Children use speaking to get what they want. To start to control their world.
Can we do the same with reading? Start with a small vocabulary of key words. Perhaps you’ll find magnets with key words. Or buy flash cards with key words and add magnetic strips on their backs so you can stick them on the fridge.
Add cards with pictures of people in the family or things that matter to your child.
Organise them on the fridge to make sentences, jokes, instructions. Get silly. Have fun.
Make it active: If your child puts “Mummy jump”, Jump! Give them a feeling of power and control. When they put it into words on the fridge do it if you possibly can.
Gradually extend the vocabulary to a second set of key words and to include words the child asks for. But do not add any words until those from the first set are pretty familiar, and then consider adding two a day.
This post was inspired by Breakthrough to Literacy and Ladybird Reading Scheme. Thank you to both.
Have fun.
