Getting Ready to Read - Talking

Learning to read isn’t just something that happens as a child enters school. This process begins when a child is still an infant, and research shows that there are some concrete things you can do with your young child to help them develop strong literacy skills as they grow. Five of the best ways to help your child get ready to read and prepare to succeed are talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing.TALKINGTalking with your young child is one of the greatest ways to help them develop language and early literacy skills. Conversations help a child express their thoughts, learn the meaning of words, and gain new information about the world. Any place is a good place to talk with your child! Listen to what your child says, answer and ask questions, add new information, and continue to take turns communicating. Here are some tips for how to talk with your little one:Serve and Return – Babies begin learning to talk by taking turns. They coo and gurgle, look at you, and wait for you do to it back. These early conversations teach your child about language and communication, and about being loved!Chat at the Changing Table – Diapering time is a wonderful time to talk. Your little one loves to gaze at you and will focus on watching your face and listening to your words as you tell her what you are doing, talk to her about your day, and make facial expressions.Respond Gently – In the couple year, crying is often a child’s basic go-to communication system. Respond with a gentle tone and loving words so that he knows you are listening to him. Be a Generous Word Giver – Name everything your child can see! Flowers and animals, toys and clothes, people and places. The more words your baby hears, the better!Talk About What Your Child Does – Acknowledging what your child is doing when it happens will create a connection in their brain between the action and your words that describe it. When him reaches for your nose, say in a comforting voice, “Are you trying to grab my nose?”Talk About Your Day – Narrate you day to your child so they begin to understand sequences of events, and how to expect will come next. For example, before you pick your child and give her a snack, say “I’m going to pick you up now, and then we will get a yummy snack for you to eat.”Tell Stories – Stories can be true from your life experience, a familiar classic tale like “Goldilocks and The Three Bears”, or something completely new and made up. Stories bring out words and ideas that you may not talk about in your everyday life, exposing your little one to even more language and expression.Talking to your child from birth is a priceless gift that enriches brain development. It is the best way to help your baby understand the symbols for things around him, so he can learn to use the language and communicate well as he grows. Keep talking to your child, even before she can talk back, and you build a good foundation for their future literacy skills.The information in this article was adapted from Every Child Ready to Read and Family Reading Partnership.