A fun way to create a family story is to make a family tree. You can add photos or ask your child to draw a picture of each family member then write one sentence under each person. Talk about each family member and how they are related to you, and share special memories you have shared together. Another fun way to create your family st...
It’s clear that you see the tremendous value in getting your grandson excited about reading and writing! A long line of research shows that children who take to reading early on are more likely to make it a pleasurable habit throughout their lives and experience later success in reading and writing, with a broader vocabulary and deeper...
Just after their first birthday, most children have a vocabulary of 3-4 words, but it is important to remember that every child is different. Research shows that one of the best ways to help children learn new words is to narrate your daily activities. Describe what you are doing as you go about your chores and activities. Point to and...
Picture books are unique in that they blend stories with art. When choosing a picture book, look for a book with a great story, as well as beautiful, eye-catching illustrations. Great illustrations are important because they not only help tell the story, they draw children in and help bring the book to life. Preschoolers love picture b...
Acquiring sight words is an important part of learning how to read. By the end of kindergarten, most children are able to identify approximately 50 sight words. There are many fun ways to help your child learn sight words. For example, word hunts can be a fun way to encourage your child to find sight words in a favorite book, magazine,...
Baby signing is a wonderful way to communicate with pre-verbal babies and reduce toddler frustration (aka, tantrums). Experts also tout the intellectual, cultural and social benefits of introducing a second language early on. Still, some parents and well-meaning relatives worry that children will have speech delays or become confused i...
The easiest way to get babies excited about books is to make reading a consistent and fun part of your day. Some parents find reading is a relaxing activity that helps babies wind down at nap time and bedtime. Whenever you read, cuddle your baby close and let your baby explore the book (sturdy board books are better for babies who want...
Experts distinguish between "parentese" (high-pitched, stretching out the sounds in words) and "babytalk" (meaningless babble sounds). Childhood language specialists suggest that while goochie-goo style babytalk is unecessary, parentese plays an important role in infant development. Parentese is a universal practice across languages an...
Letter learning is an essential component to beginning reading and writing, and play is a great way to help your child with letter recognition as well as learning letter sounds. Try building an “alphabet” tower with your child using wooden letter blocks. You can ask your child to name the letter before adding a block to the tower, or h...
A great place to look for beginner books that your 7-year-old might like is your local library. The wonderful thing about libraries is that they are free and have a great selection of books making it easier for your child to find something that sparks his/her interest. Be sure to talk to the librarian as well as he/she will likely have...
Most children do not have the fine motor control or strength to hold a pencil using a finger grip until they are 4 years of age. When children begin to use a finger grip, they will usually use all five fingers to grip a pencil (known as an “immature” or five-finger grip). By 5 or 6 years of age, children’s finger muscles are more devel...
Reading to your son is important, but it doesn’t necessarily have to happen at bedtime. Some children find reading calming, which is why it is often part of children’s bedtime routines. But sitting still for long periods of time—particularly when children are tired, can be difficult for children at this age.