All Info About Reading

“A Parents’ Guide to Readiness Skills” will show you just how to build the skills your child needs for school success. Learn all about closure, fine motor skills, concepts of print, and more! The ebook is available from Lulu Publishing for $5.00.

Here’s an excerpt:
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Introduction to Readiness Skills

Preschool and kindergarten teachers often refer to “Readiness Skills” when discussing the teaching of beginning reading. It is common knowledge in educational circles that there are a whole host of skills that children need to master BEFORE they can begin to read on their own. Here’s the lowdown on readiness skills and how you can help your child develop them.

There is really very little mystery about it. Readiness skills are simply the things that children need to know before formal reading instruction can be effective. The list includes skills related to language development, directionality, comparison, alphabet knowledge, categorization, knowledge of the conventions of our printed language, and a clear understanding of the relationship between print and words. Readiness skills lay the groundwork for later reading instruction. Children who do not fully develop these skills in early childhood usually have a very difficult time mastering reading.

Many of the traditional activities of early childhood actually develop various readiness skills. In our fast-paced world, however, sometimes adults categorize these pastimes as “play” and therefore less important than “learning.” They relegate traditional preschool activities to the “optional” category. This trend causes problems for children later in school, because all of the traditional preschool activities support various readiness skills. Children who do not participate in these things at home, day care, or preschool will be at a distinct disadvantage compared to their peers when they enter school, because they will have missed vital practice. Let’s take a quick look at common preschool activities and see what readiness skills are being nurtured.

LACING BOARDS

Lacing boards teach children to complete items in sequence. They also help develop control over the small muscles that will later guide pencils and crayons. Children who use lacing boards accomplish a task, and begin to learn the fulfillment that can come with finishing a job. Young learners who complete lacing tasks will master concepts such as “in,” “out,” “over,” and “under.”

PLAY DOUGH

Manipulating play dough teaches important skills, as well. Children exercise their hands and fingers as they squeeze and press the dough. They also learn to make representations of other objects. Three balls of dough set atop one another become a snowman. This representation involves an internal visualization that will become important later in reading comprehension tasks.

CHILDREN’S BOARD GAMES

Traditional games, such as Candyland and Chutes and Ladders, are much more than social ways to pass the time. Children must master one-to-one correspondence (important in many math skills, and in building the understanding that one group of letters on a page corresponds to one spoken word), sequencing skills, and following oral directions. Many of the games require the players to match pictures, as well, nurturing comparison and categorization skills.

CHILDREN’S CARD GAMES

Games such as “Old Maid” and “Go Fish” also teach important readiness skills. Children must learn to recognize same and different pictures, recall sequences of actions, and count numbers of pairs of cards. Concepts of “more,” “less,” and “enough” must be understood in order to play successfully.

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© 2005 Sandra Fleming

Wherever you look, there are conflicting reports of how television affects your young child. Some experts will tell you that TV is a bane that should be avoided at all costs. Others will point to the educational value. The truth of the matter is that television is like many other parts of the child’s life-it’s a great TOOL, but it cannot help or hinder on its own. Everything depends on how television is used in your house.

Television, like any other activity, works well in moderation and with guidance from parents and care givers. Too much TV can stifle other important kinds of learning, like imaginative play, growth of language skills, and gross motor activities. Too little television can actually cause its own set of problems: children who watch no television are missing an important connection to the world around them. They have difficulty conversing with their peers and other adults who do watch TV. The lack of exposure can cause kids to feel left out and can even make them feel ostracized.

Moderation is one cure for the television blues. Make sure that your child has a wide array of experiences and activities, and television won’t have an unduly strong influence. Painting, drawing, reading, running, shopping, cooking, dramatic play, and more can balance its impact.

Guidance is also important. Help your child choose what to watch! Little ones will turn on the TV and watch whatever happens to be on, especially if it’s flashy and exciting. With a bit of guidance and limit setting, you can steer your youngster toward the programs that are uplifting, educational, and in line with your personal and family values.

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© 2005 Sandra Fleming