Literacy Tips for Parents of Preschoolers

There are so many important foundations for literacy being laid during the preschool years. Since my son turned three this month, I'm looking forward to trying new things during our read aloud times, as well as including more literacy activities throughout his day.

Whether you have a reluctant reader or reading together is your preschooler's favorite activity, here are some suggestions for laying the foundations of literacy.

Encourage your preschooler to spend time on his own "reading," by looking through the pictures at books,
and/or listening to narration CDs as these little guys are doing here.

• If you are preparing to enroll your child in preschool, ask the schools you are visiting how they incorporate read aloud time into the students' days. (If read aloud is not a priority, consider this a red flag).
• Build your child's vocabulary throughout the day by giving names to everything. When reading books, point out the names of objects, animals, etc. that are pictured (even if they are not a main part of the story.)
• Encourage your child to interact with story time by inviting her to turn the pages when it is time. 
• When reading together, ask questions periodically, such as "why do you think he did that? What do you think will happen next?" Keep these questions light and ask them with curiosity about what your child thinks. Discussion should not feel like a test!
• Tell your child often how much you enjoy reading with her. Help her develop positive, warm feelings about reading by telling her it's one of your favorite times of day.
• Every so often, run your fingers underneath the words as you read to help your child understand that we read from left to right. Point out that each word is separated by spaces.
• Be sure that you keep a "flood book" or two, as librarian and author Caroline Feller Bauer calls them. Keep a few books in your car and one in your bag for traffic jams or long waits at the doctor's office. 
• Even if you have read a book before, say the title and author(s) before you begin reading it. This helps your child know how to ask for a book by name (or a close approximation of the name.) It also gives you a chance to explain that books are written and illustrated by people just like you and me.
• As you incorporate books that are drawn from other cultures, put up a world map on the wall. Each time you read a book set in another country, help your child put a sticker on that country as you "read your way around the world."

When you read stories set in other countries like Mama Panya's Pancakes; A Village Tale from Kenya,
help your child put a star or pushpin on the country on a world map.

• After reading a story, act it out with your child. You could also let your child dictate the story to you, and then tell you what ending he thinks is best for the story.
• Find crafts or fun activities to go with the books you are reading. For craft ideas that pair well with certain Barefoot Books, see this Pinterest board. 
• Satisfy the curiosity that preschoolers are known for by including non-fiction as well as fiction in your reading. A good children's atlas, a book about the human body, or books about favorite animals might be good choices for your child.

Share your ideas for reading to preschoolers and encouraging literacy in the comments!