool approved and research backed strategies!
Turn reading time into a conversation
Turn story time into a back-and-forth chat with open ended questions such as “why do you think the bear is sad?” or “how do you think they will get the truck out of the muck?”. Additionally, ask your child to “read” the picture to you and see what they say! This is called “dialogic reading” and it has been shown to boost vocabulary and comprehension. Multiple studies and reviews show dialogic reading improves oral language and early literacy outcomes in preschoolers (Source).
Play with sounds every day
A strong understanding of phonological awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words—is an excellent stepping stone to set young children off on the right foot as they learn to read. Try rhyming races (“cat/hat/mat”), clap syllables in names, or play a guessing game by blending sounds (“this word ends in “un” and starts with “sssssssss”…”s/un!”). The NAEYC highlights integrating and practicing these skills into authentic, play-based activities.
Learning can and should be fun–especially for our littlest learners who are specifically learning through play! We love incorporating games and songs into our learning here at Lily Pad Childcare. We would love to share some of our favorites, and our love for learning, with you and your family. Call today to schedule a tour and ask about our classroom openings.
Re-read favorites (yes, again!)
While reading the saaaame book again can sometimes send an adult into a frustrated tizzy, it might help to realize that re-reading the same book can have a multitude of benefits. As children re-read (or re-hear) a beloved book, they learn new words, concepts of print, and story structure. Having a book nearly committed to memory can help them with their reading down the road, as well, in that they will be able to pick up on words and letter sounds because they know what the words should be. According the Reading Rockets, familiarity builds confidence and comprehension—so that “again!” request is all part of learning!
Do we read lots of books lots of times here at Lily Pad Childcare? We sure do! Call today to schedule a tour and see what the classroom favorites are!
Make print part of play
Making the connection between the written and spoken word plays a major part in a child’s early childhood education journey. Zero to Three recommends using the everyday print we have around us like signs, notes, and labels to practice making this association. Start by pointing out the word “stop” in a stop sign or “finding the “a” on the box of macaroni and cheese at the store. You can also help your little one by labeling toy bins, “writing” pretend menus while playing “restaurant” or even by drawing a treasure map!
Build a book-rich routine
Adding small rituals to your life like a “book snack”–reading together while having a snack after daycare, childcare, or school can be a fun way to normalize reading time. Saturday library trips, bedtime read alouds and poem picnic are other examples of lovely reading adventures. The American Academy of Pediatrics confirms that consistent, joyful exposure to books is linked to better school readiness and language growth.
Reading is part of our daily life here at Lily Pad Childcare. Call today to ask what’s on the “to be read” pile for our classes this week!
Epilogue
Early childhood education is the starting line for a lifetime race of learning. From their first letters to their first book, starting the ‘race’ sure footing through a love and appreciation for learning will help set your little one up for lifelong success. So, read the book again, ask questions about their favorite story, and listen to their thoughts on the story; it will be more than worth it!
Come see us here at Lily Pad Childcare where we read, learn, play and grow! Call today to ask about our classroom openings and to see what fun (and educational) adventures we have planned!