Instructions

Things you'll need:

• Books, magazines
• Other items will vary depending upon which activities you engage in with your child.

1. Make sure that your child has enough time, space, and materials to engage in a creative play experience. Allow her to work out what it is she is going to play, ("house," "school," "store," etc.). Also, give her time to determine what her role is going to be, and to negotiate your role (or a friend's role). When children engage in quality creative play experiences, they often experiment with using words and styles of speech that they don't typically use during normal verbal interactions. For example, if your child is pretending to be a doctor, she may say something along the lines of, "Your child has an infection. I am going to write you a prescription." When your child is "in character" she may enunciate more clearly, speak in a different pitch, and gesticulate as she speaks. If you are the person playing with your child, you can do the same. Pretend to be different characters; use different speech patterns, mannerisms, and introduce new vocabulary words.
2. If your child is playing with a friend, they may get to a point where their play scenario runs out of steam. If you observe this happening, you can intervene and introduce some new "material" in order to prolong the experience.
3. Make books, newspapers, magazines, and junk mail available. Your child can use these items in a variety of ways. She may "read" a goodnight story to her doll, pretend to read the mail, and check out the newspaper. All of these activities emphasize print concepts (reading left to right, turning pages, beginning and end) and help her to understand the purpose and meaning of letters.

Tips

• When your child sees you read, she will observe that it is a pleasurable activity, rather than just something done as "work". She will also begin to understand the concept that words on paper represent and convey information.
• Read to your child often. If your child has difficulty paying attention, start with very short stories, and gradually move on to longer stories.
• When you read to your child, move your finger along underneath the words that you are reading.
• Let your child "read" to you. If she has favorite books, she will likely know parts of them by heart, and will be able to recite what she remembers.
• Look for books that have only illustrations, and no text; ask your child to tell you what she thinks is happening on each page.
• Point out and read signs, labels, mail...anything in print.
• Go to the library on a regular basis.
• Limit t.v. and computer time.
• Keep it fun!

Some other great resources:

• The meaning of preliteracy.
• Developing a pre-literacy curriculum.