Skills to Practice this Month
- Take your child to a variety of places such as the library, the park, the grocery store, the post office, etc.
- Having a variety of experiences will stimulate your child intellectually. Vocabulary is learned through conversations and experiences as you talk with your child about what is happening in the world around you. Visiting a variety of places allows your child to see that print is everywhere. Visiting your library will encourage children to enjoy books and children who enjoy books want to learn to read.
Activities
Create a scavenger hunt and have your child look for certain objects when you go to the store, library, or other outing. Draw pictures or have your child draw pictures of things to look for while out and about. Be sure to write the name of the item beside its picture and give your child a pencil, crayon, or even stickers to take along to mark items off as they see them.
With your child, make an "All the Places I Have Been" journal. In the journal, your child can write where he went, when, and what he did there, or who he saw. Younger children can tell you what to write and draw pictures themselves. Have your child think of a question to ask the postal worker when you visit the post office, the nurse at the doctor's office, etc, and record the answer in his journal when you return home.
Make a list with your child of all the places he would like to visit. These places could be as simple as the park or as elaborate as the North Pole. Mark the places off the list as you visit them with your child. For places that you may not be able to visit in person, like the North Pole, read books about that place and take an imaginary journey. Talk about all the things you will need to take with you on your imaginary journey, how long you will stay, what you see when you get there, and who you might meet. Record these in the “All the Places I Have Been” journal.
Remember that tasks adults do everyday can be new experiences for children. Even if the task seems ordinary to you, tell your child what you are doing when you do errands or perform tasks. Point out words on signs, labels, lists, or menus. Allow your child to interact and ask questions.
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