There is no exact profile for what a child should be ready to do or know, prior to entering school. Children should be able to recognize letters, count to 20 or higher, write his/her name, know where he/she lives, and read or pretend to read. Parents can help their child be ready for school by reading to them and helping them to recognize words, teaching them letters, teaching them how to count, teaching them how to write their name and simple words. Parents can also (if available) enroll their child into a good preschool program. But, this does not mean that you allow someone else to take over the responsibility of teaching your child the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic. You are your child’s first teacher.
There are many wonderful preschool programs across the country. Many of them are connected to local schools. Check in your area to see what is available. Spend time at your child’s preschool to be sure that your child is getting the education you are hoping for. Find out how many of the employees have some form of education beyond high school. Ask questions of the director to see if they offer parenting classes, informal gatherings (to meet and greet with other parents), what is the curriculum, are they accredited, and do they do home visits. A good preschool will have some kind of booklet which will address all of your concerns.
Children who find reading difficult in school are often children who have not had exposure to reading prior to school. Take your child on a trip to your local library. Find out if they hold story time and schedule yourself and your child to be there. Allow your child to check out easy books, picture books, books with few words, and even books that just have pretty pictures in them. Let your child read a book to you. It doesn’t matter if they can read the words, what matters is how they view the book. Easy reading material develops fluency and provides practice in using good reading strategies.
I would also suggest that you order children’s magazines for your child. There are many wonderful magazines available for the very young through the teen years. They prompt reading, writing and often peak interest in different areas. When my daughter was young, she had subscriptions to several different magazines. We also made a point of purchasing the Little Golden books at the grocery store each week. Of course, the price of those have gone up (we paid .29 per book), but she loved reading them over and over.
Another great way to educate your child is to allow them to watch certain children’s shows. Sesame Street teaches children letters, numbers and even foreign languages. Between the Lions teaches children letters and reading. Both of these shows also teach social skills and pride in oneself. There are many other shows available for young children that influence them to read. Make sure that the shows your child is watching simulate them in a positive way.
All children can learn to read. It takes time to learn anything. Take the time with your child to teach them. Remember, as the parent, you are your child’s first teacher. It is essential that children have many opportunities to read. Reading opens up an entirely different view of our world. Expose your child to many books, magazines and words.
