Literacy Tips for Families of Kindergartners and First Graders

Your child has reached the exciting age where he's beginning to read for himself - or soon will be! There are many simple things that families can do to encourage your children in this process and deepen their love of reading.

(If you're reading this post during the summer of 2015, get a whole set of bonus resources and tips through Barefoot Books' free summer reading program.)

• As your child begins to read for herself, it's so important that you continue reading aloud to her as well. A child's reading level doesn't catch up to her listening level until about age 14. Reading aloud more complex books increases older children's vocabulary and attention span (plus it's fun!)
• Be a role model: make sure your child sees you reading for pleasure. If you usually read on an e-reader, make sure you sometimes read paper books as well. When you read on an electronic device, your child doesn't know if you're on Facebook or reading a novel.
• Verbal development is a crucial part of literacy, so make sure you're talking to your child often. Ask him questions about his day. Encourage him to explain more about something he did, like a game he played with friends.
• When your child is sounding out a word, don't jump in to help her right away if she's having trouble. Remind her to look closely at the beginning letter of the word.
• When reading aloud, it's fine to skip long descriptive passages if your child's attention span isn't ready for them just yet.
• Use a reading log or book report form to help your child keep track of what he's read. Younger children often like these kinds of "big kid" activities. If you sign up for Barefoot Books 2015 Summer Reading program, you'll receive a log and book report form that are perfect for this age group.
• Play with rhyme. Use rhyming books, tongue twisters, songs, and nursery rhymes to help children distinguish between different sounds.
• Encourage your child to trace letters while saying the sound. A tactile experience can help them absorb the sound, so let your child trace in sand or salt on a plate, or use Montessori sandpaper letters.

Barefoot Books early readers, including The Tortoise's Gift,
 are designed to be the perfect first chapter books for beginning readers.

• If your child is ready for you to start reading chapter books with her, make sure you keep up with your reading. If you wait more than a day or two between chapters, your child may lose interest or forget what's happening in the book.
• Whether it's a book your child is reading himself or you are reading to him, ask questions that encourage him to go deeper into the story. "Why do you think Adika did that?"
• Puppets are a wonderful resource for allowing your child to re-tell a story, play rhyming games with you, or explore emotions.
• Encourage your child to re-read books so that she becomes faster at reading and deepens her comprehension of the story.
• Look for every opportunity for your child to practice writing. Ask him to write a letter to grandma, help you write out the grocery list, or encourage him to label his pictures with words.
• As your child becomes a reader, remember that one of the most important goals is for her to enjoy reading. To help with this, remember that it's better to have her start reading a book that is too easy than one that is too hard.

What other ideas do you have for encouraging literacy in kindergartners and first graders?

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