Just want to share really quickly some of the things I did to help my son learn letter sounds.
1. Printed the alphabet worksheets over at http://first-school.ws/theme/alphabet.htm. Took me some time to download and print from A-Z but at least I have it all ready on hand when needed. Here is what they look like:
I use the big printed alphabet for finger tracing. Then the smaller pictures below, I cut and have my son paste it into a mini-book. You can print the minibook from the above website. If you are lazy to print, like me, just take an A4 paper, in a landscape position, fold it down in half. Cut it so you have 2 long horizontal strips. Fold it like an accordian or whatever way you want so it looks like a book. Then just have your child paste in the pictures.
2. Printed, laminated and cut out alphabet cards. Made two of each alphabet. You can play memory games and matching games with these. Also can use them to make words. Right now I use them with this book: Reading Reflex: The Foolproof Phono-Graphix Method for Teaching Your Child to Read
Something akin to phonics, it is called phono-graphix. You can read more about it here: Phono Graphix
3. Another activity that helped a lot was the online Starfall educational site.
My kids really liked it and the repeated listening of the letter sounds helped them learn quickly.
Many of us parents have been bombarded by the sales pitch that our babies can be smarter if they watch blah-blah DVDs, listen to blah-blah CDs, play with blah-blah toys. Well, I came across an article in USA Today entitled “Report Puts Pacifier On ‘Smarter Baby’ Debate” that disputes the idea that we can make our babies smarter with such products.
You know how these brain-building programs tend to emphasize that we have until the child is 3 years old to sufficiently stimulate our child or else…? Well, it is pointed out that such claims may be the result of misinterpreting research. Yes, a child’s brain at that time grows rapidly but we shouldn’t believe that once that time is past, we have lost a valuable opportunity and can never get it back again. According to Sara Mead, a senior policy analyst with Education Sector, we should not see it as a “singular window for growth that slams shut once children turn 3.” I agree with her on this point.
I never liked the idea that a child has a cut-off point for learning. If we adhere to that idea, then it is our attitude to our child’s learning that will be their handicap. See what kind of parents such statements have made us? Even before the child is born, we pressure ourselves into investing in expensive programs and products. We try to cram our children’s life with so many activities before they reach 3. Failing to do so may make us feel less of a parent because it would mean depriving our children from achieving excellence.
This article, to me, is saying that brain stimulation is important for babies. No doubt their brain is growing at a fast past during this period. However, stimulation does not necessarily equate to expensive brain enhancing programs and products. Simple activities such as reading to your child, freedom to play and explore, quality interaction between parent-child (bonding) and lots and lots of encouragement will also make smarter babies. And believe that the opportunity to excel does not stop when they reach their 3rd birthday.
Read the article and tell me what is your take on it?
File folder games are fun little things you could do to keep your child busy as well as educate them. Appropriate for preschoolers, you could prepare simple games to teach reading, counting, colors, sizes, shapes, alphabets, opposites, categorizing etc…. Although a bit time consuming to prepare the materials, it is worth it to put aside that few hours. I did a few for my children and they have enjoyed playing with it.
What I have done so far:
1. Match the shapes
2. Match the alphabets - ABCD
3. Match the colors
4. Match the different sized circles
5. Counting dinosaurs
6. Fishes to go along with some fish rhymes and songs.
7. A clock - putting in the numbers
8. Match the number to dots
9. Feelings
With a computer, printer, laminator, and scissors, get creative and come up with all sorts of things. There’s also the option of using games and puzzles that you find in children magazines. If you run out of ideas, here are some links to help you.
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